Stimson wants Halifax in Play-offs

Grays Athletic manager Mark Stimson has told the Essex press he would like to face Halifax in the play-offs.

"Of all the teams in there I fancy Halifax," said the Grays boss. "Hereford and Morecambe, presuming they get there, would be very tough opponents but I think over two games we will be better than Halifax. But we are beggars and can't be choosers.

"It doesn't really matter if we have the home game first or second to be honest. In some ways I would prefer bother legs to be away from home because we have such a good away record. The atmosphere and the pitches are generally better away from home. I think we can turn the atmosphere around like we did against Exeter but unfortunately we can't turn the pitch. That has gone."

As for Morecambe who play at Grays tomorrow, they have to take a point from the game to reach the play-offs.

"We can't go there and play for a point," manager Sammy McIlroy told Morecambe Today.

"We have had a great run at a crucial time and it is good to see. Our form at the moment is absolutely fantastic, both at home and away."

"I can't praise the boys enough. If you look at the fixtures (tomorrow), we have got the hardest but if we are on our mettle, I don't care who we play.

"Grays are on a great run as well but we know that if we can get something from the game, we are in the play-offs."

As for Stevenage, they have to win their game tomorrow and hope Morecambe slip-up. Manager Graham Westley is hopeful that Grays can help his side out.

"I always felt it was going to go down to the last game," he told the Comet.

"If Grays turn up and show their professional pride, I'm 110 per cent confident they will win the game.

"I think they're the best side in the league and Mark Stimson is the best manager in the league. All the other managers have to face that fact.

"Grays have got the Trophy final and play-offs to go for.

"People who are successful don't want to be beaten. I think a very good Grays side will win and our job is to go to Forest Green and get the victory we need."

Finally Halifax play Canvey Island tomorrow assured of a play-off place. However manager Chris Wilder would like to see the Shaymen finish second or third in the table.

"The more you look at our home record, the more impressive it gets," he told Halifax Today. "And we want to finish as high up the league table as possible.

"While we won't gain anything in terms of promotion straight out of the league you can say you are the second or third best team.

"That would be nice and I certainly want to play the second leg of the play offs at home. I think it can make a difference psychologically.

"A team would be coming to our place knowing that we are unbeaten and we would have the confidence from the fact that no one has beaten us at the Shay.

"But just getting in the play offs is an achievement and we will deal with anything that is thrown at us."

List of Fixtures:

Cambridge Utd v Dag & Red
Exeter v Scarborough
Forest Green v Stevenage
Gravesend v Burton Albion
Grays Athletic v Morecambe
Halifax v Canvey Island
Kidderminster v Accrington Stanley
Southport v Aldershot
Tamworth v Crawley Town
Woking v Altrincham
York City v Hereford United

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