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Ashford United gearing up for the Bostik South East play-offs

Ashford will be going all-out to secure home advantage in the play-offs on Saturday.

The Nuts & Bolts are preparing for a semi-final on Monday night but the venue and opposition have yet to be decided.

United could face Hastings home or away while a trip to runners-up Horsham awaits if they drop to fifth on the final day of the regular season.

Ashford qualified for the play-offs with a 3-1 win over VCD Picture: Chris Davey
Ashford qualified for the play-offs with a 3-1 win over VCD Picture: Chris Davey

Ashford, in fourth, host fifth-placed Haywards Heath on Saturday while Hastings, two points above them in third, go to second-bottom Greenwich.

But with Borough knowing anything other than a win could see them relegated, nothing can be taken for granted on what promises to be a day of drama in Bostik South East.

Ashford boss Tommy Warrilow said: "To finish third, we’re relying on Hastings to slip up at Greenwich Borough who are fighting for their lives so that’s not going to be a stroll in the park.

"It would be nice to get home advantage. Horsham have got home advantage, finishing second, but I’ve seen second lose to fifth before.

"To finish third and get home advantage in the semi would be nice.

"With the play-off games being on Monday and Friday, it’s getting to the games as well.

"We’ve got good support at Ashford so to have it at home, we’re going to have more vocal backing than we get away. When you’re at a club like Ashford, it would help.

"It’s not the be-all and end-all but for our fans, it would help to finish higher. But we went to Hastings on Monday and were disappointed to come away with a draw.

"I fancy us against anyone, home or away. We’re looking very strong."

Sam Corne returns for Ashford on Saturday and back-up goalkeeper Lee Hook will rejoin the squad for the play-offs.

United have taken 45 points from Warrilow's 22 games in charge and he's delighted to have ignited their promotion hopes.

He said: "When we first came in, the target was the play-offs and we’re going into them playing well.

"I’m really pleased with our record. What normally drags you down is too many draws but we’re either one or the other (winning and losing) and the games we’ve lost, I could bore you to tears telling you about the chances we’ve created to win them.

"Since I’ve walked in, there’s only been a couple of bad performances so I can’t fault anything and on Monday, we were superb down at Hastings and unlucky not to come away with all three points.

"We’re going into this period with a little spring in our step but not arrogant."

Beckenham Town quartet Billy Bennett, Luis Medina, Stefan Wright and Nathan Paul are all dual-registered with Ashford should Warrilow need to use them in the play-offs.

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