AFC Telford United boss Andy Sinton has hailed their dramatic play-off escape act as a potential defining moment in the race for promotion.

The Bucks came away from Nuneaton Town with a 1-1 draw in their play-off semi-final first leg last night – but only after midfielder Phil Trainer had headed an injury-time equaliser.

And Sinton believes the sensational late twist to the clash has lifted his side’s morale and dealt a serious blow to Nuneaton’s ahead of the return at the New Bucks Head on Sunday.

“I think we would have been getting on the bus a little bit bewildered had we lost the game because we were the better side for 70 per cent of it,” said Sinton.

“It’s never over until the fat lady sings but sometimes in a tie, sometimes in a season, there’s a defining moment.

“I’ve been in these sort of big games where you concede in the last minute and they’ll take some picking up after that. It was almost like a defeat for them.”

There were officially 689 Telford fans in a crowd of 2,089 at Liberty Way last night, though that figure did not include the visitors in the unsegregated main stand.

And Sinton paid tribute to those followers – before asking for more of the same in the second leg.

“The support for Telford was phenomenal so thanks to all the supporters who travelled,” he said. “Even at 1-0 down they were singing and willing the boys to do it.

“We’ll try and put on a performance on Sunday and get the result.

“This is why we train and this is why we play – to be involved in games like this.

“I’d ask the whole of Telford to come out on Sunday and try and get us over the line.”