Ouch! Just as AFC Telford United looked set to launch a Christmas promotion charge, along comes a horror of a performance that belonged firmly in Hallowe’en.

Three games unbeaten, all against play-off chasing sides, had raised hopes that Telford were back on track after a distinctly average start to the season.

But this was a limp, lifeless and lethargic display that got exactly what it deserved – absolutely nothing.

The Bucks could barely string two passes together all night and were humbled by lowly Redditch – who had gone out of the FA Trophy to UniBond League opposition on Saturday but were now made to look like world beaters.

Rob Smith’s side would have been back within two points of the play-offs had they delivered a third win in four outings, but such thoughts seem like pure fantasy if they continue to chuck such disastrous displays into the mix.

“That was a massive chance, and we’ve got bullied in every department by a young Redditch side,” said boss Smith.

“When you look at the calibre of players I’ve got in my team, there’s no excuse for it, it has to come down to a mental problem and a lack of heart. That’s what’s disappointed me.

“The supporters were singing that they wanted their money back and if I’d been a fan out there I’d have been shouting exactly the same.”

It was all going wrong from the moment Redditch swept in front inside four minutes.

The goal came as the impressive Andy Ducros – by far the best player on the pitch – disappeared past Lee Vaughan then crossed for Jack Byrne. His sweet strike from 15 yards whistled past keeper Ryan Young into the top corner.

From there, Telford never got to grips with the game and the chances mounted up for a rampant Redditch side who excelled themselves.

Former Shrewsbury trainee Liam Murray went close with a flash overhead effort and Jamie Sheldon stung Young’s hands before the second arrived on 24 minutes.

This time it was defender Liam Francis finishing from close range, having gone forward for a set-piece routine.

The Bucks barely threatened and Smith made a double substitution at the break, looking to get more battlers out on the pitch.

His plans came to nothing as the Worcestershire side continued to set the pace and open up a dodgy defence.

Luke Barlone was gifted the freedom of the box to get away a shot that was well saved by Young before Durcros got the goal his efforts merited to make it three.

The keeper then denied Matt Blair and parried a stringing effort by Joe Clarke before pulling off a fingertip save to force Byrne’s 25-yard bullet onto the bar as the pressure built.

Telford, by contrast, hardly mustered a shot all night. Substitute Sean Newton’s 70th minute free-kick, which was thumped straight into goalkeeper Danny Lewis’ midriff from 25 yards out, was their first effort of note.

They did finally manage a goal a minute from time as Andy Brown got on the end of Steve Thompson’s cross.

But that did not stop Smith from castigating his side for their ugly long ball football that proved so ineffective.

“We just boomed the ball all night – as soon as we conceded that was it, we didn’t want to play any football, we just wanted to take the easy option,” he complained.

“We didn’t win one single battle all over the park. Liam Blakeman was the only player out there who tried to play football in the short spell he had on the pitch.”

The baffling inconsistency is another worry for Smith as he picks over the bones of this debacle.

His side have the maddening ability to go from the sublime to the ridiculous in the blink of an eye.

The end product is a mixture of wins and losses that has left them marooned in midtable. At present, they deserve no better.