Rob Smith, manager of AFC Telford United

So that was 2009-10, and may it please be erased from the memory banks as fast as humanly possible.

With defeat to in-form Workington on Saturday went all mathematical hope of an improbable Blue Square North play-off place.

In truth, everyone at AFC Telford United had already accepted their fate before the long trip north to Cumbria, but there’s still something terribly final about the league table.

The Bucks, down in 11th place, now face a fight just to make sure of a top half finish, and no-one would have predicted such a predicament back in August when optimism ran high.

Telford could not be accused of giving up the ghost at Borough Park, and their spirited performance deserved more reward.

It was certainly a world away from the dire offering they served up at home to Gloucester on Easter Monday just a week ago.

Yet the familiar pattern of individual defensive mistakes and wasteful finishing meant that it was Workington celebrating a seventh straight win while AFC Telford now have just one victory to their name from their last 10 outings.

“I don’t know what we’ve got to do to win a game of football,” said exasperated manager Rob Smith. “We bossed it from start to finish in my opinion.

“What’s cost us is soft, soft goals and a bit of composure in front of goal.

“The effort and commitment was there and it was good performance, but it’s just not our season.”

The first half was punctuated by a couple of injury setbacks for the visitors, with Adam Dugdale suffering a bloody blow to the nose before Jon Adams limped off with a pulled hamstring.

Andy Brown had the best opportunities to break the deadlock, firing wide off a superb free-kick by Liam Blakeman then going close with a lob from the right of the area that had keeper Tony Caig scrambling back.

Yet the Bucks were undone just three minutes before half-time, arguing with the referee as Workington took a quick free-kick.

Shaun Vipond was released and his shot went in off the diving hand of Ryan Young, the keeper later admitting he should have done better,

Telford were better in the second half and applied pressure on the promotion-chasing Reds’ defence.

The hosts were finding it increasingly hard to clear their lines and cracked on 54 minutes, Phil Trainer with a crisp volley for his 10th goal of the season.

But they were level for less than four minutes, Workington restoring their lead from a poorly defended free-kick conceded by skipper Stuart Whitehead.

Gari Rowntree’s 25 yard strike cannoned off the defensive wall and straight to the feet of Tony Hopper, whose first-time shot struck the far post and rebounded up into the roof of the net.

Telford, to their credit, did not give up and had chances to salvage at least a point.

Substitute Lee Vaughan was only denied by a fabulous save from Caig, who somehow deflected the defender’s rasping daisy cutter – which was destined for the bottom corner – over the bar.

Fellow sub Mark Beesley then struck the post with another piledriver, Brown making a hash of the rebound.

And the lively Matty Blair was let down by his finishing with two late sights of goal.

Workington were reduced to playing on the counter-attack, though they should have had a third goal when breaking three-on-two.

Vipond really should have passed, but elected to go alone and was foiled by some alert goalkeeping from Young.

“People have accused our players of not earning their money etc, etc, but I can’t see it myself,” said Smith.

“It was a long journey, a hot day and we had walking wounded, but I thought the lads gave it as much commitment as in the first one or two games.

“It just wasn’t our day and that sums the season up again.

“We just have to get to the end of the season, write it off and start again.”

By Chris Hudson