Liam Watson proud of nine-man AFC Telford

The Bucks had to play the last 38 minutes and a huge six minutes of stoppage time with nine men, after midfielders Godfrey Poku and Mike Phenix were given their marching orders at Park View Road.

Telford had led 1-0 at the break thanks to Kristian Platt's first-half free-kick, but found themselves hanging on following Harry Beautyman's 66th-minute equaliser.

And Watson said: "It was phenomenal effort and I couldn't ask much more from them.

"To have played 30-40 minutes with nine men, it is a fantastic achievement for them to hold out (for a draw)."

Watson was less enthused about the performance of referee Nigel Lugg, who sent Poku off just before half-time and Phenix seven minutes after the break.

Poku had been booked midway through the first half for a late tackle and was then shown a second yellow card for hand ball.

And Phenix, who had been booked for hand ball in the opening period, walked early into the second after another mis-timed challenge.

Lugg showed eight yellow cards in total and Watson said: "The referee had set the tone because he had just been card-happy from the word go.

"To be honest Mike Phenix's second foul is a yellow card but, with Godfrey's one, he has been fouled and fell on top of the ball and he's sent him off for hand ball which is embarrassing.

"But I don't want to talk about the referee. I'd prefer to talk about the effort, work rate, character and the attitude of the players, which was phenomenal."

Meanwhile, injured defender Chris Lever is likely to be out of action for a week longer than expected.

It had been hoped he would return from a hamstring injury in Sunday's home clash with Aldershot.

But Watson added: "I think it is more likely to be the Bristol Rovers game than the Aldershot game."

Watson's side had to work tremendously hard in the second half as a result of those dismissals, and the Bucks chief surprised some by making only one substitution, in the 89th minute.

But he explained: "With the players I had on the bench, I couldn't change it. I had 'footballers' on the bench and I needed runners.

"I can probably understand fans frustration, (if they were thinking) 'put fresh legs on.'

"But what I had on the bench were people who are good on the ball and we weren't going to get on the ball. We just wanted people to harry and close down."