Boss Andy Sinton has hailed two-goal star Phil Trainer after seeing the midfielder fire AFC Telford United to a fourth consecutive victory.

Trainer bagged both goals as the Bucks beat Gloucester City 2-0 last night to maintain their 100 per cent start to the Blue Square Bet North campaign.

The former Oxford man has looked a different player to the one that finished last season – and Sinton insists the player himself should take the credit.

“When I first took over there was a cloud hanging over quite a few players, and I know Phil Trainer was one of those,” said Sinton.

“But I wanted to work with him – I wanted to challenge him and get him to show the capability he has got on a more consistent basis.

“Phil must take a lot of the credit himself because he’s worked very hard in pre-season. I thought he was our biggest threat last night, he had three or four efforts on goal and he did fantastically well.”

Telford finished last night’s game with 10 men, winger Greg Mills receiving a second booking deep into stoppage time for delaying taking a corner.

It was a decision that angered Sinton, who confronted referee Andrew Hutchinson in his changing room after the game.

“He said Greg was taking the micky out of him, but I can’t accept that,” said Sinton.

“One of their defenders was encroaching within five or six yards so we were quite entitled not to take the corner – if that was a free-kick anywhere else on the pitch the referee would be making sure the wall gets back.

“I think he knows he’s made a mistake, he said afterwards it was a learning curve for him.

“But that doesn’t help Greg Mills and it doesn’t help us. If referees want respect, they have to earn it.”

By Chris Hudson