Stockton Town head into the final game of the season holding the final Play-Off spot following a 1-1 draw at FC United of Manchester.
Jordan Buckley opened the scoring when he pounced on a mistake from Oli Lloyd but Stockton cancelled it out in the second half through Tom Coulthard.
Captain Adam Nicholson was marking his 600th appearance as an Anchor and he was joined in the Starting XI by Arjun Purewal and Owen Gallacher who were the two changes.
Stockton tried to force the issue early on with some blocked shots from the edge of the area.
But it was FC who struck first when a hopeful ball into the box was spilled by Oli Lloyd straight at the feet of Buckley who tucked home.
Moments later, Stockton could have responded but Josh Scott fired wide from a few yards out.
On the half hour, Jay Fitzmartin had a dipping strike on goal which Lloyd was equal to with a tip over the crossbar.
Stockton had some big chances to level towards the end of the half. Adam Nicholson had a header from a corner kept out by Darryl Ombang.
Then the Leeds loanee was there to keep out Amar Purewal after he went through one-on-one.
Half-Time: FC United of Manchester 1-1 Stockton Town
Early in the second half, Lloyd continued to redeem himself with a superb save to deny Buckley from point blank. FC recycled the ball and it found the net but the assistant’s flag was up to disallow it.
Stockton found parity when the ball pin-balled in the box and Coulthard was the most composed to convert past Ombang.
The Anchors were on the front foot and they had a penalty shout turned down when Amar Purewal was caught by an FC defender.
Lloyd again remained sharp to keep out Matthew Devine’s near post strike, and later Coulthard was there to make an important block to prevent Fitzmartin.
With ten minutes remaining, Coulthard came agonisingly close to put Stockton ahead but he drove his effort over the bar when the chance presented itself in the box.
The final action saw Hayes strike a ball over from the left wing.
Full-Time: FC United of Manchester 1-1 Stockton Town
A crucial point on the road for Stockton, who head to Warrington Rylands on Saturday knowing a win of any kind will see them qualify for the Play-Offs.
