FC set for final-day thriller

Source: Bury Times

4:12pm Wednesday 22nd April 2009

DANNY Williams’ last-gasp winner mean FC United will go into Saturday’s nailbiting final day of the season knowing victory will all but guarantee them a play-off place.

The super sub’s scrambled 89th-minute strike at title-chasing Ilkeston, coupled with Bradford Park Avenue’s shock defeat at second-bottom Leigh on Tuesday night, kept alive the Rebels’ hopes of a fourth successive promotion.

Three points against rivals Bradford at Gigg Lane will secure Karl Marginson’s side a top-five finish in the UniBond Premier League – unless Kendal Town go goal crazy against Buxton.

With one game to go for all the promotion hopefuls, the breakaway club now sit in fifth – the final play-off spot – on 71 points, the same number as Bradford and Kendal but with a goal difference of plus 24, compared to 22 and 21 respectively.

Victory on Saturday would see them finish above their Yorkshire rivals, but Kendal could snatch the final place if they beat mid-table Buxton by three more goals than the Reds beat Bradford.

If United draw against Bradford then they would need both Kendal and Hednesford, who entertain Leigh, to drop points. Third-placed Nantwich and Guiseley, one place below them, could still miss out on the end-of-season shake-up if they lose in an incredibly close finale to the season.

Carl Lomax is available after serving a one-game ban, while and 24-goal top-scorer Kyle Wilson could play some part following three months out with a knee injury