TELFORD lifted themselves to the top of the league with this win on Saturday over an Altrincham side now having to look over its shoulder at the chasing teams in the race for the play-off places.

Altrincham were unsettled from the start as, first Lawrie, and then Richman each suffered a facial blood injury in the opening stages, which meant that Alty played with 10 men for several minutes.

Telford, smarting from a 6-1 reverse in midweek, were stronger in the challenge and took an 18th-minute lead.

A hopeful ball into the Alty box was met by a header from Grogan whch gave the Bucks the lead.

Alty suffered a further blow just before half-time when striker Damian Reeves went down injured and had to be replaced by Kyle Perry.

Telford doubled their lead six minutes into the second half.

It came when Lawrie fouled Owens as he advanced up the middle of the pitch.

From McGinn's free kick, Byrne's run went unchallenged as he headed the ball past Coburn.

The final nail in Alty's coffin arrived after 67 minutes when a long throw by Telford was cleared to Farrell. From just outside the box, his shot deflected off the advancing Scott Leather and made it 3-0.

Six minutes later, there was briefly hope of an unlikely comeback when James Walshaw outwitted Telford keeper Young and got on the end of a long clerance from Leather.

Having rounded the keeper, Walshaw scored from right of goal.

But Altrincham were not able to score again, though both Densmore and Walshaw went close.

So, the Robins now travel to bottom-placed Workington, on Tuesday, needing a win to help to secure their play-off position ahead of the in-form Guiseley and Boston United.

ALTRINCHAM Coburn, Densmore (capt), Griffin, Rodgers, Havern, Leather, Richman, Moult, Walshaw, Reeves, Lawrie. Subs: Marshall, Doughty, Wilkinson, Perry and Saunders