Mathematically it is still very possible – but for many AFC Telford United fans this will mark the day the title dream died.

If the pain of only a third defeat of the season was not enough for the Bucks, then coming off to news that Alfreton had won 4-0 would really have rubbed salt into the wounds.

A week ago, the Shropshire side sat proudly at the top of the table. Today they are five points adrift of the long-time favourites, who still have two games in hand.

With matches running out fast, that looks too much of a gap to claw back.

Andy Sinton, quite rightly, insists he will fight to the very end – but he will be wondering if all his players feel the same after this out-of-sorts display.

There could be no complaints about the size of the defeat, with Eastwood looking better in all departments.

All three of their goals came from corners, a fact not lost on Sinton – who was fuming at how players had failed to carry out their pre-determined marking duties.

Russell Cooke netted the opener on 24 minutes, though he knew very little about it.

Michael Simpson’s corner from the right found Matt Bailey free inside the box and his drilled shot deflected off the fortunate Cooke to leave keeper Ryan Young with no chance.

Eastwood doubled their advantage just 11 minutes later, Simpson the provider again but this time from the opposite side.

Defender Stuart Whitehead cut out his delivery, but the Telford man’s attempted clearance was met by Adie Hawes, who powered a header in from six yards out.

That was how it stayed to the interval, though it could easily have been worse, with the hosts seeing other chances go begging.

With the scoresheet still blank Lindon Meikle had been denied a decent penalty shout when he went down under a sliding challenge from Will Salmon.

Burly forward Matt Rhead also drew a save out of Young with a powerful header off a free-kick whipped in by – who else – Simpson.

Telford had their moments too, their best chance coming when the recalled James Lawrie poked an effort goalwards that Bailey did well to clear off the line.

Greg Mills then went close to producing a lifeline for his side on the stroke of half-time, when he headed wide from a Jon Adams cross.

Sinton has rarely had to try and inspire a fightback from such a deficit before, but showed he could be decisive with a double half-time substitution.

Congo striker Yannick Salem and Hereford loanee Sam Gwynne came on for the second period but they had barely broken into a sweat when the contest was effectively over.

Eastwood delivered the killer blow just three minutes into the second half as Lee Stevenson, the Blue Square Bet North’s player of the month for March, got on the end of another corner with a header that crept past Salem on the line.

From there, the home side went through the motions and Telford did little to suggest they had the quality to launch any sort of fightback.

Salem carried the biggest threat and he at least forced Eastwood keeper Jon Danby into his only meaningful save with a great turn and shot.

Danny Williams also showed some encouraging touches after coming on for his debut midway through the half.

But there was no disguising the size of the defeat and the faces of the dejected Telford players as they trudged off suggested that they knew its potential significance.

They have had a remarkable season and promotion is still firmly in their own hands — but it will surely now have to be through the play-offs.

Match analysis by Chris Hudson