Bucks get set to take on Nuneaton in play-offs

A travelling army of up to 1,000 AFC Telford United fans are being urged to raise the roof as the promotion play-offs get under way at Nuneaton tonight.

Boss Andy Sinton will lead his side into the semi-final first leg clash as Telford aim to make up for the disappointment of losing out to Alfreton in the Blue Square Bet North title race.

Sinton is eager to guide the Bucks to promotion, having presided over three near-misses while in charge of Ryman League side Fleet Town.

And he is urging those at the club who tasted the bitter pill of play-off failure in 2008 and 2009 to use those memories as added motivation.

"I've been a bit unlucky in play-offs before - but that is history," declared Sinton.

"What I would say is that I've got a better set of players here - and I think I've got a mentally tougher set of players to cope with the occasion.

"Some of them have been here before and felt the heartache and I've said to them: 'Do you want to feel that again or do you want to use it to spur you on?'"

Sinton will urge the Bucks to be positive in tonight's first leg at Nuneaton (7.45).

He admits Nuneaton are a strong side in their own right and believes the team that deals best with the pressure of the situation will progress.

"They're a good side but we beat them at home (in the league) and we should have beaten them away," said Sinton.

"We played well but drew 0-0 there. We missed a penalty in that one and we missed chances.

"It's all about who will handle the occasion now, who will handle the atmosphere, who will handle the game.

"It's not necessarily the best side who wins in the play-offs, it's the side who handles it the best. We'll have to go there and be positive."

Meanwhile, Telford chairman Lee Carter has called on the supporters to play their part by roaring the team through to the final.

Five supporters coaches are making the trip to Warwickshire, with hundrefs more making their way by car or train.

"We need as many people as possible to get behind us now," said Carter. "It has to be a team effort — and the fans are included in that."

By CHRIS HUDSON