Match report by Chris Hudson

Five goals, five different goalscorers – and it really was every bit as one-sided as the scoreline suggests.

Confidence oozing throughout the camp, the Bucks simply tore bottom-of-the-table Hucknall to shreds without ever having to find top gear.

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Fog lingered over Watnall Road throughout the afternoon, but it was still clear to see that Telford were operating on a completely different plane to their struggling hosts.

It was by far their biggest away win of the season, and extended their current form to just one defeat in 18.

The Yellows look destined for a season of struggle, but a cursory glance at their home record so far still puts this result in context.

In eight previous outings on their own patch they had conceded just 13 and had only lost by more than one goal once – in a 2-0 defeat to Burscough.

While they have still failed to win on home soil, they had at least offered some resistance – until Telford came to town, that is.

It never looked possible that they could contain their Shropshire visitors in that fashion once they had fallen behind just six minutes in.

Indy Khela was the unlikely scorer, pouncing gleefully when keeper James Lindley had only been able to parry Terry Fearns’ shot from 12 yards.

Fluent

Centre-back Khela was forming a new defensive partnership with Gavin Cowan due to the absence of Stuart Whitehead, who has now been ruled out for a minimum of two months.

Whitehead’s loss will surely be felt in the weeks ahead, but the defence were barely tested on this occasion as the Nottinghamshire side capitulated.

The Bucks were some way short of their fluent best and spurned a series of opportunities to add to their advantage.

As long as they led by just the one, there was always that nagging doubt they could be caught on the counter.

That rarely looked like happening, though big striker Gary Ricketts at least gave them something to think about.

But two goals in four minutes just before the break put a new complexion on matters and ensured the second half was little more than a training exercise.

Carl Rodgers fired in the second, pouncing from close range off Jon Adams’ corner from the left-hand side.

Fearns then snared his 14th goal of the season as he ghosted in behind the defensive wall at a free-kick and diverted Liam Blakeman’s strike into the bottom corner.

With the points as good as safe, boss Rob Smith chose to introduce new signing Danny Edwards at the break, the left-sided midfielder having only joined from Redditch on Thursday.

He replaced right-back Lee Vaughan , who was brought off as a precaution with a niggling injury, as the Bucks reverted to the 3-5-2 formation that has been their familiar shape for the last three years.

Edwards was slow to settle, but grew in confidence as the half wore on – and must have gained a huge boost from supplying the free-kick that led to the fourth goal.

He whipped in an in-swinging cross from the right which was only half-cleared to the feet of Lee Moore – now playing in an unfamiliar right wing-back role – and he lashed in a fierce drive that Lindley could only watch fly past.

Smith, clearly now enjoying himself on the sidelines, threw on a third striker in the shape of Danny Carey-Bertram – and that, too, proved to be the right decision at the right time.

He added the fifth in injury-time to maintain his fabulous strike rate since joining from Bath City a few weeks ago.

The only blip for Telford was a booking for striker Andy Brown for kicking the ball away, the fifth caution of the season for the in-form striker, which will now signal a suspension.

Even that though, was all part of the plan for Smith, who was far from unhappy with the timing of the yellow card.

It means Brown will miss the trip to the UniBond League side Boston in the FA Trophy rather than potentially tougher league games in the weeks that follow.

But in current form they have nothing to fear – the same can not be said of their Blue Square North rivals.