‘We can turn over Barrow boys’

Proud boss Rob Smith is ready to squeeze one last big effort out of AFC Telford United - and send Barrow tumbling in tomorrow’s win-or-bust play-off cracker.The Cumbrians go into the 3pm semi-final second leg showdown at the New Bucks Head with a 2-0 lead from the first meeting at Holker Street.

But Smith believes an early goal and a vociferous 5,000-plus crowd could yet see them turn the whole affair on its head in the blink of an eye.

“The whole season has come down to one game,” said Smith. “If we can get a goal in the first half then the New Bucks Head will be a daunting place to be for Barrow.

“The game should be a celebration of the season we’ve had and I can promise that if we miss out it won’t be for the want of trying. We’ve got so much out of these boys this season and it’s unbelievable how well we’ve done, really.

“I’m really proud of what they’ve done and they’re now on the knife-edge of actually getting promoted.

“We’ve squeezed every ounce out of them and now we’re asking them for one last big effort.”

Smith knows his side must do something they have not yet managed in three meetings with the Bluebirds - and score against the side who are now 18 games unbeaten.

To that end, he has already admitted they will be more aggressive than they were at Holker Street in a bid to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

“We’re obviously going to have to go with three strikers and be more attacking and I think that’s no secret,” he added.

“It means we will leave gaps but we’ve got to take chances now. We can’t change the defence too much but it might be a case of pushing the wing-backs on.

“If we go absolutely gung-ho then we’ll get picked off, but we have to be brave and go forward at every chance.”

Wing-back Lee Vaughan will be available despite receiving his 15th booking of the season at Barrow as the resulting three-match ban is carried over to next season.

Smith will leave it until tomorrow before making a decision on whether defender Stuart Whitehead has recovered sufficiently from the hamstring injury he picked up on Wednesday.

By Chris Hudson