Bradford Park Avenue head to the club with most desire to win a place in the Conference North via the play-offs tomorrow as they make the short trip to the other side of the Pennines to take on Ashton United.

The Tameside club missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of the season after a 4-3 home defeat to Harrogate Town who had already booked their place in the new division for next term.

The loss, thanks to an injury-time goal after Ashton had levelled in the 88th minute, meant they missed out on the top 13 by just two points. Runcorn claimed that place despite a 1-0 defeat at Altrincham.

Ashton banished that from their minds on Tuesday when they came from a goal down to run out 2-1 winners over UniBond Division One champions Hyde United at Surrey Street.

Hyde won the First Division crown by four points and were tipped to go straight through. When their former Bantams striker Neil Tolson put them into the lead after 17 minutes they looked on course for a visit from Avenue.

Ashton took the play-off first-round tie into extra-time when Steve Smith scored in the 72nd minute and centre back Lincoln Adams won it with a goal in the 104th minute.

But Avenue go into the meeting also on the back of a fine win after their 3-1 victory over Spennymoor United on Wednesday. Carl Shutt's men will also have an edge after doing the double over Ashton in the league.

"The lads are confident, they were before the Spennymoor game and they will be even higher now," said Shutt.

"Obviously I haven't been here all season but the record of these players on away form speaks for itself. There is also competition for places after some of the injury worries cleared up."

Young centre back Michael Naylor is the only player likely to be sidelined through injury after missing the midweek victory. Striker Jason Maxwell proved his fitness and value with a second-half cameo appearance from the bench after ligament damage. "The players have hit form and fitness just at the right time so there is a buzz about the place," added Shutt.

"It will be a tough game against Ashton but everyone knows just what is on offer to the winners. The three goals will have helped settle a few nerves and the defence is looking good."

The winners of tomorrow's sudden death semi-final will have home advantage in Monday's play-off final. They will meet either Radcliffe Borough or Burscough who both won away - at Whitby Town and Marine respectively - to reach the semis.

Bradford Park Avenue (from): Britton, Quinn, Serrant, Walsh, Jones, Crossley, Helliwell, Smith, Oleksewycz, Painter, Heinemann, Maxwell, Grayston, Russell, Brompton, Pickles, Greaves, Naylor, Snowden.