Liam Watson: AFC Telford 'outclassed' in loss

The Bucks were defeated 2-0 by Aldershot yesterday on their home turf, the game effectively settled by the break.

Joe Oastler's fifth minute strike set the tone before a penalty from Brett Williams, Telford captain Steve Akrigg penalised for a challenge on Josh Scott inside the box.

Watson's side huffed and puffed but could find no way back and the Bucks chief had no complaints with the defeat.

Their search for their first victory of the campaign will enter a fourth game at Bristol Rovers on Saturday for the Conference North champions.

He said: "I think we were outclassed and that's the first time I have said that it's about the gulf about where we have been playing and where are playing now.

"I am not going to kid myself, it's been an up and down start to the Conference but that's all it has been, the first week.

"One or two people have never played at the level and it will take them time to adapt, if they are going to adapt.

"I am just expecting a lot more of the players who have played at the level."

Watson admitted his tactics didn't pay off as he dropped Charlie Barnett, Sean Cooke and Adam Farrell for back-from-suspension duo Mike Phenix and Godfrey Poku, along with Sean Clancy.

Cooke and Farrell nearly made an impact as late substitutes, the former crossing for the latter to nearly pull a goal back.

The Bucks boss said: "We tried to play Jordan Deacey in a position that suits him, playing in front of the two as he did for Bradford Park Avenue when we played against them.

"We never got hold of the ball enough to actually do that, they were an awful lot stronger than us early on and that probably took the game away from us.

"We are trying our best to get a bit of football into the team but, when it doesn't happen, you tend to get the ball forward and threaten. I just thought they were too clever for us."