Hyde 0 AFC Telford 3 - match report

Three second half goals made it a happy Monday for AFC Telford United - and kept them in the title mix.

Boss Andy Sinton had been unimpressed by his side's workmanlike display in the opening 45 minutes at Hyde.

But he admitted he had been forced to ear his own words after dishing out a real mouthful at the interval.

"It was an outstanding win but having said that I didn't think we were at the races for the first-half and for the first time in a while there were some really strong words said at half-time," said Sinton.

"The players rammed those words back down my throat which is what I want. The second-half was like chalk and cheese compared to the first.

"We were on the front foot, I don't think we lost a header, we bossed it and we scored some good goals."

There were plenty of notable faces in the crowd at Ewen Fields, with Alfreton chief Nicky Law able to see at first hand that his side are far from home and dry just yet.

Harrogate manager Sim-on Weaver was looking on as well while there was also Football League representation — with Port Vale boss Jim Gannon and Bury supreme Alan Knill taking the chance to go talent spotting.

All of them would be forgiven if they had dismissed the Bucks as a rather mediocre side during what was a disappointing first half.

Greg Mills fired a shot into the side netting in the first 30 seconds but that did not prove the prelude to a thrilling contest.

Instead, the Bucks would threaten just once more before the break, Andy Brown drawing a great save out of keeper Russell Saunders off a Mills cross before Jon Adams found the side of the net again off the rebound.

At the other end, Hyde were relying on the long ball but could find no way past a stingy defence well marshalled by recalled goalkeeper Ryan Young — who was brought back in after completing a four-game ban.

Hyde kept up the pressure at the start of the second half but still found it difficult to create opportunities.

They were made to pay just short of the hour when Phil Trainer bundled the ball in from close range to break the deadlock.

And that set the stage for an impressive last half hour that saw the visitors notch twice more to take their tally for the season against Hyde to eight for no reply.

And while the opener had been a scrappy effort, the rest were all straight out of the top drawer.It was Greg Mills who added the second of the night, and his first since returning for a second loan spell, the winger collecting a pass 25 yards out and unleashing a rocket that was still accelerating as it bulged the net.

Hyde were still reeling from that spectacular effort when Telford put the outcome beyond all doubt with an equally eye-catching third.

This time it was Jon Adams who cut in from the left and smashed a rasping strike that deflected in off Brown, the opportunistic striker quick to try and claim the goal for himself.

Telford could, and probably should have had a fourth as well, Alex Meechan letting a great chance go begging deep into injury-time.

He found himself through one-on-one with keeper Saunders after running onto a Brown flick-on but lost the ball in trying to go round the No 1.

That would only have put another layer of icing on what was already a very tasty cake for Telford, though.

The Bucks had more than done enough by that stage to guarantee the points - and keep it tight at the top.

By CHRIS HUDSON