Leading scorer Andy Brown today cranked up the stakes for AFC Telford’s top-of-the-table humdinger with Boston tomorrow by declaring: “We want second place at worst.”

While the Blue Square Bet North title in Alfreton’s hands, their nearest rivals go head to head at the New Bucks Head with Andy Sinton’s second place side entertaining the team directly below them.

The Bucks are six points clear of tomorrow’s visitors and are desperate to hold on to second place at a minimum to guarantee home advantage in the play-off semi-final second leg and – potentially – a final.

Leading scorer Andy Brown today cranked up the stakes for AFC Telford’s top-of-the-table humdinger with Boston tomorrow by declaring: “We want second place at worst.”

While the Blue Square Bet North title in Alfreton’s hands, their nearest rivals go head to head at the New Bucks Head with Andy Sinton’s second place side entertaining the team directly below them.

The Bucks are six points clear of tomorrow’s visitors and are desperate to hold on to second place at a minimum to guarantee home advantage in the play-off semi-final second leg and – potentially – a final.

Brown knows from bitter experience how crucial that can be having been part of Rob Smith’s side who were beaten at Gateshead in the play-off final in 2009.

“Our aim is to finish at least second because we know how tough it was to go to Gateshead on that Friday night and play the final,” said Brown, who has scored 14 times this term.

“Although our home re-cord isn’t as good as it is away, I still think it would be a massive advantage to finish second and play at home.

“The play-offs are obviously a bit of a lottery but if you look at our record against the teams in there currently, then it’s good.

“I’d obviously back us in any situation but I’m sure that if we did get into the play-offs, we’d acquit ourselves well and hopefully get up that way.”

On-going injuries to Alex Meechan and Adam Proudlock means Brown could again find himself alongside Congo striker Yannick Salem tomorrow.

“He offers something different and he’s got that unpredictability factor about him,” added Brown.

“But I’m just happy to be playing because we have got so many good strikers here that the gaffer is spoilt for choice.”

By JAMES GARRISON