AFC Telford 3 Nuneaton 1 - Report and pictures

Daniel Udoh, Brendon Daniels and Darryl Knights struck in a mostly dominant display from the Bucks - all after Carl Baker had a penalty saved for the visitors.

Udoh got the opener, which was vastly deserved on the balance of play, in typically cool style before Daniels grabbed the spotlight with a stunning free-kick and Knights seemingly wrapped up proceedings at the New Bucks Head.

But Mike Calveley grabbed a late consolation for Jimmy Ginnelly's men.

The result leaves Telford, who had lost three on the bounce going into the match, eighth in National League North - outside the play-offs on goal difference.

Three changes were made to the side which fell to a 2-1 defeat at Chester last weekend. Knights, Jon Royle and Ryan Barnett replaced Steph Morley, Henry Cowans and James McQuilkin in an attack-minded line-up.

Struggling Nuneaton, who had former Wolves goalkeeper Adriano Basso on their bench, were keen to sit back and release the speedy Dior Angus - leading the line on his own - on the counter-attack. And that approach almost paid dividends, just a few minutes into the clash.

Angus found space on the left-hand side and broke into the box before going down under pressure from Theo Streete. The striker did not appear to be touched, but referee Scott Simpson swiftly pointed to the spot.

Ex-Coventry midfielder Baker took on the responsibility, only to be denied by a strong Andy Wycherley save. A weak attempt, low to the keeper's left, and justice seemingly served.

Buoyed by Wycherley's work, the Bucks began to pile the pressure on the visitors.

Daniels thought he had opened his Telford account with a powerful header. It looked destined for the net, but Cam Belford clawed the ball away in magnificent fashion. Top-drawer stuff.

Udoh was then found, by a perfectly-weighted Royle pass, and went to pull the trigger as Nat Kelly superbly slid in and stopped the Bucks top scorer in his tracks.

Another couple of questionable Simpson decisions came along, with Amari Morgan-Smith whistling an effort wide around the 25-minute mark, and some home fans started to get a bit restless.

But, fortunately, Cowan's charges kept their emotions in check and broke the deadlock before the interval.

Udoh controlled Ellis Deeney's over-the-top pass with his chest and wrong-footed Kelly before his strike nestled in the bottom corner - taking a slight deflection on its way through.

Telford, given their dominance, would have felt aggrieved had they not been in front at the interval.

They started the second period seeking a second goal, to put the game to bed.

And they should have doubled their advantage a couple of minutes after the restart.

Royle did well to break to the byline and stick a cross to the far post, where, somehow, Daniels nodded wide. He was only a few yards from goal.

But what he lacked with the header, he more than made up for with a free-kick soon after.

He confidently struck the set piece from 30 yards, and the whip he got on the ball left Belford stranded as it flew into the top corner like a rocket. Excellent technique.

And it did not take the Bucks long to find a third. Knights let fire from the edge of the box, and a wild ricochet meant Belford was unable to make the save.

The comfortable lead put Telford at ease and allowed them to take some precautionary measures.

Udoh, who opened the scoring with his 15th of the campaign, was taken off, with Saturday's game against his old club Leamington in mind. Andre Brown was the one who came on, in search of a confidence-boosting goal.

Nuneaton, frankly, were proving every bit a bottom of the table team, but one of their players did emerge with a fair amount of credit.

Angus, who had the thankless task of chasing countless long balls up top, kept plugging away and forced Wycherley into a couple of stops.

Yusifu Ceesay was also introduced, in place of Morgan-Smith, and Morley for Knights.

In all fairness, the Bucks took their foot off the gas as the affair drew to a close.

And Nuneaton got their goal. Wycherley could not get across to deny Calveley from point-blank range.

A solid victory for Cowan and his Telford players, despite disappointingly conceding at the death - and one you would expect them to replicate in the reverse fixture on New Year's Day (1pm kick-off).

But the next test is against the Brakes, who will pose much more of a threat to the Bucks, at the weekend.

Teams

Telford (3-5-2): Wycherley; Streete, Sutton (C), White; Barnett, Royle, Deeney, Knights (Morley, 79), Daniels; Morgan-Smith (Ceesay, 73), Udoh (Brown, 65)

Subs not used: McQuilkin, Cowans

Goals: Udoh (42), Daniels (51), Knights (54)

Nuneaton (4-5-1): Belford, Obeng, Addison, Calveley, Kelly; Panayiotou (Leek, 73), Baker (Morrison, 84), Hildreth, Lyne (Jennings, 55), Kelly-Evans; Angus

Subs not used: Basso (gk), Edmunds

Goals: Calveley (90)

Referee: Scott Simpson (Stoke)

Attendance: 1,524