AFC Telford Utd 4 Hinckley United 2

Match report by Chris Hudson

After 10 goals in two games no-one can say it is boring watching AFC Telford United this season.

The Bucks showed some glimpses of their undoubted potential last night as they deservedly notched up their first win of the season.

See our match photo gallery here

Hinckley had kept a clean sheet on the opening day of the season, but found Telford far too hot to handle.

It should have been more comfortable, though, and manager Rob Smith will have been disappointed to see his defence breached twice for the second game in a row.

The loss of Indy Khela - who has dislocated a shoulder for the third time in his career - was a blow, especially with defensive options so restricted with others sidelined.

They should still be disappointed, though, by the way a limited Hinckley side managed to expose them at times.

Skipper Stuart Whitehead said in an interview in the match programme that questions would be asked if such a promising unit started to leak too readily, and you can bet Smith has already forcefully done the asking.

Still, it was gripping entertainment for the paying punters - and everyone of a white-and-black persuasion can be excited about the strike partnership of Terry Fearns and Andy Brown.

Fearns marked his home league debut with an exhilarating hat-trick, while Brown opened the scoring to take his tally to two for the season.

The duo appear to have an excellent on-field understanding - and it is hard to imagine them failing to add plenty more to their tallies over the next nine months.

Hinckley included four former Bucks in their starting line-up - goalkeeper Chris MacKenzie, midfielder Richard Lavery and striker Gez Murphy having played for the old Telford United while midfielder Lee Chilton had a short spell with the current incarnation.

The quartet, though, were eclipsed by the class of 2008-09 - Telford playing some exciting and incisive attacking football.

This game seemed to be in their control from the moment Brown fired them ahead in the sixth minute, the former Nuneaton man applying the finish after good work from Steve Jagielka and Emeka Nwadike.

Brown could easily have added to that tally, his movement off the ball and his direct running in possession repeatedly leaving the Hinckley defence at sixes and sevens.

The visitors should have levelled on 42 minutes, Chilton presented with an open goal inside the six-yard box but somehow contrived to hit the bar.

That astounding miss looked all the more costly as Telford broke with devastating effect, Brown turning creator and teeing Fearns up to fire past MacKenzie and double the advantage.

That seemed to have killed the game, though Hinckley gave themselves a lifeline as the Telford defenders backed off once too often and Andy Hall made them pay with a blistering 25-yard drive into the top corner on the stroke of half-time.

Fearns had a second within two minutes of the re-start, ghosting past sub Tom Bonner and then rounding MacKenzie to score.

The hosts continued to press forward, Smith introducing Lee Moore and then teenager Jarred Stevens for his debut as the half wore on.

The duo both caused problems for an over-stretched Hinckley defence - but the Leicestershire side were inexplicably back in the game as more slack work from the Telford rearguard allowed Alex Taylor to pounce.

The home side must have feared their luck was turning, especially when referee Patrick Keane dismissed what looked a strong shout for a penalty when Fearns was clipped by Tom Birch.

Still, it mattered not as the deadly Scouser popped up again minutes later to complete his hat-trick and give his side some valuable breathing space.

They saw the game out with ease from that point and enjoyed the celebrations at the final whistle.

It was certainly a night to remember - and it could just be the start of a season that lives long in the memory, too.

MATCH FACTS:

AFC TELFORD: Young, Naylor, Jagielka, Cowan, Whitehead, Vermiglio (Fitzpatrick 65), Adams (Moore 54), Nwadike, Fearns, Brown (Stevens 72), Blakeman. Subs not used: Rodgers, Embury. Booked: Moore (86) - trip on Bonner.

HINCKLEY: MacKenzie, Roma (Bonner 34), Franklin, Lavery, McIlwain, Birch, Hall (Lloyd 65), Gooding, McPhee, Murphy (Taylor 54), Chilton. Subs not used: Butcher, Platneuer. Booked: Lavery (28) - foul on Cowan.

REFEREE: Patrick Keane (Bilston).

ATTENDANCE: 1,792 (including 38 from Hinckley).

GOAL LOG:

1-0 Brown (6) - Jagielka lobbed the ball into the box and Nwadike got in front of Murphy to head down for the gleeful striker, who buried the chance.

2-0 Fearns (43) - keeper Young bowled the ball up the left flank for Brown and he ran on before crossing for the Scouse marksman, who swept the ball in.

2-1 Hall (45) - a fabulous 25-yard strike that flew into the top right corner past astonished keeper Young.

3-1 Fearns (47) - latched onto a long ball and went round sub Bonner before skipping past MacKenzie and side-footing in from a tight angle.

3-2 Taylor (76) - the sub buried the loose ball from 10 yards out after Young had failed to hold onto Chilton's initial effort.

4-2 Fearns (81) - latched onto a ball from deep on the right and calmly looked up before sliding his shot under MacKenzie.