Fylde 4 AFC Telford 0 - Report and pictures

Steve Kittrick's side, who are bottom of the Conference Premier, had gone into the game buoyed by a superb win over Wrexham three days earlier.

But Fylde, the Conference North leaders, showed exactly why they are closing in on promotion to the non-league's top tier with a thoroughly dominant display tonight.

Steve Kittrick, who had been unbeaten in five games as Bucks boss, made just two changes to the XI which so comprehensively defeated Wrexham on Saturday.

Midfielder Charlie Barnett was brought into the team in place of Jack Rea, who was cup-tied.

Left-back John Disney was also absent for the same reason, with left midfielder Andy Owens coming in as part of a re-shuffle.

Everton loanee Ben McLaughlin moved from left to right back as a result, while Andy Todd moved from left midfield to left-back.

Telford goalkeeper Freddy Hall was forced into an early save inside three minutes, when Josh Wilson rose highest to head towards the far corner.

And he again had to be alert to cut out a dangerous cut back from Michael Barnes, who was on Manchester United's books as a youngster.

Neill Byrne also did well to block a testing delivery to the near post by Richie Allen as the hosts tried to make a fast start.

The hosts continued to push and a deflected Wilson free-kick drifted only just wide of the near post two minutes later, after Allen had outfoxed McLaughlin to earn the set-piece on the edge of the box.

Hall was then drawn into a superb save when another Allen cross was headed goalwards by Barnes in a crowded box, but he was able to spring across to claw the effort away at the far post.

He could do nothing though when Liam Tomsett pounced on an aimless pass 30 yards from goal, before slotting past him with ease on 17 minutes.

The goal had been coming and it was deserved by the hosts, who had not let Telford settle from minute one.

Fylde should have gone 2-0 up three minutes later but Wilson slotted just wide from Barnes' clever cut back. He had been well placed in the centre of the area and should have at least hit the target.

But Fylde were still making all of the running, using the pace and skill of their widemen Allen and Barnes to keep the Bucks on the backfoot.

Telford sprung their first meaningful attack just before the 25 minute mark when Todd waltzed into the area, only for his low pass to be cleared in the nick of time with Tony Gray waiting to pounce,

Allen looked to have missed another great chance for Fylde though when he headed wide from Barnes' cross to the far post.

He had been just a few yards out but the effort was flagged offside, sparing his blushes.

Telford finally managed to apply some genuine pressure from a McLaughlin cross, which saw an Adam Farrell drive cleared near the line before Owens drilled just wide on the rebound.

It had taken 35 minutes for Telford to trouble the home goal which told its own story. Fylde had totally dominated possession and chances.

And Allen was denied two minutes before the break when Hall turned his 25 yard effort just over the bar, with Farrell doing well to clear off the line from the resulting corner-kick.

The snow, which had been starting to fall lightly just before the break, began to fall more steadily at the interval.

Telford managed to raise the temperature early into the second half, retaining possession far better than they had in the first.

And the hosts needed to pull out a couple of crunching tackles to prevent their defences being breached approaching the 55 minute mark.

But Hall was again needed to turn away a low, fizzing drive by Allen following good work by Danny Rowe to play him in on the hour.

At the other end Tony Gray went very close to an equaliser with a terrific 25-yard free-kick which was tipped just over by Ben Hinchliffe after Tomsett had fouled Sam Smith.

But again at the other end, Allen missed the target for the hosts from an inviting position, heading over from Barnes' excellent centre on 65 minutes.

Rowe showed him how to finish though five minutes later when he drilled past Hall with a firm low 20 yard drive.

Wilson then tapped home Danny Lloyd's cross 13 minutes from time and Rowe capped a tremendous display from the hosts with a 25 yard thumper in stoppage time.