There have been some great nights and some famous victories since AFC Telford United rose from the ashes of its financially-crippled predecessor – but this against-the-odds triumph surely tops the lot.

Many thought the Bucks had blown their chance of FA Trophy glory when they conceded that late equaliser at home on Saturday.

Still more would have nodded in agreement when the red mist descended for Lee Vaughan and the Shropshire side were reduced to 10 men with almost an hour of play to go.

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Yet the men in white-and-black responded with such determination, pride and sheer-minded stubbornness highlighted when Carl Rodgers bundled in the winner from close range.

Boss Rob Smith deserves a pat on the back as well. So many managers, when faced with reshuffling their side after a red card, opt to take off a striker and pack the defence.

Not so Smith, who left his front two in place and instead removed the unfortunate Jamie Vermiglio to shore up his defence with the addition of Indy Khela.

The midfielder’s back injury has now been identified as being so severe that he had to sign a disclaimer waiving Telford of any responsibility for him should he play.

If this is to be the last of Vermiglio we see in a Telford shirt, and we desperately hope it is not, then at least he can hold his head high knowing he helped take his side a step closer to a famous day at Wembley.

Vaughan’s contribution to proceedings was less glorious. He had been giving as good as he got in his personal duel with Southport dangerman Kevin Leadbetter until their rivalry came to blows.

Leadbetter dragged the full-back to the ground and appeared to try and hold him down, but that did not excuse the punch Vaughan delivered as he tried to get up.

The red card shown by referee Steve Ruston was inevitable, though the Telford faction justifiably felt Leadbetter should also have been heading for an early bath.

Up to that point chances had been at a premium, as might have been expected in a match between the sides with the best two defences in the Blue Square North.

Steve Daly should have done better after a slip by Gavin Cowan but could only fire straight at keeper Ryan Young.

Cowan was involved at the other end too, heading inches over off a corner, while Danny Carey-Bertram hooked an effort wide off a long clearance by Young.

It seemed the game had turned irrevocably in favour of the hosts when Vaughan got his marching orders but the Bucks held on to the break and Smith then set about organising his side.

With Khela slotting in to form a three-man central defensive unit and Jon Adams switching to right wing-back, they rarely looked troubled in the second half.

Ciaran Kilheeney did have one effort from close range blocked for a corner but Young was otherwise only called upon to deal with crosses and set-pieces.

Telford, by contrast, always looked like they could cause problems for Southport when they ventured forward and visibly grew in confidence as it began to sink in that the Sandgrounders were not hurting them.

The winner duly arrived after another masterful switch by the manager, who brought on Andy Brown for the final 10 minutes.

It appeared to be a risk – Brown was known to be carrying an injury and the prospect of 30 minutes of extra-time was also rolling out in front of him.

Instead, the striker turned creator with his very first touch, getting a head onto Liam Blakeman’s free-kick for Rodgers to apply the final touch from close range.

The last nine minutes – and the five minutes of injury-time that followed – must have felt an eternity for the Telford fans, who celebrated the final whistle with understandable glee.

A two-legged semi-final with York is their reward for a victory that will live long in the memories of their fans.

Whatever happens in that one, it will have to go some to live up to the nail-biting drama of this February night at Haig Avenue.

By Chris Hudson