What a scene it was: more than 1,000 Bucks fans packed into the International Arena after making the long, long journey to Gateshead for the play-off final, writes Joes Davies.

The lads have been supported through thick and thin over 66 games this season, but the 66^th game was just one too many after a season consisting of great runs in the FA Cup, FA Trophy, Setanta Shield as well as a long hard league season.

Rob Smith, Larry Chambers and all the lads have done a great job again this season and have done everyone at AFC Telford proud, but what a disappointment it is to miss out on Blue Square Premier league football next season.

It would have been some achievement for the club in only its fifth year since reforming, but it was always going to be hard travelling all that way on a Friday night and playing against a well organised Gateshead side.

Confidence amongst the Telford fans was high going into the game but tension was building quickly prior to kick-off and the game began as a fairly tense affair.

The first half passed with few chances for either side, although Danny Carey Bertram perhaps could have done better with one chance.

The second half wasn’t much better in the way of chances but as soon as Lee Vaughan was red carded for his second bookable offence it wasn’t going to be our day.

After saying that, it wasn’t a spectacular goal that beat us. Surely someone should have got in front of the ball? It must have travelled all of 30/35 yards at a fairly slow pace through a large number of people before bouncing into the net without so much as a slight flick.

Down to 10 men and with only eight minutes to go Gateshead simply shut up shop and The Bucks had no chance of getting back into it.

The reality is that we will once again be in the Blue Square North but Rob and Larry know what they are doing and have already said that changes will be made at the club and to the side.

Hopefully we will be back stronger again next year and can finally get back into the top flight of non-league football.

Whatever happens, one thing is for certain – the outstanding support given to the club will remain and every single fan will be back next year, and every one of them will be expecting the same kind of attitude and commitment from the team in order to gain promotion.