Worcester 0 AFC Telford United 3 - Match report

The Blue Square Bet North table will make for very impressive reading if you are an AFC Telford United fan.

This routine 3-0 victory over Worcester City sent the Bucks to the top of the table and re-ignited their title charge as promotion rivals Alfreton and Nuneaton both suffered defeat.

Having taken 22 points from a possible 24, the Bucks are certainly motoring into gear at just the right time as we head into the final 10 games of an intriguing season.

The win over Worcester was another three points on the board but it was far from Telford at their fluent best.

A Shane Killock brace inside the first quarter had them in command and Sean Newton's free-kick five minutes before the interval meant the game was over as a contest by half-time.

The Bucks were by far the better team throughout the 90 minutes, but were assisted by some abject defending from the home side — for who keeper Dean Coleman had one of those days where he will have wished the ground would swallow him up.

Telford's opener came after a lightening fast start by both teams in the bright spring sunshine.

Worcester forced the early play but the visitors hit them with a sucker punch on four minutes. Greg Mills was brought down on the left hand touchline and Newton's teasing delivery found the run of Killock who arrived in acres of space to glance the ball past the outstretched arm of Coleman and into the far corner.

The home side responded well with former Telford man Mark Danks stinging the hands of Ryan Young and Dean Glover denied by an offside flag.

But as the half wore on Telford settled into their stride on an appalling pitch and began to open up the Worcester defence.

Set-pieces were providing plenty of joy for the Bucks with both keeper Coleman and the bulk of his defensive unit at a loss with how to deal with anything swung over by the boot of the excellent Newton.

So it was no surprise when Killock doubled his and Telford's tally with a bundled second from a Newton corner. The full-back's delivery from the right cannoned of the skipper's shin and somehow evaded the crowd of players in the home penalty area to sneak past Coleman.

Again the home side responded and again it was the dangerous Danks who went close — this time the striker was off target with a back post header when well placed.

But the game was well and truly up for the hosts when Newton added the third shortly before the interval. Josh Emery felled Adam Proudlock wide on the right and Newton's free-kick beat Coleman at his near post.

It capped an afternoon to forget for the home stopper who repeatedly flapped at crosses, mishandled shots and sliced backpasses.

So much so, that one successful clearing kick was greeted with ironic cheers from the home faithful, although he, and the other 21 players, were not helped by a hard, bobbly pitch that did not lend itself to conjusive football.

With the job done, the Bucks sat back and enjoyed an afternoon in the sun in a second period devoid of too much creativity.

Proudlock did well to force an opportunity for himself on 49 minutes when he juggled his way into the penalty area before sending a left foot volley wide, while Andy Brown should perhaps of added a fourth when he connected with Proudlock's centre six yards out only to see Coleman deny him.

Midfielder Craig Rodgers then headed just wide while Phil Trainer, on his 100th appearance for the club, tried to celebrate in style with an overhead kick which was narrowly off target.

The hosts offered little threat to Young's goal with sub Marc McGregor heading straight at the Telford stopper with a little over 10 minutes to go.

And with the game safe Andy Sinton was able to introduce Congolese substitute Yannick Salem to life in the Blue Square North for the final few minutes with the striker coming on in place of Andy Brown for his debut.

The striker barely touched the ball as the Bucks saw out the closing stages to take their seat at the top of the table.

Match analysis by Alex James