Tamworth needed a last-day win over Forest Green to beat the drop but at the end of the day they will play in the Conference next season as well after the most dramatic of endings. The season started like a fairy tale as Gary Mills' men secured a number of impressive wins in the early weeks and in September were sitting second. They maintained the tempo but the Lambs paid the price for their success in the early weeks of October when Mills accepted the challenge of managing York and Des Lyttle was given the task of reviving morale and keeping the side up. The rookie manager was off to a slow start in the league but the FA Cup exploits kept the morale high as League One side Crewe were dumped and the Lambs also came close to beating Carlisle. However, a dangerous 11-game winless run in the league saw them slide towards the bottom of the table. However, January was an excellent month as Lyttle finally found an established 11 and lead his side to perceived safety in mid-table. However, key man Alex Rodman was snapped up by Aldershot and the form started to dip sharply. A number of defeats meant that the club was still not safe despite the cushion and the confidence of the players was suffering. Costly defeats against direct rivals like Altrincham, Hayes & Yeading and Forest Green in March left them in precarious position and it seemed like the pressure is getting the better of Lyttle. Still, it was a major surprise when he quit the job just two weeks before the end of the season after a row with the directors. Suddenly it was panic time and legend Dale Belford was given the task of saving the club. He secured a big win at York in his first game but then a defeat at home to Southport meant that it will go down to the wire. Thus, the home game against Forest Green had to be won and the Lambs defied the absence of number of important players to race to a 2:1 win that sealed safety. They made it the hard way but it was sweeter at the end as the Midlands club now look forward to the close season.
