Pictures, analysis of Telford 2 Workington 1

The Bucks boss was left feeling flat by the manner in which his side huffed and puffed their way to three points on Saturday.

They outworked Workington more than anything and getting their goals at vital times, six minutes into each half as damaging as it could get.

Watson's glass may have been more half empty than half full but those of a cheerful disposition will take the positives that were on display, although they will have to get a lot better to win the title.

It was almost as if the form fairy was giving with one hand and taking away with the other. In the Telford goal, Ryan Young was as steady as ever. What more have we come to expect?

Directly in front of him, Neill Byrne scored and looked like he's going to become a class act at centre-back, but defensive partner Simon Grand wasn't as solid as a captain should be alongside him.

Wes Baynes looked promising at right-back and Chris Lever, the only possible choice at left-back with Matthew McGinn suspended, filled in with a steady shift in a workmanlike manner.

• Highlights filmed and produced by Howling Monkey Media

It was the big hitters who didn't really turn up – Sean Clancy and Charlie Barnett looked isolated while Alan Moogan was patchy. The other man in midfield, Mike Phenix, wasn't Man of the Match.

Up front, Andy Owens' biggest threat was from throw ins while Tony Gray lost the ball too much. Of the 17 signings this summer, 15 were in the match-day squad but Watson wouldn't dwell on that.

He said: "You can say we have 17 new signings but that would be an excuse, I wouldn't have brought them here if they couldn't control the ball.

"They didn't get the basics right but we did see that they will dig in and work hard, you probably win more games like that than anything else.

"There are an awful lot of good teams in this league and if we think we are just going to turn and get three points because we are AFC Telford, we are sorely mistaken."

Football was put into perspective just before kick-off as AFC Telford remembered Georgia Williams with a minute's applause. The murdered teenager used to be a volunteer at the club.

It took time to focus on the game again after that but the home side were firmly up and running with just six minutes on the clock, Byrne with the opening goal.

It's clear Owens' long throws will become a primary weapon this season. One such delivery allowed Phenix to head the ball on into the path of Byrne.

In a finish a striker would have been proud of, who nodded downwards and under the leap of goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell to break the deadlock.

Workington tried their luck from anywhere in search of an equaliser, Young called into action for the first time on 11 minutes, down low to clutch Conor Tinnion's free kick close to him.

And Telford very nearly handed them a leveller when Moogan's poor back pass to Young was intercepted by Workington captain Jonny Wright, who somehow shot wide with the goal gaping.

In between efforts that went wide from Workington's Stephen Hindmarch and Ben McKenna, tragic Georgia's memory was again celebrated with further applause in the 17th minute, her age.

Telford came close to taking command in the 24th minute, Grand heading over Baynes' great ball into the box from inside his own half, with Mitchell committed as he came out to punch.

But it was Young to the rescue a minute later as he turned skipper Wright's effort around the post, while Mitchell had to brilliantly tip over another good header from Byrne, headed for the top corner.

Telford manager Watson believes he's got the best shot-stopper Conference North has to offer in the club's longest-serving player, even with a Newcastle United loanee in the other goal.

Watson said: "We all know what he is at this level of football – he's probably the best goalkeeper in the league.

"It's probably a bit daunting for him with so many new team-mates, but he's handled it fine."

After the break, Telford extended their lead just six minutes into the half, as they had done in the first, and were given a large helping hand by Workington defender Daniel Wordsworth.

Young's long goal kick fell at head height but Wordsworth completely missed it allowing the ball to fall into the path of Gray on the left, who volleyed low past Mitchell.

But Telford were finally breached and had their lead cut in half just two minutes later, as Workington pulled one back a goal that their play deserved.

Hindmarch's corner from the right was helped on by Wordsworth into the path of Tinnion, who slotted under Young.

Workington gave it their all to grab the equaliser which, in all fairness, would have been deserved but were thwarted again by Young on 69, tipping over Lee Andrews' shot from outside of the area.

Moogan waited for the last 20 minutes to put himself about a bit and did well to pick himself up from being scythed down by David Lynch, which sparked a ruck between captains Wright and Grand.

Watson said: "Looking at him in the last 20 minutes, if that's how he plays he can keep the minor back injury he has had!

"It took him a while to get into the game but I thought he was the driving force for that period."

Byrne, who could have had a very rare defender's hat-trick on the day, saw an overhead kick drop over the bar late on, before Phenix was brilliantly denied one-on-one by Mitchell in stoppage time.

The full-time whistle sounded and the Watson era began with success, most won't care how they perform if that continues. In the cold light of day, they will probably play better and lose this season.

By Craig Birch