Telford's Paul McCone is wary of Harriers threat

The hosts are currently second in the table, seven points adrift of runaway leaders AFC Fylde.

But having watched both promotion-chasing teams in action earlier this season, when he was still recovering from serious injury, McCone believes it is Harriers who are the superior outfit, writes Matt Maher.

"They were the best team I have seen in our division by far," said McCone, a former member of Wolves' academy who twice went on trial at Aggborough earlier in his career.

"Even though we managed to beat them that night you could see the quality they had. They have some excellent players, a couple of whom I would be surprised to see still there when it comes to the end of January.

"This is about as tough as it gets at this stage of the competition. We know we have to be at it from the word go."

McCone would be forgiven for having mixed emotions on the season to date. Joy at his own return following almost a year out with a cruciate ligament injury has been tempered by frustration at the team's fluctuating form.

Of particular irritation has been an away record which has delivered only one victory and this week prompted manager Rob Smith to question the character of his team. McCone agrees there is a need for players to find a greater belief.

"It just feels at the moment like we can't get anything in the way of consistency," he said.

"Whenever we have put a couple of good results together we follow it up with a defeat. It's almost like we expect that to happen, as though we are locked in a pattern. It's frustrating.

"The team at the moment is better on paper than we are showing on the pitch.

"We are 14th in the table but we have the capability of going much higher than that. It's all about finding that bit of confidence."

The Trophy might be seen as a welcome distraction from the league grind but McCone does not expect Bucks to take their eye off the ball.

"For me it doesn't matter what the game is, it is a chance to get a win on the board and start building a bit of momentum," he added.

"Always at the back of your minds is the fact North Ferriby won it from our division a couple of years ago."