Report from BBC "Beds Herts & Bucks"

[Webbo MFI]

 

.......Afterwards a triumphant St Albans City manager Steve Castle paid tribute to his players.

 

"For the last two or three months my players have not really given up on any of these games and they've given me their all for 95 minutes" he said.

 

"I'm really pleased that they've got some reward at the end of the season."

 

He also had a dig at the organisation of these play-offs which saw their prospective opponents being changed twice in as many days.

 

It fact there were reportedly some fans of Lewes turning up at Bedford's New Eyrie ground before the match, still expecting it to be their side that played the Eagles.

 

"The atmosphere was tremendous but I think it would have been a lot better, and a lot better supported had the Ryman League organised it as well as they should have done" he added.

 

 

But he also thanked Bedford Town for being magnanimous in defeat and sending a bottle of champagne to the dressing room afterwards!

 

"It was very good sportsmanship" he said. "Let's hope that with all this debacle of the organisation, that they get an invite to the Southern Conference as well.

 

"I think everyone has agreed that it was a complete and utter shambles."

 

And if Steve Castle had already had an extraordinary day, it was just about to get even more unusual. Instead of just having a normal celebration - he was heading off to his own stag do!