Toolstation NCEL Division One Play-Offs
Chris Bolder is urging his North Ferriby players to not waste their second chance at winning promotion.
Ferriby can book a play-off final place against either Brigg Town or Harrogate Railway if they overcome Rossington Main at home tomorrow.
“The opportunity to get a promotion or to a cup final as an achievement on your CV doesn’t come around often,” Bolder told Non League Yorkshire.
“It is important you embrace these opportunities and give everything you have got.
“The aim from the outset was to win promotion and our objective is still within our hands.
“We’re not relying on any other results and it is still down to us.”
Ferriby missed out on the title by six points and relentless Hallam’s superior goals difference.
Bolder concedes that his men could not do much more and says Hallam’s efforts were incredible.
“When we had 12 games to go we looked at the table and said ‘if we’re honest we need to win all 12 and hope Hallam slip up’,” he said.
“We have won 11 out of 12 which is unbelievable.
“Fair play to Hallam, it is an outstanding achievement what they have done.
“For us to win finish on 96 points and for them to still comfortably win the league is testament to an amazing season that they have had.
“We have had an amazing season ourselves.
“Ninety-six points is unbelievable.
“We’ve had 20 clean sheets, we have scored 100 goals so what we have achieved is phenomenal so when we get pipped to the title by another team you have to take your hat off to them.”
The old Ferriby were well-accustomed to carnival play-offs semi-finals and the visit of Rossington will no doubt be a special occasion and Bolder says it is like a cup final.
“The old club was successful in the past in the play-offs but from our perspective our season has been extended,” he said.
“We’re still in a great position to achieve our objective.
“It will be a really tough game against Rossington.
“They are a great footballing side and they’ve had a great season.
“When it comes to play-offs games, it is like a one-off cup mindset and anything can happen in these games.”
Rossington manager Ben Hunter suggested the pressure is on Ferriby.
Bolder doesn’t see it like that.
“When you look through their squad they have some experienced players, lads from higher leagues who have been part of successful sides,” he said.
“They will be looking at us and seeing that we finished 15 points higher and seeing themselves as underdogs.
“There’s pressure on both teams because it is a play-off knockout game, the same as cup final.
“Both teams need to win so I don’t think there’s any kind of different pressure.”