It is on wet, windy and icy-cold afternoons such as this that upsets so often occur – so it is to AFC Telford’s enormous credit that they did not become the latest statistic. 

Rewind just four years and you would find a four-division gulf between Football League side Boston and the newly-formed Bucks.

Boston Utd 1 AFC Telford 2 in pictures
 

The fortunes of both clubs since then have been hugely contrasting, to the extent that it was Telford who were clear favourites to win this FA Trophy tie at the Staffsmart Stadium. 

In fairness to the Pilgrims, they gave a good account of themselves and actually had their visitors on the ropes in injury-time. 

As it was, the Bucks held on, booking their place in the last 32 thanks to 15 minutes of sustained good play just before the break when they scored twice. 

That brief spell was really the only period of excitement on what was a rather dour contest – not that anyone of Telford persuasion will be complaining about that. 

Their side has lost just once in 21 outings dating back to early September, and is now in serious contention for two cups and the Blue Square North title. 

Boston, who have struggled on their own patch this season and had several players missing through illness and injury, rarely looked like they could upset the applecart. 

They saw plenty of the ball, particularly in the opening half-hour, but lacked the cutting edge to break through an organised defence. 

Steve Melton stung keeper Ryan Young’s hands with a well-hit strike from the edge of the box, while David Farrell was well off target with another effort from further out. 

But it was Telford who finally showed the more invention, winning a penalty when Lee Moore surged into the box only to be brought down by Farrell. 

Danny Carey-Bertram was the man entrusted with the spot-kick, but Boston No 1 Martyn Margarson hurled himself low to his left to pull off an excellent save – the first of several for the former Rushden man. 

That only seemed to fire Carey-Bertram up, however, and – after a needless booking for kicking the ball away – he made amends with the opening goal. 

Boston substitute Mitchell Griffiths effectively gifted the chance, giving the ball away to Terry Fearns inside the six-yard box. 

It is a clear sign of just how depleted Boston were that Griffiths, making only his second senior outing, had earlier on Saturday morning played 45 minutes for his side’s youth team. 

Fearns was in no mood to turn down a freebie and, after evading two rather half-hearted challenges, he slipped the ball to Carey-Bertram, who coolly dispatched it past Margarson. 

If there was some fortune about that goal, the second was quite special – Fearns with some super skill to bring the ball under control and play in Steve Jagielka. 

The midfielder then played his part with a delicious lob that gave Margarson no chance – Jagielka was turning away to celebrate even before the ball hit the net. 

The Bucks could have added one or two more in the second half, though Boston had their moments as well. 

Indy Khela was guilty of an error to let Adam Millson in, but the opening was snuffed out by the impressive James Meredith, who dashed in to clear. 

Boston’s top scorer Ollie Ryan was also proving a handful and he seemed set to score when he ghosted past Gavin Cowan, only to be stopped in his tracks by a challenge from Khela. 

The home fans screamed for a penalty, but the defender clearly got the ball first and referee Ian Rathbone was unmoved by the appeals. 

Ryan also struck a goal-bound shot that hit fortunately-placed Telford sub Jamie Vermiglio in the back, but there was always a sense a goal was coming. 

It finally arrived late on when Jon Rowan headed in off Melton’s corner. Boston then swept forward in injury-time but could not force a replay.

By Chris Hudson