Alfreton Town 4-3 AFC Telford Utd (4-5)

Telford's Danny Edwards celebrates his goal (OTMP)

Telford United just about held their nerve to book their place in Friday's Blue Square North play-off final.

After taking a two-goal first-leg lead to Alfreton, the Bucks were stunned by two home strikes inside 16 minutes.

Telford then levelled by the break and, although Alfreton twice went ahead again, Rob Smith's men hung on.

They now face a long trek to the North East to play Gateshead in Friday night's final at the International Arena (1945 BST).

It was a tense afternoon for the superb 1,109-following who made the journey across the Midlands from Shropshire to Derbyshire.

Telford hopes looked buried when, inside just 16 minutes, a header from former West Bromwich Albion defender Tony Butler and a strike by Anton Brown had wiped out that first-leg advantage.

But Telford had the guts to strike back and, by half-time, had those travelling fans smiling again thanks to their two Danny boys.

Telford man of the match Danny Edwards pulled one back within three minutes of Alfreton's second goal. And Telford's two-goal advantage in the tie was restored when Danny Carey-Bertram struck three minutes before the break.

Paul Clayton put Alfreton back in front four minutes into the second half, only for Telford to respond rapidly once more when Carl Rodgers struck, again just three minutes later.

And, while Anthony Howell's penalty gave the home side hope again, it was Telford who came closest to scoring again in a fraught final 17 minutes.

Steve Jagielka hit the bar although, even then, Alfreton had two good chances. And it needed a superb last-ditch tackle by skipper Stewart Whitehead to ensure that Telford made it safely though 5-4 on aggregate.

Scorers:

1-0 Alfreton (Butler 9)

2-0 Alfreton (Brown 16)

2-1 Telford (Edwards 19)

2-2 Telford (Carey-Bertam 42)

3-2 Alfreton (Clayton 49)

3-3 Telford (Rodgers 52)

4-3 Alfreton (Howell pen 73)

Att: 2,244 (1,109 away fans)