Buoyant Bucks in mood for Barrow

Boss Rob Smith today put down a marker for AFC Telford United’s play-off semi-final first leg at in-form Barrow, insisting: “We’re going there to win it.”

The buoyant Bucks finished their league programme with a 3-1 victory at Burscough on Saturday to seal a second place finish in the Blue Square North.

That has set up a two-legged semi-final with a Barrow side who have put together an 18-game unbeaten run that has seen them climb from the relegation zone to snatch an unlikely play-off place.

The Cumbrians’ impressive form has seen them installed as the bookies’ favourites to go on and win promotion, but Smith insists Telford will go to Holker Street in a positive frame of mind.

“A good result for me would be to win it,” he declared. “We want to go up there and win the game, because I think they’ll be just as tough at our place on Sunday as they will be up there.

“If we came back with a draw then we’d take that, and the main thing is to come back with the game alive - but we will be going for the win.”

Assistant manager Larry Chambers was delighted with Saturday’s win - Telford’s third in a row - and believes that sequence will stand them in good stead for the week ahead.

But he insists they will have to play better than they did at Burscough if they want to be successful.

“It’s a fantastic achievement by everybody - and in that I include Del (Derek Wellings, the kitman), the chairman and the directors - to finish as runners-up in our first season in this league,” said Chambers

“But we’ve won nothing, have we? I think the hard work starts on Wednesday.

“The last three performances have been good, but I don’t think we played particularly well on Saturday and the first half was poor.

“We know when we go to Barrow we will have to be a lot better, but it was a difficult scenario at Burscough playing against a team that has nothing to play for.”

Telford have been allocated a maximum of 450 terrace spaces at Barrow’s Holker Street for Wednesday’s first leg, though the match is not all-ticket.

Supporters can book spaces on the club’s official coaches by calling 01952-640064. It’s £12 a seat and the departure time from the New Bucks Head is 2.45pm.

The second leg at Telford on Sunday (3pm) will NOT be all-ticket for home fans.

By Chris Hudson