They are not there yet – not by a long chalk – but the top flight of non-League football looms larger today than ever before for AFC Telford United.

Nobody in the Bucks dressing room last night was foolish enough to believe they had got the job done, and there could yet be surprises in store for Sunday’s second leg before we can think about a possible final.

But stage one could hardly have gone better as the Shropshire side took an iron-clad grip on the tie.

Twelve months ago it was the same situation in reverse, as Telford fell by an identical scoreline against Barrow at Holker Street.

They talked the talk after that, but could not deliver back on home soil – the deficit simply too daunting to reverse.

This time they travel to Alfreton with something tangible to defend and a real belief that promotion is within their grasp.

This squad, which has enjoyed so much success this season, should be too strong, too experienced and too savvy to let the chance to progress to the final hurdle slip through their fingers now.

One cloud hung low over the New Bucks Head – influential loan midfielder Phil Trainer sent off with just minutes remaining for an alleged head-butt.

Under play-off rules his ban will be immediate, unless a successful appeal is made in the next couple of days, ruling him out of the rest of the promotion drive.

There is no doubt that is a substantial blow, and his influence on his side was in evidence throughout the game.

Telford had the better of the first half, though they struggled to force keeper Stephen Dickinson into a save.

It took 25 minutes for them to register a meaningful shot, Emeka Nwadike turning and scuffing a shot wide off that man Trainer’s cross from the left flank.

Liam Blakeman saw another effort deflect off defender Butler, but not with sufficient power to catch out Dickinson.

Danny Carey-Bertram and Trainer then flashed successive shots just over the bar inside a minute just past the half hour.

Alfreton’s only effort of note had come from full-back Matthew Wilson, who blazed over from 12 yards off a corner.

The Bucks got a dream start to the second period though, as they took the lead within three minutes of the re-start.

Nwadike was the ecstatic goalscorer, firing in against his former club after Carey-Bertram’s shot on the turn had come back off the post.

It might have got better just past the hour mark as Lee Vaughan and Carl Rodgers swapped a quick one-two and the full-back, on his wrong foot, drilled in a shot which was deflected wide for a corner.

Brown, linking up well with his strike partner once again, then side-footed over the bar from the edge of the box as the Bucks continued to take the game to their visitors.

The Derbyshire men should have been level on 74 minutes when Telford’s defence uncharacteristically left Clayton alone on the edge of the box.

The ball deflected into his path and, with all the time in the world, he inexplicably dragged a half-hearted shot wide of a grateful Ryan Young’s goal.

Telford had breathing space though, when they doubled their advantage 12 minutes from the full-time whistle.

It was Danny Carey-Bertram who applied the finish – his 20th goal for the Bucks and his 22nd of the season in total – though much of the credit had to go to Brown for the through ball and Vaughan for his tenacity to get there ahead of centre-back Tony Butler and get the cross in.

The big talking point came with six minutes to go as Trainer was accused of putting is head in on Alfreton right-back Matthew Wilson.

Bootle referee Peter Bankes – who also sent Meredith off when he refereed the Bucks’ game at Fleetwood earlier in the season – flashed a red card straight away, booking Wilson for using his arm in retaliation.

Most observers in the ground – myself included – were mystified by the decision, though video evidence is far from conclusive.

Trainer’s ban will be immediate – the rules operating in the play-offs different to those in the Blue Square North, where there is a two-week delay before a suspension kicks in.

Still, there is enough quality in this Telford side to cope with his absence for the return leg, providing they keep their focus.

A professional job in that one will set-up the biggest match in AFC Telford’s history.

It’s often said the play-offs are a lottery – but the Bucks have their eyes firmly set on the jackpot.

By Chris Hudson