The Bucks thumped title-chasing Merthyr Town 4-1 on a soggy night in south Wales.

Match highlights

Match report

The hosts started on the front foot and were probably the better side in the opening exchanges. But it was the Bucks who took the lead in the 19th minute through Dylan Allen-Hadley. Jordan Cranston’s freekick was headed on by Oli Cawthorne, and Allen-Hadley did well to collect the ball around the penalty spot before tucking it just inside Jaimie Cogman’s left-hand post.

As conditions worsened and the rain became biblical, the game became end to end, with both sides creating good chances. Remi Walker hit the post for the Bucks, while Lee Lucas had a glorious chance for the Martyrs on 41 minutes when he was set free down the left but dragged his shot wide of goal.

Lucas was in the thick of it not long after when he clearly headbutted Jimmy Armson right in front of the referee, which led to the Merthyr man, and the Penydarren Park faithful, seeing red. The Bucks then landed a telling blow of their own, as Ammar Dyer made it 2-0 in the fourth minute of added time. Having cut into the box on the right, Dyer fired a low, left foot shot through a crowded area, across Cogman and into the far corner.

There were some ugly scenes as the teams left the pitch at half time, with the home side still unhappy about the decision to send Lucas off. In the tumult, Merthyr assistant Andrew Smith was dismissed, and it looked like Martyrs boss, Paul Michael was fortunate that he didn’t suffer the same punishment. 2-0 to the Bucks at half time.

A man to the good, Kevin Wilkin’s men looked to press home their advantage after the break and nearly made it three on 51 minutes when Armson headed Jamie Meddows’ cross narrowly wide of the post. But the Bucks didn’t have to wait long as in the 55th minute Meddows broke away down the left and found Walker, who confidently swept the ball high into the net from six yards out.

Allen-Hadley had the ball in the net again on 63 minutes, but the goal was ruled out for offside despite it appearing that Jay Williams was playing the Telford man onside. The hosts then grabbed a goal back in the 73rd minute; the Bucks failed to deal with a corner and Cole Jarvis finally forced the ball past Josh Gracey after a couple of attempts.

But the Bucks restored their three-goal lead in the 77th minute as Allen-Hadley grabbed his second goal of the game. Khanya Leshabela drove forward and slid through Allen-Hadley who calmly steered his shot past the advancing Cogman.

Wilkin’s men looked like they might add a fifth against a tiring Merthyr backline, but if finished 4-1 to the Bucks. A brilliant comprehensive win that lifts the Bucks to 8th in the table.