From the moment the league fixtures were published this promised to be a thrilling finale to a long, hard season.
In the end, though, it proved to be nothing more than a training exercise for two teams whose collective minds were far away from the New Bucks Head.
For Tamworth, their midweek title triumph meant their attention was on their promotion party and the prospect of a return to the Blue Square Premier.
For Telford, the play-offs are centre stage on the agenda, and boss Rob Smith’s team selection made it clear where his priorities lay.
Gavin Cowan and Liam Blakeman did not even make the matchday squad, while Carl Rodgers and Phil Trainer were unused substitutes and Lee Vaughan and Jon Adams made only brief appearances.
All six can expect to be involved against Alfreton in the semi-final first leg on Wednesday, though Adams’ chances rest on how quickly he can recover from a re-occurance of his hamstring injury.
Left-back James Meredith and striker Andy Brown should also be fit for that one after their recent injury problems, so the Bucks should go into the biggest games of their season in good shape.
The changes did of course mean opportunities for other to showcase their abilities – and none more so than for teenage midfielder Scott Embrey, a graduate of Telford’s youth side.
Embrey has been seen on bench duty for the Bucks before, but this was his first chance to play a full 90 minutes in front of a large crowd, and he did not disappoint.
The youngster was a hard worker throughout, his tenacity one of the plus points for a crowd that were offered little by way of entertainment.
The makeshift side that lined up against the Lambs held its own and might even have nicked all three points but for a disallowed goal.
Jimmy Turner certainly thought he had notched the opener as early as the fifth minute when he steamed in to meet a Danny Edwards corner and powerfully headed into the net.
Referee Paul Marsden appeared to signal for a goal and Turner wheeled away in delight at having registered against his former club.
Tamworth players surrounded the official, who then awarded a free-kick for a foul on keeper Danny Alcock and the visitors re-started play while Turner was still being mobbed by his delighted team-mates.
That moment of controversy turned out to be the only significant talking point of the afternoon however, as both sides appeared quite happy to settle for a goalless draw.
The second half, in particular, was toe-curlingly painful to watch – and Smith’s substitutions were designed to make sure his big guns remained protected.
Skipper Stuart Whitehead was withdrawn at the break to make way for Jamie Vermiglio, who entered the fray to an emotional standing ovation.
Vermiglio, as the whole football world surely knows by now, had faced the prospect of retirement aged just 26 due to a broken back, but has made remarkable progress and is now well down the road to recovery.
Strikers Danny Carey-Bertram and Matty Lewis also came off in the second period, giving the home fans the unusual sight of right-back Lee Vaughan leading the attack.
He was, as ever, willing, but never looked like notching and it was Tamworth who could have snatched the points at the end – top scorer Gareth Sheldon wasting the clearest opportunity.
Adams hooked over the bar for Telford late on then had to limp off to hand the Bucks another injury worry.
Tamworth can now spend the summer planning for their return to the top flight of non-League football – a prize that will bring them games against the likes of Luton, Wrexham, Chester and Mansfield.
Telford have two big weeks in which they, too, can gatecrash that party.
Two, and hopefully three big games lie ahead before that can become a possibility. They promise to be a whole lot more exciting than this bore draw.
By Chris Hudson
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