AFC Telford boss excited by prospect of play-off fight

Boss Andy Sinton paid tribute to Blue Square Bet North champions Alfreton - and urged AFC Telford United to attend to "unfinished business".

The Bucks thrashed Vauxhall Motors 4-1 on Saturday, meaning that they went to Gloucester City this afternoon already guaranteed of a top three finish.

But Alfreton's 4-0 victory over Redditch put them eight points clear with just two games to go, sparking wild celebrations at The Impact Arena and leaving Telford to focus on promotion through the play-offs.

"Congratulations to Alfreton," said Sinton. "From six or seven weeks ago we were living in hope rather than expectation of what was going to happen.

"We just wanted to make it last as long as we could and keep putting pressure on them, but they are too good a side and too strong a squad.

"They've got 25 players, they paid big money for some of them and they've got five or six strikers who could probably walk into any other side in the league other than ours.

"They are the best side in the league but we are the second best at the moment, with some business to attend to."

Sinton is also keen to see his players handle the demands that will come with playing a two-legged play-off semi-final and, hopefully, a winner-takes-all final on Sunday, May 15.

The regular season finishes next Saturday with the visit of Harrogate and the play-off semis will take place on May 3 and 8.

"Destiny is in our own hands but I don't want to put them under too much pressure," said the Telford chief. "I've been trying to shield them from that all year.

"I'm excited about the next three weeks. I'm sure the fans are and I know the players are."