A Dan Preston header was enough for the visitors to take the spoils, although they had to desperately cling on to their lead as they suffered a late bombardment from City who went close twice through the head of Aaron Brown, before substitute Aaron Farrell missed a glorious chance in stoppage time.

Preston’s header came in the twelfth minute as he nodded in from Shaun Whalley’s in-swinging corner, despite the best efforts of City defenders to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

The visitors dominated large spells of the first half, and came close to doubling their lead just minutes after the opener as Matty McGinn’s thundering first-time half-volley kissed the top of Jose Veiga’s crossbar.

City came close through a neatly worked free-kick routine, with Brown teeing Steven Leslie who saw his left footed strike deflected behind.

But it was Telford who continued to enjoy the better of the chances, as Preston came close to doubling his tally, steering a header goal-wards that required Jose Veiga to scramble low to his left to push clear.

City’s best chance of the half came when George Williams’s high cross to the back post was controlled by Nti before calmly squaring the ball to Brown who lashed over from close range.

A much improved City side started to dominate proceedings after the restart, coming close after five minutes through the aerial threat of Aaron Brown who headed wide from a Steven Leslie free kick.

Telford looked dangerous on the break, as neat control on the chest by the lively Shaun Whalley allowed him to glide into the City area. But he delayed his shot and his eventual, swiveling effort was gathered easily by Veiga.

Nelson-Addy tried his luck midway through the half as his dipping shot from distance saw Bucks goalkeeper Ryan Young beat the ball away unconvincingly, before grabbing the rebound.

Aaron Brown failed to test the goalkeeper further with another free header, this time from a Nelson-Addy cross that flew over the bar with just ten minutes remaining.

The bombardment continued and City came agonizingly close to forcing home an equaliser in added time. Brown fired in a free kick from distance that bounced unkindly in front of Young, with the goalkeeper palming the ball out to substitute Aaron Farrell, who couldn’t adjust his feet in time and he fired wide with the goal beckoning.

Daniel Nti crashed a shot into the side netting with the last kick of the game, and United clung on to record a narrow victory.

Manager Carl Heeley, said that he was disappointed with his sides first half performance, but thought City were unlucky not to go on and steal a draw with their improved second half display.

“I was a little bit disappointed in us first half, and I thought we were deservedly behind at half time. Second half, we’ve came out and we’ve changed a few things and I thought we dominated the game, and on the balance of play we deserved something out of the game. We’ve had two or three good chances and we haven’t taken them. But I thought we were a little bit unlucky this evening not to get the equaliser”, admitted the City boss.

Saturday will see 16th take on 17th in the Skrill North as City make the trip to Gainsborough Trinity hoping to build on their impressive New Year’s form.