Boston 3 AFC Telford 0 - Report

Jay Rollins struck twice for the hosts, either side of Mani Dieseruvwe's penalty, as the Bucks slipped to 18th in the National League North table.

Rob Smith's men - nine points clear of the drop zone, with four games to go - should stay up, but supporters will be hoping for much better performances than this before the end of the season.

Analysis

Going this encounter, Telford had won their last two games while Boston had picked up four points from their previous two.

The Bucks made two changes from the 1-0 victory against Worcester City the weekend prior as Josh Wilson and Dan Westwood came in for injured duo Eddie Jones and Zak Lilly.

Wilson, whose preferred position is as a centre forward, was playing as a deep-lying central midfielder, while Westwood was making his first start since jumping up four divisions from West Midlands Premier side Wolverhampton Sporting.

York Street - a proper good, old ground - was bathed in sunshine as Telford almost went behind early on. Louis Briscoe's free-kick in the fourth minute was, just about, tipped onto the crossbar by Shrewsbury Town loanee Callum Burton.

The Bucks were really struggling to get going on a very dry, bobbly surface and undone by a long ball, and a flick on, as Boston took the lead in the 11th minute.

Just after Connor McCarthy had a tame effort saved, a big clearance made its way to Rollins, who smashed the ball low, into the far corner of the net past the helpless Burton.

Telford's midfielders were struggling to get on the ball, and then keep it, on the difficult surface in the opening 25 minutes, while strikers Lee Hughes and Westwood hardly had a touch.

Much more was needed, both on and off the ball, from Smith's charges and they improved a little as the first half drew to a close.

Hughes, when you definitely would have backed him to score, had a close-range effort saved by Boston keeper Ross Durrant after going clean through on goal, while Joel Dielna also went close with a free-kick.

No changes were made by either side at the interval and the second period started as the first finished, with Telford very much in the game. Hughes, playing on the shoulder, found space once again in the 53rd minute but his effort was blocked.

As has been the case on a fair few occasions this term though, the Bucks proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot as Dielna gave away a penalty just before the hour mark, nudging Dieseruvwe having initially been out-muscled by the striker.

The Frenchman was booked and the Dieseruvwe made no mistake from the spot, sending Burton the wrong way.

Looking to avoid conceding any more goals, Smith quickly made two defensive changes as Jack Rea replaced Westwood, and Luke Higham came on for Dielna.

It was hard to make out what the formation was though, and it was not long before they went 3-0 down as Rollins stroked the ball into the net from a couple of yards out in the 72nd minute.

Elliot Hodge entered the fray, in place of Connor McCarthy, after that goal but Telford were still struggling and could have conceded a few more had it not been for some sharp stops from Burton.

Ultimately, the Bucks were very much second best here. Yes, they are pretty much safe but a lot of these players need to be showing much more if they want to be at the club next term.

Key moments

4 - Boston win a free-kick in a dangerous position. Louis Briscoe takes it and Telford keeper Callum Burton, with the sun in his eyes, just manages to tip the winger's curling effort onto the crossbar.

11- Goal! Boston go 1-0 up through Jay Rollins. The lively winger finds space after a long clearance and hits the ball with pace across goal, beating Burton and finding the bottom corner.

33 - Joel Dielna's free-kick floats over everybody but Boston keeper Ross Durrant, who does well to palm the ball away in a packed penalty area.

42 - Lee Hughes breaks clear of the the home side's defence but his shot is soft and straight at Durrant. That is a big miss, and unexpected given how many of those chances Hughes has put away over the years.

59 - Penalty to Boston! Dielna loses a battle of strength with Boston's Mani Dieseruvwe and, in trying to win the ball back, he bundles over the tall striker and is cautioned.

60 - Goal! Boston double their lead as Dieseruvwe coolly slots the ball home from the spot. The Kidderminster Harriers loanee has caused a lot of problems for the Bucks backline.

72 - Goal! Boston go 3-0 ahead as Rollins get his second. After a good initial save from Burton, Briscoe squares the ball for the unmarked Rollins to tap in. Very sloppy defending from Telford.

Teams

Boston (4-3-3): Durrant; Thomas, Batchelor, Brown, Yeomans; Vince (Hilliard, 54) Chapman, Broadhead (Bishop, 82); Rollins, Dieseruvwe, Briscoe (Simmons, 76)

Subs not used: Clarke, Robinson

Telford (4-4-2): Burton; Samuels, Havern (c), Bailey, Dielna (Higham, 67); Marsden, Fitzpatrick, Wilson, McCarthy (Hodge, 74); Hughes, Westwood (Rea, 62)

Subs not used: McCone, Reynolds

Attendance: 1,006

Referee: Garreth Rhodes

Position in the table

18th (40 points from 38 games)