Liam Watson is at a loss to explain Bucks' first-half horror show

Watson, who took over the reins at the New Bucks Head in early May, saw his side ship three goals in eight first-half minutes on their way to a 3-0 home defeat in last night's FA Trophy replay.

A Daniel Nti header after 20 minutes set the visitors on their way and former Bucks striker Aaron Williams appeared to get the last touch on an Ellis Deeney free-kick two minutes later before netting again shortly afterwards.

Asked what went wrong on the night Watson said: "It is hard to say. We have gone from four clean sheets on the bounce to looking like we were going to concede every time Worcester attacked during the first half.

"I thought Worcester started with a lot more urgency and energy than we did and the first-half performance was certainly my worst 45 minutes since I have been here.

"I never saw it coming and I don't quite understand it. For the first goal Mike Grogan's not picking his man up for the set-piece, for the second one there is no pressure on the cross-shot and it has ended up going in.

"And the third one, Chris Lever has come across, Simon Grand hasn't gone with the runner and all of a sudden the game is over."

"Having said that, we have had two great chances to score just before half-time. If one goes in at least you make a game of it, but in terms of effort, desire and drive – what we normally have – that was missing and I couldn't give you an explanation why. I have told the players that the standardwe performed at is not acceptable."

Watson added that the team must lift themselves quickly from last night's disappointment.

They will return to Skrill North action against Leamington at home on Saturday knowing victory could send them top of the league if other results go their way.

A busy Christmas period of potentially pivotal fixtures will follow and Watson said: "Saturday becomes a huge game, and now every game becomes a huge game because we have got Leamington, we have to go to Workington a week on Saturday, which is never easy, and then we have got Brackley, Hednesford, Boston and then Hednesford again.

"They are six massive games and we have got to be right for all of them."