Leamington beat Telford to seal sixth-tier return

Leamington's play-off-win ensured an immediate return to National League North after relegation last season

Leamington made it an afternoon to remember as they stunned AFC Telford United on home soil in front of a near 5,000 crowd at the Bucks Head to win the Southern League Premier Division Central play-off final - and earn promotion back to National League North.

Second-placed Telford finished 11 points ahead of Leamington in the end-of-season table.

The American co-owned Bucks were also too good for the Brakes when the two sides met in the league on 6 April, winning 1-0 with a goal from Remi Walker.

But this time it went the other way - and almost to the minute too - as Ewan Williams struck the all-important goal, on 73 minutes.

"We came here five weeks ago and were second best all over the park," Leamington's long-serving manager Paul Holleran told BBC CWR.

"I didn't get it tactically right that day, we tinkered with the personnel a bit - and it worked."

Telford and Leamington, back in their original form, were among six Midlands sides who were founder members of the Alliance Premier League when English football first created a fifth tier in 1979.

They both got relegated together from National League North - the sixth tier - a year ago but Leamington now accompany league champions Needham Market back up.

Telford had closer to 5,000 - one of their biggest gates in years - at the Bucks Head

Although he has experienced a lot of ups, downs, promotions and relegations in his time in charge of the Brakes, Halloran admitted that this one perhaps meant the most - doing it away from home in front of such a large, expectant home crowd.

"It was like a Football League game," he said. "A great crowd - and the lads haven't frozen. That is the most pleasing thing and makes this one more special, to do it away from home.

"Over nine months, you'd expect Telford would finish above with us with what they've got.

"But you just want your players to do all the things you can control, which we did. Five weeks ago here I said the best team won and it was the same tonight.

"Now we can go back up a level we can cope with - that is our level. But we can still go out and have another go."

For heartbroken Telford, watched by lifelong fan and now American-based Chris Ball and his fellow co-owners, it means another season at in the seventh tier.