Stockton Town head into their final two games of the season holding the final Play-Off spot following a 1-1 draw with Lancaster City.
Michael Sweet’s first half goal was cancelled out by Dom Lawson’s early second half strike to share the points.
The Anchors headed into the game on a low ebb after Tuesday night’s Durham Challenge Cup Final defeat to Shildon.
The management team rang the changes as they made three and opted to play back three of Tom Coulthard, Lewis King and Adam Nicholson. They also went for two up front in Amar Purewal and Josh Scott.
Visitors Lancaster, buoyed by their Lancashire Challenge Trophy win on Wednesday, probed with the early chances and tested Oliver Lloyd. He denied a deflected strike and efforts from Steven Yawson and Lewis Mansell.
The Anchors went close when Kev Hayes drove wide on the volley, and later his teasing cross was headed away by Sam Bailey before a crucial touch was made at the back post.
Another promising cross proved fruitful minutes later when Brad Kelly could not handle under pressure from Amar Purewal and Sweet was on hand to tuck home.
Half-Time: Stockton Town 1-0 Lancaster City
Early in the second half, Lancaster found the leveller when Bailey’s cross from the right was bundled in by substitute Lawson.
Bailey then went close himself as he drove across the face of goal after the ball had popped up invitingly for him inside the box.
The Anchors then went close a couple of times but the Lancaster backline stood firm.
As the game went into the final quarter of an hour, Hayes cut inside and whistled a strike wide of the target.
Lancaster then came back and forced Lloyd into a save.
Neither side could find a breakthrough in the final ten minutes and the game ended in a point apiece.
Full-Time: Stockton Town 1-1 Lancaster City
Following Gainsborough Trinity’s 2-1 home defeat to Prescot Cables, the Anchors moved back into the final Play-Off spot heading into Tuesday’s trip to FC United of Manchester. At it stands Stockton are on 59 points having played 38 games and they have a goal difference of +11. Lancaster City are also on 59 points with a goal difference of +9, they face already relegated Stocksbridge Park Steels in their final fixture next Saturday. Finally, Gainsborough are still in the hunt in 7th on 59 points with a goal difference of +7 with a trip to Hyde United for the final outing of the campaign. It’s set up to be a blockbuster finish to the regular season.
