One down, three to go. Three more wins are all that stand in the way of Oldham Athletic and a return to the Football League.
But if Latics are to achieve it, they will have to replicate some early season form.
Not since September have they put together four wins on the spin. But after beating Ebbsfleet United on the final day of the regular season, thanks to a Joe Garner brace either side of half-time, they need three more to get back to where they long to be.
Having done it before, they can do it again, and that will very much be the mindset, despite a more recent run of four wins in 17.
Much like cup competitions, though, form goes out of the window when it gets to the promotion shake-up shoot-out.
“I think you would rather take momentum into it, I think it would be fair to say that, but I’ve taken teams into it (the play-offs) without momentum – ie. not having a great run going into them – and win them,” said Latics manager Micky Mellon, who has been in this position enough times to know.
“I think the important thing is when they come around you’re ready for them.
“I think form will help, but they’re so unique in their make-up it’s about focus and being ready for the types of games you’re going to face because they are do or die. It’s tightrope stuff.
“You’ve got to be ready for that and you’ve got to perform under those conditions and make sure you’re concentrating on trying to do the things you need to do to win the game.”
Latics did what they needed to do to sign off with a win, a routine one against a side who had failed to register an away win all season. Indeed, Ebbsfleet had only won three times in total on the road to relegation, which was confirmed with games to spare.
But that was among the reasons why manager Mellon referred to them as a dangerous opponent ahead of the game. Signing off at the division’s biggest and best stadium, they had nothing to lose and could play with a freedom that might cause an upset.
Latics were savvy, though, and barely needed to get out of second gear to get the job done.
It will be different, of course, against Halifax next week. And it was with one eye on the play-off eliminator that Mellon made changes, to preserve energy and bring people back into the mix whose experience could have a positive influence in these crucial play-off games. Players like Joe Garner, who demonstrated all his pedigree and footballing nous to get the goals Latics needed to secure fifth place and guarantee a home game in next week’s eliminator.
Garner was fouled in the box and buried the 36th minute penalty that he had earned down the middle to give Latics a lead that never looked threatened.
He could have had a hat-trick, while Mark Kitching, second half substitute Mike Fondop and Vimal Yoganathan were all denied by some good goalkeeping from on-loan Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Felix Goddard.
Joe Pritchard and Yoganathan were both denied by the woodwork. But the rebound from the latter was headed in by Garner in the 86th minute for his and Latics’ second against a side managed by Josh Wright, brother of celebrity Mark Wright, to rubber stamp fifth place and go into the play-offs strong with the anticipated return of James Norwood, Manny Monthe, Jake Leake and Billy Waters, while Reagan Ogle got a welcome 90 minutes under his belt.
And now, after beating the sibling of a star of The Only Way Is Essex, Latics hope the only way is up.
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