Happy Andy Sinton gives AFC Telford perfect 10 after win

A first half brace by Steve Jones and further goals from Luke Hubbins and Phil Trainer had put the Bucks 4-0 up before Elliot Bradbrook netted a consolation goal for the hosts late on.

Sinton said the performance, against a side which is still ranked fifth in the division despite last night’s defeat, was probably his side’s most complete display of the campaign so far.

He said: “It was a really good performance. We came to Dartford with a real game plan and it worked.

“I thought to a man we were magnificent. The first 20 minutes we knew they were going to have the ball and we didn’t want to be 1-0 down after ten minutes.

“There was a definite plan and credit to the boys. They have executed the plan 10 out of 10.

“I was disappointed to concede. I would have loved to have rounded it off with a 4-0 win away but 4-1 at Dartford on a Tuesday night is absolutely magnificent so is it our most complete performance? Probably. We were brilliant.”

Less welcome though is news that centre-back Michael Briscoe is likely to need an operation to remedy a back injury that has sidelined him for the last six games.

Should he go under the knife, the former Kidderminster Harriers stopper will face a lengthy period of rehabilitation which could threaten to sideline him for several months, Sinton said.

“Michael Briscoe will probably need an operation on his back so by the time he gets that done and the recovery period, I don’t want to put a timescale on it but we could be looking at February, March or April,” he said.

Briscoe was one of a handful of absentees from last night’s squad due to injury, with defender Chris Blackburn (back) and Jay Smith (abductor) also sidelined for several weeks.

Darren Byfield and Ryan Valentine, who also missed last night’s match, could return to the side for Saturday’s game against Grimsby Town though.

Byfield failed a fitness test yesterday before the game due to a hamstring injury while Valentine was laid low through illness.