The Bucks recorded their biggest win of the season on a day that was marred by an injury to Lowestoft keeper Warren Burwood.

Kevin Wilkin’s men took the lead in the first minute after some lax defending from the Trawlerboys that saw the ball break to Matty Stenson, who was left clean through on goal and duly slid the ball under Burwood to make it 1-0.

The Bucks were well on top and fashioned a number of good chances in the opening stages, but it wasn’t until the 20th minute when the lead was doubled. Dylan Allen-Hadley received the ball in the right channel, jinked passed his marker and fired a low shot across the keeper to register his first goal for the club.

It was 3-0 moments later when Stenson smashed a freekick from the edge of the box under the wall and into the bottom corner. And the Bucks’ top scorer then completed his first hattrick for the club in the 29th minute. Jahdahn Fridye-Harper sent a long ball into the inside right channel for Stenson, who collected, drove away from the defence and fired the ball under Burwood for 4-0.

The game was then suspended for over an hour after a serious injury to Lowestoft keeper Burwood. A low ball across the box resulted in an accidentally collision, which left Burwood with a long, deep cut to his head. The Trawlerboys keeper remained conscious but couldn’t be moved off the pitch without the correct medical supervision. He was then taken to the Princess Royal Hospital for scans, and Lowestoft have reported that Burwood is alert and communicating.

Understandably, proceeding felt a little flat after the restart, with the intensity of the game dropping somewhat. In the lull, the Bucks gave the ball away cheaply in midfield, and the Trawlerboys pounced. Lowestoft worked a neat move from left to right, with the ball squared across to captain Travis Cole to turn home from close range. Almost immediately, though, the Bucks went down the other end and restored their four-goal advantage – Allen-Hadley squaring for Stenson to tap home from close range to make it 5-1 at the break.

The second half saw the Bucks well on top without ever really getting out of first gear. Stenson grabbed his fifth goal of the game in the 71st minute, as he once again raced clear before slotting under young replacement keeper Ronnie Yeo. Byron Moore then added the final flourish for the Bucks in the 86th minute. Allen-Hadley weaved his way passed a couple of defenders before sliding the ball through to Moore who coolly slotted home from ten yards out to make it 7-1.

It was certainly a very good Friday for Matty Stenson, who broke two club records in one afternoon. Stenson’s five-goal haul is the most scored by an AFC Telford United player in a competitive fixture, and those strikes move his tally for the campaign to 31, which is the most scored in a single season (all competitions).

But despite the Bucks’ biggest win of the season, there was a distinct sombre feeling at full time in light of Burwood’s injury. Everyone at AFC Telford United would like to wish Warren a speedy recovery, and a huge thank you to the medical staff and volunteers who dealt with everything in an excellent manner.