Report and pics of Telford 0 Forest Green 1

The Bucks bossed the game for long spells and looked capable of following up Saturday's encouraging draw at Kidderminster with a much-needed win.

But they were punished for a defensive lapse with 19 minutes to go when former West Brom man Hughes nodded in from close range, to leave Liam Watson's struggling side still with just one victory all season.

Watson had plenty of solid performances to reflect on, including a strong debut from new loan signing Andy Parry in defence, but they remain rooted to the foot of the Conference Premier table.

Telford started at a furious tempo and could have opened the scoring in the early moments when Ryan Higgins went on a weaving run from right wing-back and a challenge on him saw the ball sit up kindly for Sam Smith.

The Bucks striker let fly with a dipping, 20-yard effort that just cleared the crossbar.

Hughes missed the target by a similar margin at the other end after picking up possession 25 yards out and side-stepping away from defender Rod McDonald.

But it was the hosts who made the early running and they created another opening when a clever pass by Higgins released Jordan Deacey on the right flank.

He tried to pick out the unmarked Mike Grogan, breaking from midfield but Grogan lost his footing at a crucial moment and could not connect.

Another near-miss for the home side came when Tony Gray seized on a poorly-hit Forest Green clearance and tried his luck with a lob from 25 yards that dropped just over.

And they continued to apply pressure with two crosses into the box causing problems for the visitors midway through the opening half.

The first was clawed away at full stretch by keeper Sam Russell under pressure in a frantic goalmouth scramble.

And the next was flicked on to Tony Gray, whose header went just wide.

Clear-cut openings were rare for the visitors but they had a sight of goal when Hughes connected with a cross from the right by David Pipe and hit a first-time snap-shot that went fractionally wide.

And it was Telford who continued forcing their visitors back with a free-kick from the left headed across goal by Neill Byrne, only for Gray's touch to let him down.

A rare Forest Green chance arrived from nowhere just before the interval when the Bucks failed to defend a hopeful cross from the right that ran for Rob Sinclair, but he scuffed a poor effort high and wide of the target.

The home side went into half-time with their fans encouraged by a lively, committed first-half display but frustrated that Watson's men had lacked the composure to turn their dominance into goals.

After a scrappy start to the second period, it was the visitors who had the first chance to break the deadlock.

Telford failed to clear a high cross from the left and the ball dropped for Christian Jolley, but his right-footed, skidding half-volley was horribly directed and it went well wide.

At the other end, Telford might have claimed a scruffy opener moments later when their visitors missed several chances to clear a bouncing ball on the edge of their 18-yard box.

Sam Smith muscled his way into the area and moved towards goal, but his touch let him down and the chance went begging.

Substitute Adam Farrell went closer just moments after replacing Jordan Deacey when he unleashed a stinging 25-yard drive.

Goalkeeper Sam Russell appeared to see it late and could only get a weak hand on the shot, but he did just enough to push it around his left-hand upright.

But Forest Green grew in confidence as the second half progressed and should have broken the deadlock even before the opening goal arrived.

Substitute Kurtis Guthrie arrived unmarked in the box to meet a Marcus Kelly free-kick, only for his powerful header to be saved smartly by Jonathan Hedge.

The Bucks' keeper could do nothing moments later, though.

Former Shrewsbury Town forward Luke Rodgers, on as a substitute, burst down the right for Forest Green and saw his cross deflected into the path of Hughes, who headed home from close range.

The home side had a glorious chance to equalise almost immediately when Higgins crossed from the right, but an unmarked Gray misjudged the flight of the ball and failed to make any contact.