Bamber Bridge are aiming to cut the gap in race for play-off spot when they face rivals Gainsborough Trinity
Boss Jamie Milligan insists the outcome of Bamber Bridge’s trip to Gainsborough Trinity will not make or break his side’s play-off bid in the NPL Premier Division.
Seventh-placed Brig take on Boro – in fifth – at The Northolme knowing that defeat could see them slip eight points behind the play-off pace.
Alternatively, a win will see Milligan’s men close the gap to just two points with Stockton Town – sandwiched between both clubs.
Milligan – who has watched his men go four games without a win, albeit they have drawn their last three – concedes a win this weekend will be a huge boost to Brig’s chances of finishing inside the top five.
However, with just over a quarter of the campaign still to be played, the Brig boss knows there is still plenty of football left to be played no matter what happens this weekend.
"I don’ think so,” said Milligan when asked if his team’s play-offs hopes will be over if they lose this weekend.
"There’s still nine games left to be played after that and still a lot of football to be played.
"The last four games, we have just tapered off a little bit but it’s not because of a lack of effort.
"Things have not quite gone our way, we’ve had a couple of injuries which can happen. The lads have still been great, effort-wise it’s still been there but it’s not quite fallen our way so we need a win this weekend to try and stay in that play-off pack. It’s a massive game."
Brig are still nursing the bruises from a 3-1 home defeat to Gainsborough last month and Milligan admits his men are gunning for revenge.
"It wasn’t a 3-1 game to be fair,” said Milligan. “They scored right at the end as we were pushing for an equaliser.”