AFC Telford 3 Redditch 1 at the New Bucks Head

The true spirit of AFC Telford United was evident - on and off the pitch - as Andy Sinton's men saw out 2010 in style.

Victory over Redditch means they will enter the New Year at the summit of the Blue Square Bet North.

Yet the credit for that success belongs not only with goalscorers Carl Rodgers, Andy Brown or Adam Proudlock - or even with manager Sinton.

Instead, it is the dozens of hardy volunteers who gave up a huge chunk of the Christmas holiday to shift hundreds of tonnes of snow and ice who should also be taking a bow.

Their efforts enabled the Bucks to get the better of Mother Nature - a rare victory indeed on a day when every other game in the league was postponed.

The manner of Telford's first half performance especially was a fitting tribute to those labours.

Their passing was crisp, their movement quick and their finishing deadly as the gulf between the top and bottom of the table was exposed ruthlessly.

Rodgers served up a late Christmas present for the home fans with a scorching opener on 11 minutes - a long-range shot that fizzed like a firework and ricocheted in off the inside of the post.

The Worcestershire visitors are enduring a torrid season beset by financial woes but showed there is still some fight left in the tank as they drew level.

Josh Quaynor's 20-yard bullet might not have been quite as dramatic as Rodgers' effort just minutes earlier, but it bounced wickedly in front of keeper Ryan Young to momentarily silence the healthy home crowd.

Had Redditch been able to stay on level terms up to the break it might have been a different story.

Yet the Bucks were back in front less than two minutes later as Brown finished with clinical precision.

On the half hour it was three as Proudlock bagged his 10th in just 12 appearances as the floodgates threatened to open.

Experienced former Kidderminster keeper Dean Coleman was certainly earning his wages for Redditch, denying Brown twice in quick succession as the chances continued to flow.

The usually-deadly marksman also headed wide with another golden opportunity as half-time loomed.

Redditch had barely got near the Telford goal and looked devoid of any confidence, though Young had to be alert to push a deflected Matt Smith shot over the bar on the verge of half-time.

But the hosts went in for their half-time break in complete control and most fans were surely looking forward to a second half goal-fest.

That wasn't to be as the pace of the game dropped, though Telford still had the chances to extend their advantage.

The lively Greg Mills and Brown both fired over while Proudlock provided one moment of comedy as he turned Lee Ayres inside out with a piece of sublime skill before scuffing a horror-shot that curled away for a throw-in.

Courtney Pitt provided late interest, coming off the bench to make his debut with a 10-minute cameo as Telford saw the game out with no scares.

He even had a chance to mark his first appearance with a goal, blasting a 20-yard free-kick over the crossbar.

Coleman also produced another fine double save from Brown and Trainer in what was a clear man-of-the-match display for Redditch.

Telford will know there is still much work to be done and Alfreton remain in a strong position, just one point behind with three games in hand.

Only if they are still holding top spot come the end of April will the champagne corks start to pop at the New Bucks Head.

But they can go into 2011 with self-belief at an all-time high and a genuine belief that the best is yet to come.

By Chris Hudson