Ashford United will finally book their place in the play-offs if they win at home to VCD Athletic on Good Friday.

The Vickers have kept their hopes alive with a great recent run which sees them now just five points behind United in Bostik South East.

Ashford have been in the top-five since January but have won just one of their last four games.

Manager Tommy Warrilow said: "As my Mum, God bless her, once said to me, I never do anything easy in my life.

"I'm not going to start saying 'we've got problems here' because we haven't but we're making it very hard for ourselves.

"We're still in control of our own destiny. We've just got to get our heads down and we've got a big weekend coming up with VCD and Hastings.

"If we win on Friday, we're in the play-offs and if we lose Friday, we've got to win Monday and next Saturday.

"One thing I'm not going to do is start panicking and pressuring the lads. Since I've walked in there, we've only had one, perhaps two, poor performances that I wasn't happy with."

Sixth-placed VCD have won five of their last six games to put the pressure on Haywards Heath, in fifth, and Ashford.

"They're the form team," Warrilow said. "VCD have put a run together and they probably thought they'd blown it but once you win one and then another and you've got to play the teams in the play-offs, you think 'hang on, why not?' I'd be doing that if I was the VCD manager.

"Nothing's changed for us but we've got to start taking our chances. Hopefully, on Friday night, we're in the play-offs."

Ashford must be wary of veteran VCD striker Charlie MacDonald, who's scored seven goals in his last four games.

Warrilow said: "Charlie's an out-and-out goalscorer so we know the threat he brings.

"He's coming off the back of a hat-trick as well so if we nullify Charlie, that takes a main goalscoring threat out of their side - but that's easier said than done.

"I'm not going to build Friday up into a must-win game. It's a must-win game for VCD because they're five points behind us.

"No team wants to lose but to help their cause, I think it's a must-win whereas a draw keeps us five points ahead with two games to go.

"We'll be going through it all and I'll tell the boys exactly what I'm saying to you. There's no need to panic, let's go through a few bits and bobs and have a chat about Saturday.

"Emotions were running high after the game. We were all fuming with one person (the referee) so it's best not to go into it and dust ourselves down."

Both the Good Friday game and Ashford's trip to Hastings on Easter Monday kick off at 3pm.