Boss Liam Watson praises AFC Telford despite defeat to Barnet

The Bucks went down 3-1 at the high-flying Bees but Watson was delighted with the spirit shown by his team, which lost midfielders Sean Clancy and Mike Grogan to injury on Wednesday night.

They had to cope with more injury woe on Saturday when Neill Byrne was stretchered off with ankle damage in the second half at Barnet. And Watson said: "It has been a tough week injury-wise.

"But that is just what happens at times and unfortunately you have just got to ride your way through it.

"And I was immensely proud of the lads on Saturday. Every one of them gave everything. They could have easily folded.

"It was three individual errors for all three of their goals.

"For the first we have got to stop the cross and Neill has got to pick up Akinde. It was far too easy for him.

"Freddy has made a bad error of judgement coming for the ball for the second one and I have got no complaints about the penalty awarded.

"I thought the second penalty looked a little bit harsh. It looks like Parry has actually won the ball albeit he has come from the wrong side.

"And he shouldn't get himself in that position but everyone stood up manfully.

"I thought we created one of two really good chances in the first half and scored a good goal.

"We are all very much aware that the FA Cup game against Basingstoke on Tuesday is massive for the club and I could have left people out, protected them.

"But it is like the first round of the FA Cup every week for us, coming to places like Barnet.

"To me are Champions' elect, they have got great forwards and quality throughout the pitch, throughout the team.

"But they won't have said it was an easy game for them so I can only praise my players.

"I was pleased with the work rate, and if anyone was going to get a goal against us we were going to try and make them work for it.

"We will make errors, and we did start sloppy but there are signs of improvement and certainly massive signs of character and desire.

"I am really proud of them and we have now got to get focused for Basingstoke which will be a really tough game on Tuesday.