ONLY a freak set of results will prevent Warrington Town from taking up their place in the play-offs.

Ahead of their final league game of the season, however, manager Mark Beesley has urged his side to leave nothing to chance.

Yellows head to fellow top-five hopefuls Matlock Town tomorrow knowing their spot in the contest for the Northern Premier League Premier Division’s second promotion spot should be secure win, lose or draw.

> Click here to read why Yellows' final-day opponents have been hit with a potentially costly points deduction

They sit third in the table, three points inside the play-off spots but with a goal difference that is 14 better than sixth-place Bamber Bridge.

A win for Town will ensure their play-off semi-final would be played at Cantilever Park against either Bamber Bridge, Matlock or Scarborough Athletic.

However, defeat could mean a fifth-place finish and, in all likelihood, a daunting semi-final trip to second-placed South Shields.

Despite the chances of them not qualifying being seemingly infinitesimal, however, Beesley is expecting a “full throttle” display from his side in Derbyshire.

“Of course, you’d like to be at home but first and foremost, we’ve got to make sure we’re in there,” he said.

“I know it would take a big goal swing but we’ve got to keep our performance level up on Saturday. We can’t take anything lightly and we’ll make sure we’re ready.

“Football’s a strange game – it’s highly unlikely but you’ve seen it happen.

“Once you take your foot off the accelerator, we’re not good when we do that. We need to make sure we stay on full throttle and keep pushing.”

Town received a welcome boost ahead of a season-defining fortnight when top goalscorer Jordan Buckley returned earlier than anticipated from a hamstring injury.

The 18-goal striker came on as a substitute during Yellows’ 2-0 win over neighbours Witton Albion on Easter Monday having missed the previous three games.

With on-loan Preston full-back Lewis Coulton also set to return from a hamstring issue of his own picked up on international duty with Scotland’s under 19s last month, Beesley’s squad is looking healthy.

“He’s a little bit ahead of schedule,” he said of Buckley.

“To have him as well as Josh Amis, who has been doing really well for us, fit and available is a real plus for us.

Jordan Buckley returned from injury from the bench against Witton on Monday. Picture by Lewis Tate

Jordan Buckley returned from injury from the bench against Witton on Monday. Picture by Lewis Tate

“Lewis Coulton should be back – he’s done great for us but has had a tough time.

“He got injured playing for Scotland then got Covid, which knocked it out of him. He’s only done one days’ training in three-and-a-half weeks.

“He might play for Preston in midweek and that will give him a bit of confidence going into the weekend.”