Non-league previews: Play-offs out of reach but Darlaston still hungry to finish on a high
Despite the play-offs being out of Darlaston Town's reach, boss Dean Gill is proud as punch and wants to see what his team is made of.
The Citizens have lost three Northern One Midlands games on the bounce to fall adrift of the play-offs and sit seventh with three league matches to go.
But, despite their play-off hopes fading and their losing streak, spirits at the club remain on a high. It was confirmed earlier this month that Darlaston's ground has been awarded step four accreditation, meaning they will avoid a possible automatic relegation.
And, ahead of visiting Grantham Town tomorrow, boss Gill had nothing but praise for his side and is determined to end the season on a high.
He said: "If we win our last three games, I am 99 per cent sure that we will finish sixth.
"So finishing one place out of the play-offs and with a cup final, other other than the teams in the play-offs we will have had the most-successful season.
"If you had asked me that at the start of the season I would have said it was impossible.
"We will go to Grantham to win, we are a team that wants to win, we prepare to win and go in to win. The season is not over, even though the playoffs now.
"It is important to me because I want to see what the lads are made of.
"Up until a week ago we were still within a chance of fighting for step three football. We have at least 50 per cent of the resources of those around us and it has caught up with us in the end."
Gill added that planning for next season has already begun with lots "in the pipeline" for the club already.
He continued: "This club is in the best position it has ever been in, on the pitch and off it. We have had thousands spent on the ground to meet the grading and the team will finish the highest it has ever achieved.
"We are in a fantastic position, but from a football budget perspective we are miles off even the bottom teams in the league. As a club we have a massive job to do to commercially catch up with our competitors in the league."
Elsewhere, sixth-placed Sporting Khalsa remain in contention for the final play-off spots and welcome Long Eaton United while Lye Town will be relegated if they fail to win at Hinckley LRFC.
In the Northern One West, title-contenders Hednesford Town welcome Mossley this afternoon (April 18) while Stafford Rangers go to Avro on Saturday and Chasetown travel to Witton Albion, fresh from winning the Staffordshire Senior Cup midweek.
And, in the Southern Central Premier, Stourbridge head to Barwell today while Halesowen Town visit Leiston tomorrow.
