AFC Telford 4 Nuneaton Town 1 - match report

A bumper crowd, an unbeaten team and four fabulous goals - AFC Telford United's cup of cheer truly runneth over.

Midfielder Phil Trainer was the star of the show with two terrific strikes to help sink 10-man Nuneaton Town.

But there were reasons for optimism wherever you looked at the New Bucks Head as Andy Sinton's men notched up a fifth win in six.

In front of an impressive turnout of 2,371 - which included around 300 vocal Nuneaton fans - the Bucks once again signalled their intent.

Their early success has been built on a solid defence as well as a free-scoring attack, and it was goalkeeper Ryan Young who made sure they didn't fall behind with a terrific save to deny Adam Walker.

Trainer then served a first warning of what was to come as he found space inside the six-yard box only for Nuneaton No 1 Danny Alcock to make a smart save with his legs.

It was shaping up to be a competitive clash at that stage, so Trainer's 24th minute opener - a dazzling flick up, turn and finish - was a boon for the home faithful.

Yet the real turning point came on 38 minutes as visiting midfielder Kyle Storer was given his marching orders for raising his hand to Telford's Liam Murray.

Defender Murray had gone in hard on Lee Moore and might have been lucky to escape with a yellow card himself, but Storer's inflammatory reaction was plain stupid and let referee Mark Duncan with no choice.

From there, Telford - with confidence sky high - were never likely to pass up on the chance for more goals.

Andy Brown headed in a second six minutes into the second half following a spell of intense pressure.

The visitors, in their first season back at this level after promotion from the Southern League, fought bravely and had half-chances to reduce the deficit.

They might have thought their numerical disadvantage was about to be wiped away on 70 minutes too, as Young stumbled out of his own area still clutching the ball.

But while at Vauxhall two weeks ago the keeper had seen red, this time he rightly escaped with a booking.

And the door was slammed shut in Nuneaton's faces just six minutes later when winger Greg Mills gleefully capitalised on a slip by Stuart Pierpoint, surging into the box before unleashing a left-footed belter that dropped in off the underside of the bar.

Justin Marsden - who along with Moore and defender Simon Forsdick made up a trio of former Telford men in the visitors' line-up — grabbed a consolation for Nuneaton with a sweet 87th minute strike.

But the drama wasn't over as Trainer added his second in the first minute of stoppage time with a rasping daisy-cutter.

Still Nuneaton might have got a second as they were awarded a penalty of their own when Moore's cross struck Shane Killock's arm.

Killock and sub Philip John were booked for their outspoken protests, but they need not have worried — Young pushing Rob Oddy's spot-kick onto the post then smothering the rebound.

The frustrations of the 1-1 draw at Redditch just 48 hours earlier were completely banished by this stage.

Telford now go into September with their promotion credentials established. Maintaining their high standards now becomes the goal.

By Chris Hudson