Yorkshire quartet all looking to get in some overtime

But further down the pyramid in the senior non-League game, there is plenty still to play for with no less than three White Rose clubs having already booked a place in the play-offs and another, FC Halifax Town, needing just a point from the final day to join Guiseley in extending their Conference North season by at least two more games.

On the surface, York City have the most at stake as the BlueSquare Premier outfit attempt to end an eight-year absence from the Football League by getting through to, and then triumphing in the Wembley final on May 20.

For Guiseley manager Steve Kittrick, however, victory in his own side’s promotion deciders could lead to the fulfilling of a lifetime ambition.

“The ultimate aim has to be going full-time as a club,” says the 53-year-old, who set up his first decorating firm as a teenager and is now a director of IN Interiors and SLK Interiors.

“If we can go up then that would be something we can look at moving on. We have discussed it and, to me, it is a no-brainer.

“Football is not a complicated business. The key is getting the right people around you, be that the staff or the playing squad.

“I have been in non-League football for 20 years as a manager and it would be nice to get that chance to take the club full-time. Obviously, there is a lot that has to be done first in the play-offs if full-time is to remain a possibility but it is a big target.”

Guiseley have enjoyed another hugely impressive season under Kittrick and sit second in Conference North, five points adrift of Hyde with a game remaining.

The Lions, the only team to do the league double over the champions this term, continued to harbour hopes of pipping the Manchester club to the title until last weekend’s home defeat to Bishop’s Stortford, a result that ended a nine-game winning run for Kittrick’s side.

He said: “It was disappointing as we fancied our chances of catching Hyde but now our focus has to change. We will finish second, at least a double figure number of points clear of whoever is third.

“The play-offs are something of a lottery and there will be some good teams involved, regardless of how the results go on the final day.

“But we can take confidence from a season that has seen us win the County Cup (beating Bradford Park Avenue in the final), reach the last 16 of the FA Trophy and have a run in the FA Cup.”

Depending on how this weekend’s final round of games go, Guiseley could face neighbours Halifax in either the semi-finals – scheduled for a week tonight and the following Sunday – or the May 13 final.

The Shaymen, who need a point from the trip to Solihull Moors to guarantee a place in the top five, are chasing a third consecutive promotion under manager Neil Aspin.

The former Leeds defender, whose side sit third going into the final weekend, said: “We didn’t start the season very well and were struggling at one point. It took us time to find our feet as this was a big step up following promotion.

“But we turned it round and also enjoyed a decent FA Cup run. Playing Charlton (in the first round proper at The Shay when the League One champions scored three late goals to win 4-0) will be many people’s highlight.

“Charlton are a very good team. But at 1-0 down we had a good chance and had it gone in then things could have been different.”

Halifax’s opponents this weekend, Solihull, are desperate for a positive result themselves due to being just a point clear of the relegation zone.

Aspin added: “We are in the top five at the moment but we need to get a result on Saturday. It won’t be easy as Solihull will be wanting to win but if we can qualify for the play-offs then that would represent pleasing progress.”

Asked if Halifax had made the advances he was anticipating when moving from Harrogate Town to The Shay in 2009, he replied: “It depends what people’s perceptions are but, personally, I would have expected us to win two promotions in, say, four years.

“The first (from Evostik Division One North) had to happen quickly and then maybe we could build towards the second.

“Obviously, things turned out different and we found ourselves two divisions higher by the start of this season. So, maybe we are ahead of schedule.

“But I always thought this was a club with potential. It was why I moved to Halifax. The average crowd will be around 1,400-1,500 this season and that is excellent at this level, particularly during tough times when people don’t have much spare money.

“The fans have been great and the big disappointment for me is our home form has not been the best. It has improved toward the back end of the season but I still wish we could have reached a better standard for our home fans, like we had in the previous couple of seasons.”

With Bradford Park Avenue in the division below Halifax and Guiseley completing the quartet of Yorkshire clubs chasing promotion via the play-offs in the upper echelons of non-League football, the coming few weeks promise to be hugely entertaining.

Guiseley manager Kittrick said: “I think it is great for the area that so many of the local non-League teams are having good seasons. I really hope York City can get back into the Football League as Gary Mills has done a great job.

“As for ourselves, we want to be in a division with the likes of Grimsby, Lincoln, Wrexham, Mansfield and Luton. It would be great for a little club that has, compared to them, little history to be rubbing shoulders with names like that.”

Deacey finally able to plot route ahead

BY rights, Bradford Park Avenue manager John Deacey should this morning be either planning for a play-off final or reflecting on where it had all gone wrong in the end-of-season promotion deciders for a third consecutive year.

Instead, he will spend the day working on tactics and the approach the Avenue chief wants his side to adopt in Saturday’s delayed semi-final at home to Hednesford Town.

The reason for the hold-up is that Northwich Victoria’s appeal against being kicked out of the Evostick Premier Division over breaking financial rules was only heard by the FA yesterday – the date that had been put aside for the play-offs.

Victoria have now had demotion to Division One (North) confirmed, after finishing as runners-up behind champions Chester, but the League had no alternative but to put the semi-final and final back to April 28 and May 5 respectively until the appeal was heard.

Deacey said: “It has been awful, if I am honest. Not knowing who you will face or whether the game is going to be at home or away meant it was impossible to plan.

“Putting the play-offs back has caused all manner of problems, particularly now the final is on May 5. A few of the lads had booked trips away for the Bank Holiday but those have had to be cancelled in case we go through to the final.

“I have to feel sorry for Northwich as they have put a lot of effort in but this should all have been sorted some time ago. It has not helped anyone to allow it to drag on like it did.”

Avenue aim to make it third time lucky in the play-offs after losing to FC United of Manchester in last season’s semi-final and Boston United in the 2010 final.

Deacey added: “I said at the start of the season that Chester would win the title. The resources Chester have – their average crowd is about 3,000 to our 500 – meant that was likely to be the case.

“Our target was to get to the FA Cup first round and the play-offs but now we want to cap a good season by winning promotion.”