Hat-trick ace was nearly replaced

Boss Rob Smith paid tribute to AFC Telford United's seven-minute hat-trick hero Andy Brown – and admitted he was lucky to still be on the pitch.

Brown's quick-fire treble turned Saturday's Blue Square North clash with Hucknall on its head as the Bucks came from behind to win 3-1.

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The summer signing registered his first in the 81st minute and then went into over-drive to extend Telford's unbeaten run to 12 games.

"Andy's on a good spell at the minute and fair play to him, because I thought he had a pretty poor game if I'm honest," Smith declared.

"I didn't think he was quite at the races and I almost took him off at one point but he's gone and got a hat-trick so what do I know!"

Smith had warned his side they might have to bide their time against bottom-of-the-table Hucknall.

And so it proved, as the Nottinghamshire outfit took a shock lead midway through the first half then defended for their lives.

"I didn't expect us to have to be that patient and we made hard work of it because we didn't take our chances early on," the Bucks chief added.

"They had a young kid in goal and we never worked him. They got a classic breakaway goal with their first attack of the game and then we were up against it.

"I thought we showed great character and we had a good option on the bench. We got out of jail, but no-one could say we didn't deserve to win.

"I thought we got the subs right at the right time. Danny (Carey-Bertram) gave us a bit more in the second half and Nayls (Martyn Naylor) changed the game."

Smith also reserved special praise for right-back Lee Vaughan, who deservedly won the man of the match bubbly for his efforts.

"I don't like singling players out because we're in it together, but I thought Lee Vaughan was absolutely unbelievable," he admitted.

"When we had our backs against the wall he just kept going and going and going. I'm so proud of that lad."

By CHRIS HUDSON