Guiseley 0 AFC Telford 3 - match report

A game that was shaping up to be a real classic ended up as a comfortable victory for AFC Telford United.

As a metaphor for the season, it fitted rather well - Guiseley simply ran out of steam and have now lost three in a row while the Bucks marched on regardless.

It's hard to see how the Lions can launch a title challenge from here and Telford are rapidly starting to look like the only side with even half a chance of stopping the Alfreton juggernaut.

There is nothing they can do to halt the Derbyshire side's progress, having played them twice already.

But they can exert as much pressure as possible — and their rivals must have sat up and taken note of this impressive result.

There was little to choose between hosts Guiseley and the Shropshire side in what was a high class first half.

The home side had their chances, notably when loan keeper Aaron McCarey went walkabout to gift James Walshaw a clear sight of goal but the usually prolific marksman pulled his shot so far wide that it curled away for a throw-in.

Telford's exceptional defence, with loanee Mark Preece proving an able replacement for the unavailable Stuart Whitehead, was otherwise rarely breached.

And at the other end they created chances with some super attacking moves that frequently the recalled Adam Proudlock.

His strike partner Andy Brown had come in for some flak last Tuesday for a number of misses and must have feared another frustrating day when he side-footed over the bar at the end of one incisive attack.

But he got the reward he deserved for his work-rate and awareness when he opened the scoring just a minute before the break — turning in from inside the six-yard box when Proudlock found him from Sean Newton's corner.

Guiseley were still right in it at that stage and started the second half well and they were maybe unlucky not to win a penalty when Preece appeared to hold back Walshaw.

Joe O'Neill then found himself clear through on goal but pulled his shot well wide.

Those let-offs galvanised the Bucks, who went on to take control and dominated the last half hour.

They were two up on 77 minutes when Carl Rodgers started another fine move with a great midfield interception and then got forward to finish off after Proudlock's shot was saved.

That as good as secured the points but it was clear they were not about to shut up shop and settle for what they had.

Brown was so close to his second when Trainer whipped in a cross from the left and the striker's header was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Steven Drench.

The former Nuneaton man then turned provider, laying off Sam Gwynne's cross for substitute Alex Meechan — who saw his shot come rebounding back off the post.

But the third goal finally came when Jon Adams popped up with in injury-time — latching onto a long ball and beating Drench at his near post to put the cherry on the icing of a particularly tasty cake.

That gave the scoreline a gloss that Telford thoroughly deserved and left them trailing second-placed Alfreton only on goal difference — albeit having played four games more.

It was a performance reminiscent of the early games of the season.

And, if Telford can finish as prolifically as they started, the title race may not be over just yet.

Match analysis by CHRIS HUDSON