Emeke Nwadike is mobbed after scoring Telford United's opener

Two second-half goals gave AFC Telford United the edge in their Blue Square North play-off semi-final first leg against Alfreton at the Bucks Head.

Midfielder Emeke Nwadike's first goal of the season put Telford ahead.

But Danny Carey-Bertram's soft, late close-range effort ("the best worst goal I've seen", said Telford boss Rob Smith) wrapped up the victory.

There was an ill-tempered climax to the night when the Bucks finished with 10 men following Phil Trainer's red card.

But Telford are in the box seat and expect to take a 1,000-strong following to Derbyshire to defend their lead on Sunday for the second leg at The Impact Arena (3 May, 1500 BST).

Alfreton, who finished ahead of the Bucks in third place in the table, did not carry much threat. But Josh Law wasted their best chance with the score still 1-0 and they also had an argument that Telford's scrambled second goal might not have crossed the line.

Scorers:

Telford 1-0 (Nwadike 48)

Telford 2-0 (Carey-Bertram)

Telford boss Rob Smith told BBC Radio Shropshire :

"I'd have taken a goal lead and I would not have been disheartened at 0-0, so to take a two-goal lead is great.

"It was blood and thunder, a real tight affair and nothing we didn't expect.

"And I'm gutted about Phil Trainer being sent off as we've got video evidence which shows he didn't do anything. He's not that sort of player.

"We had this ref at Fleetwood. He gave us nothing then and he gave us nothing tonight.

"That was Emeka's first goal for us this season and what a time to do it. As for Danny's, it was an awful goal, the best 'worst goal' I've seen in my life.

"But I've always said this tie is about what happens on Sunday, so now we've got to go and finish the job.

"It's a lions' den at Alfreton and we know what we can expect."

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