United we can do it - Carter

Hundreds of AFC Telford United fans were today heading north to cheer their team into a “lion’s den” at Barrow for their big play-off showdown.

Chairman Lee Carter expected around 300 supporters to make the 300 mile round trip for the semi-final first leg as the Bucks begin their quest to reach the promised land of the Blue Square Premier.

And Carter will ditch his suit tonight to join those fans on the terraces and cheer his side towards what he hopes will be a famous victory.

“I think we’re up to three coaches now, and with a lot of people making their own way too, I think we’ll be up to at least 300 fans,” said Carter last night.

“I’m going to be stood with them because I appreciate them going so much - and I’m just a fan myself.

“We’re going into the lion’s den up there and we all have to be together and be counted because it’s going to be tough.

“Barrow is not the type of place you can just get to after work so it’s superb that we have so many going all that distance.”

Telford completed their preparations with a light training session on the New Bucks Head pitch last night - and team boss Rob Smith believes they are now as ready as they’ll ever be.

“The main thing is that we’re not depleted.

“We’re going to have a strong team and a strong bench,” he declared. “For the first time in a long time there’s going to be a decent player left out of the 16.

“We’ve got a real headache but we’re glad about that ,and we’ve got a decent squad, so there will be no excuses.

“The big thing we’re emphasising is keeping it tight for half an hour.

“If we can get to half-time with a clean sheet then I really think we can go on and nick it.

“We’ll be trying to make Barrow come out and go for goal and maybe we can catch them.”

The second leg is at the New Bucks Head on Sunday (3pm), with the winners going through to the final at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium on Friday, May 9.

The away goals rule does not apply in the Blue Square play-offs and, should the semi-final score be level after both legs, then the match will be decided by extra-time and, if necessary, penalties.

Barrow officials this morning insisted their Holker Street pitch was playable - but admitted concerns would rise should heavy rain hit Cumbria throughout the day.