Michael Ellison says Widnes have to beat Runcorn Linnets to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Whites have mounted a late surge in the Northern Premier League, winning four out of their last five. They have a game in hand on the rest of the top five, which will take place against Kidsgrove Athletic on Tuesday.
But first, Widnes face yet another playoff rival – a second in as many matches following Friday’s hard-earned win over Prescot Cables – in neighbours Runcorn Linnets.
Billy Paynter’s side can cement their place in the playoff semi-final on April 30 but Widnes will be looking to spoil their end of season party and keep the pressure on the fifth-place.
Ellison believes a win is imperative to keep their hopes alive, he told Off The Park: “It’ll keep our season alive, we’ll have two more games to keep it going and we have to win.
“It gives us an opportunity, we can get to 63 points, we’ll have to sneak in there – will it be enough, who knows? If we win on Saturday, it takes us into the last week of the season so it’s a real big week for us.
“It’s fine margins, win Saturday and you’re bouncing into the Tuesday game against Kidsgrove or you lose and it’s over. I think we’ve been in this position in the last three games, can we keep it going? It’ll be about who turns up and gets that little bit of luck on the day, hopefully it’s us.”
Jack McGowan’s brace helped Widnes past Linnets in their previous meeting. Linnets are likely to use that defeat as motivation for a response and while Ellison believes Saturday is a different spectacle, his players have an added belief after their recent run.
He added: “It’ll be a totally different game, the two teams are in different places since them and they had players missing – which we haven’t forgot.
“It’ll give the lads confidence that they have beaten them before, the lads believe we can compete with anybody in the league and we’ve proved that both last and this season.
“We beat Prescot on Friday, Linnets, Clitheroe, Nantwich so we know we’re capable but it is on the day. It’ll give the lads confidence but the game a couple of months ago will not have any bearing going into Saturday.
“We’re going to go there and give it everything we’ve got, it’s like a cup final and we’ll see where we are come five o’clock. It’s at that stage of the season, you can see it’s a little bit nervous because players don’t want to mistakes with a lot resting on the games.
“I’ve watched teams earlier on in the season where it’s free-flowing and you look now, there’s teams that don’t want to lose.
“They’re a very good side, second in the league for a reason, they have loads of strengths but our job is find the weakness and exploit them. If we can do that on Saturday, I hope we can give a good account of ourselves, give everything we’ve got and see where we are.”
