Match report by Chris Hudson

Hundreds of fans dancing a jig of delight on the pitch, Que Sera Sera echoing through the stands.

It was celebrations such as these that had filled the dreams of the AFC Telford fans making the trip to York in the hope of witnessing an FA Trophy miracle.

In the event, they were left to troop out of Kit-Kat Crescent in defeat, while behind them the sound of popping champagne corks signalled the start of a party that looked set to go on long into the night.

There could be no complaints about the result as York proved the better side in both legs and ultimately progressed with relative ease.

The Bucks had needed to start with a bang if they were to get back into the contest, and they threatened to do just that in the first few minutes.

They carved out their first chance just seven minutes in, when a neat passing move saw Liam Blakeman tee up Andy Brown, but the striker’s shot was well saved by keeper Michael Ingham.

The impressive contingent of 689 away fans, who had greeted their side onto the pitch with a dramatic white smoke canister, were certainly encouraged by what they saw.

And Telford continued to look sharp and incisive until they were caught out by some sloppy defensive work on 16 minutes.

Gathered

Possession was lost all too easily in midfield and James Meredith was caught out of position as York full-back Ben Purkiss gathered Levi Macken’s long ball and squared for Richard Brodie to score.

Now 3-0 down on aggregate, Telford’s task started to look all-but impossible, and York could in fact have increased their advantage still further before the break.

Simon Rusk could have added to his goal in the first leg when he got the better of centre-back Stuart Whitehead but, with Brodie in support, he went for goal and saw his effort blocked by keeper Ryan Young.

And, just moments before the interval, Adam Boyes headed wide with the goal at his mercy.

Aggression

Telford had to score quickly in the second half for any chance of a sensational turnaround, but their aggression manifested itself in the wrong way when Lee Vaughan was caught stamping on Boyes.

The full-back escaped with a yellow card but the home fans let him know exactly what they thought, booing his every touch after that point until he was substituted with a little under a quarter of an hour to go.

The Minstermen made the game safe beyond all doubt when a mix-up in the Bucks’ defence allowed Aussie striker Daniel McBreen to run onto Boyes’ flick-on and blast home.

Substitute Onome Sodje could even have bagged another but the hosts now stepped off the gas and Telford did at least finish strongly – their own replacements Simon Forsdick and Steve Jagielka making a positive impact.

They got their consolation four minutes from time, Meredith crossing and Brown flicking in at the near post.

It was Telford’s first goal in four games but not enough to prevent a fourth straight defeat and the final whistle promptly gave the signal for the jubilant home supporters to pour onto the pitch.

To watch the York players gathering in the main stand to accept the adulation of those fans, you could be forgiven for thinking they had won the Trophy already.

Yet, this is a club that has been hit by disappointment on top of disappointment in recent years, and only the most cold-hearted of observers could have resented their moment of joy.

For Telford, the sadness should not linger long.

They have come a long way in a short space of time and their season is far from over yet.

Tonight, they head to Hinckley looking to get their promotion challenge back on track.

Don’t bet against them going back to York next season in search of revenge – this time in the Blue Square Premier.