Hednesford 2 Telford 0 - Report and pictures

First-half goals from former Buck Kyle Perry and Adam Thomas left the Telford management staring down the barrel of the drop.

The gleeful home faithful made sure every bit of salt was rubbed into the duo's wounds.

The healthy Bucks following were left less than impressed as a bleak second-half showing left them pointless and lacking in Christmas cheer.

There were brief cheers in the final moments as former Telford man Phil Trainer, who had been immense for the hosts, was dismissed for his part in a 20-man melee as tempers boiled.

AFC Telford United: Montgomery, Samuels, Brownhill, Hutchison, Deaman, Tonks, Rea (c), Clancy, Wynter (Rowe, 45), Hibbert, Peniket (Austin, 45).

Subs not used: Dawson, Reid

Hednesford Town: Crane, T Williams, Regan, Bailey (c), Digie, Trainer, Obeng (Todd, 76), S Williams, Perry, Ennis, Thomas (Disney, 90)

Subs not used: Ransome, Johnson, James

With a bitty opening that included head injuries to Telford men Graham Hutchison and Tom Tonks, the hosts enjoyed the first attempt on goal, with Perry lashing a half-volley wide at the near-post from 20 yards.

Telford replied with a wild effort of their own, with Hutchison working space after a flick on from Tonks' missile throw-in, the defender can only volley well over from a tight angle.

After early stoppages, Bucks goalkeeper James Montgomery pulled-up with a finger problem.

He was immediately rushed down the Keys Park tunnel, and with no replacement on the bench, there was an agonising 10 minute break on play as the visibly dislocated finger was put back in place.

After brief argie-bargy between Larry Chambers and Perry, pantomime villain Montgomery return to the visiting goal and was OK to continue.

With the significant pause in play not helping the game's already-struggling quality, chances were at a premium but Tonks' eyes lit-up just after the half hour mark.

Pitmen skipper Ben Bailey's header was all wrong and the breaking Tonks was suddenly in on Dan Crane, but he took his eyes off the ball and a poor touch eventually saw it fizzle out.

With 10 minutes of normal time in the first half remaining, the clearest chance of the day came and went in a heartbeat.

Not for the first time, a horror defensive mix-up from Hednesford allowed Dave Hibbert all of the time in the world to pick out Sean Clancy, who had broke the Pitmen defence.

Clancy, with an age to pick his spot, lofted a dinked finish over the outcoming Crane but the ball dropped agonizingly over the crossbar.

Straight down the other end and the hosts created their best opening, Phil Trainer's industry created an opening for Perry who fired a fierce left-footed effort to the near post, where Montgomery palmed away.

But with 42 minutes on the clock, the hosts livened up things by breaking the deadlock.

Terrific work from left-back Matt Regan saw him beat a Tonks challenge and whip in a perfect cross towards Perry, which the forward met with a thumping header that beat Montgomery via the crossbar.

Perry lauded up the home adulation as his former supporters in the away end looked on in disbelief.

It got worse for the Bucks, little more than a couple of minutes later and Thomas had lashed in a fabulous header.

Paul Ennis was involved in the build-up as he switched to the right flank, his nifty footwork allowed some space to lift a cross towards Thomas, who had switched to the left.

The former Stoke City youngster lashed in an unstoppable volley high beyond Montgomery from the edge of the penalty area.

Half-time subs Sam Austin and Ryan Rowe were on for Jordan Wynter and Richard Peniket respectively.

And the Bucks were more lively at the beginning of the second period but despite increased pressure, a wild Tonks shot over was all they had to show for it.

The Bucks' effort was there but quality was lacking by a distance, Samuels released the off-pace Hibbert but the forward was forced right.

He laid it back to Austin whose drilled cross-shot flashed straight at Crane.

His clearance released final sub Callum Hassan, but the striker ran out of steam and was caught by Kennedy Digie.

With 15 minutes remaining, Austin's free-kick was met by Deaman who climbed well, but header flashed across goal and wide.

Hassan wasted the next opening, volleying a presentable opening well over from the edge of the box.

With five remaining and the home crowd gloating to the returning Smith and Chambers, Montgomery was on hand to parry a low Thomas free-kick, before former Buck Andy Todd headed a sitter over the top.

With the crowd enjoying the outcome with chants and jeers, tempers boiled over and Trainer was dismissed for his part in the melee.