AFC Telford forward Danny Carey-Bertram is mobbed by his team-mates after giving United a 3-0 lead. Picture by James Baylis

It was a night that was all about reaching the destination, and not the journey to get there.

All that mattered to everyone associated with AFC Telford was getting to the Blue Square North play-offs, not the style with which they did it.

A good job too, as this was a spectacle that will certainly not live long in the memory.

• For pictures click here

It was a comfortable victory for the hosts, who scored their goals early in both halves to ensure a largely nerveless evening.

The Bucks have now booked their place, and results elsewhere mean they have even given themselves the faint chance of a top three finish.

Gateshead, Southport, Telford and Alfreton are the teams that will battle it out for the second promotion spot – Tamworth sealing the title by virtue of their win over Hinckley.

Gateshead or Southport now look the likely opposition for Rob Smith’s side in next week’s two-legged semi-final and, with key players to return from injury, they should fear neither.

They conclude the ‘regular’ season with the visit of the new champions on Saturday, and several key players will doubtless be taken out of the firing line for that one, wrapped up in cotton wool to protect them for bigger days ahead.

Smith knew a win last night would afford him that luxury, though Droylsden’s draw at Stalybridge meant their place was secure whatever.

They never looked in danger against a Linnets side already condemned to finishing in the bottom three, and took control from the start.

Kick-off was delayed when the originally appointed referee was taken ill, with Andy Garratt rushing to Telford from Walsall to deputise.

When we did get going, it took the Bucks a little more than five minutes to move ahead, Danny Carey-Bertram lashing in from a tight angle after a slip-up by defender Brian Moogan.

If the fans thought that would signal the opening of the floodgates though, they were sorely mistaken.

Instead the game degenerated into a rather scrappy and disappointing affair, with neither keeper drawn into serious action before half-time.

About the only incident of note was a clash of heads that left James Meredith’s nose in pieces and forced him to go off early.

The second half got off to an altogether more explosive start, with two quick goals getting the play-off party well and truly swinging around the New Bucks Head.

First Phil Trainer finished in devastating fashion to double the lead and register the sixth goal of his loan spell.

Then Carey-Bertram took his Bucks tally to 19 with his second of the night thanks to another piece of deadly shooting that gave helpless keeper Kyle Clancy no chance.

That effectively signalled game, set and match for the Bucks and boss Smith’s thinking was clearly along the same lines – as he instantly withdrew centre-back Gavin Cowan.

The former Shrewsbury and Nuneaton man will now get a much-needed week’s rest before the play-offs begin next Wednesday.

Telford continued to dominate after the change, with Clancy saving from substitute Lee Moore, who had replaced Meredith earlier in the piece.

Carey-Bertram also drilled a shot wide as he went for his hat-trick after good approach play by Trainer.

The pace of the game dropped as time wore on, and the result became academic in any case as news filtered through that Droylsden had failed to win their game.

Telford never do things the easy way, though, and they suffered a setback when Indy Khela hobbled off with a pulled hamstring inside the final quarter of an hour.

He will now play no part in the play-offs, making the decision to give Stuart Whitehead and Cowan a rest look even more sensible.

Those two will doubtless have a big part to play in the drama that is yet to unfold.

Telford have already played 64 games in this remarkable season and are desperately hoping there are four more to come.

In what has been an incredible journey of several highs, and the odd low, they are still looking to make the Blue Square Premier their final stopping point.

By Chris Hudson