Three down, three to go – in terms of ties played in the FA Trophy, AFC Telford United are halfway to Wembley.

It’s perhaps a little too early to start singing ‘Que Sera Sera’ just yet, but – as the well-worn club song goes – the Bucks truly are Keeping The Dream Alive.

That was pretty easy in the second round mind you, against an opposition who managed to stroll through the full game pulling off a passable impression of eleven sleepwalkers.

Hayes & Yeading had been much vaunted by the Telford management in the pre-match build-up, but the reality fell a long way short of the hype.

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They looked a beaten side just 15 minutes in, by which time striker Andy Brown had waltzed through their defence to score two quick goals.

The Londoners at least threw a second striker on at half-time, though their reward for that little bit of courage was to go three down within four minutes, Carl Rodgers scoring a screamer.

Danny Carey-Bertram’s fourth was the icing on the cake, though the cherry on top was well and truly snatched away when Rodgers was stretchered off late on with a deep gash in his quad muscle, above his knee.

Still, this was a pretty satisfying night for the Bucks, who rather made a mockery of the frequently repeated suggestion that the Blue Square South is stronger than it’s northern equivalent.

Telford were in fact stronger in every way, competing with more determination in the tackle and out-passing their visitors as well as giving them a lesson in finishing.

They created enough opportunities to have had the statisticians reaching for an abacus to keep count, while Hayes & Yeading barely crossed the halfway line.

Brown had already pulled one shot across the face of goal six minutes in before opening the scoring after a shocking error by defender Peter Collins.

The centre-back was clearly aiming to hoof the ball safely up the park but succeeded stubbing it only a few inches and straight to the waiting striker. Brown still had plenty to do, but his finish was clinical.

Within four minutes he had a second as Lee Vaughan’s cross deflected to his feet and he needed no second invitation to lash it in.

He might even have had a first half hat-trick but flashed a half- volley wide and was then denied by desperate visiting keeper Aaron Howe after more woeful defending.

Hayes & Yeading’s only sights of goal came courtesy of skipper Will Hendry, and were of mixed quality.

A 20th minute strike from 25 yards was fierce and Telford No 1 Ryan Young was well-beaten, the woodwork coming to his rescue.

A 39th minute free-kick from similar range was more representative of his side’s efforts though, the shot climbing from the moment it left his boot and actually clearing the roof of the David Hutchison Stand – drawing derisive jeers from the home fans.

The introduction of big striker Josh Scott at the interval at least gave the Telford defence a little more to think about, but that didn’t stop Carl Rodgers flying forward to get on the end of a James Meredith cross and add a third.

Danny Carey-Bertram made it four as he fired in after unselfish play by sub Terry Fearns, who had replaced Brown, and there could have been more late on.

The lively Jon Adams, a replacement for Vaughan at right-back, made one mazy run on the right and had his shot parried by Howe, while a Fearns header had to be tipped over the bar.

The countdown to the final whistle was well and truly on when Rodgers’ evening came to an end as he went in for a challenge and suffered a horrific-looking gash to his leg.

So deep was the slice that his muscle was exposed, and he had to be carried away on a stretcher, leaving the Bucks to see out the final minutes with 10 men.

That they did – like pretty much everything else all evening – with ease.

By Chris Hudson