Bartley believes Marlow can win play-offs after wrapping up third
Nawaf’s first half strike buries Moles to cement Blues hold on third place and tees up home tie
Marlow wrapped up third place in the Isthmian League South Central Division with Tuesday's 1-0 win at Binfield and with it a home tie in the first of their end-of-season play-off matches.
The Blues secured all three points against a Binfield side still battling to get themselves back in the play-off frame thanks to Naheer-Omar Nawaf's first half strike.
The goal was enough to cement the Blues hold on third place and knock the Moles out of the running for a top five finish.
The Blues are now likely to host fourth-placed Hanworth Villa in their play-off clash after finishing the league campaign with a trip to fifth-placed Northwood. However, Northwood could yet nip above Villa if they manage to beat Marlow on Saturday and Hanworth lose to Chipstead on the final day.
That's not the only permutation to be resolved on the final day, with the league's title race also going down to the wire. Leaders Walton & Hersham and second placed Basingstoke Town are locked on 86 points, however, Walton have a superior goal difference should the two sides match each other's result on Saturday. Walton visit Thatcham Town while Basingstoke host South Park.
The Blues have already surpassed last season's achievements, when they missed out on the play-offs in the final weeks of the season. Marlow weren't necessarily expected to challenge for promotion this season, after seeing many of their more established players depart over the summer, but Bartley has managed to remould a side capable of challenging for a place at step three.
It will be tough for the Blues, with Walton or Basingstoke to join Marlow, Hanworth Villa and Northwood in the play-offs, but Bartley claims his side are not afraid of playing anyone.
“We lost at Binfield last year and that was the end of our play-off hopes,” recalled Bartley. “So, it was kind of roles reversed in a way, It's good to have finished third, it's a superb effort from the squad and we now have a
chance to press on and finish strongly against Northwood on Saturday.
“We'll then be ready to go next week in the play-offs. It looks likely we'll play Hanworth, as I expect them to win their final game but both Hanworth and Northwood are good sides and all you can ask for in the play-offs is a home draw and we've got that. We're excited at being able to play in the play-off game next week and we're looking to make progress.
“We'll try and use that home advantage, and like most clubs we prefer to play at home. Last night was a test because Binfield had to win. We knew they would throw everything at it, and we knew we'd have to be resilient. We managed to get ourselves in front and we probably feel we could have done a little more going forward and created a few more chances, but when we needed to stand up and be counted by making blocks and headers, we did that. We showed how much it meant to us.
“Unfortunately, it's the end for them but for us, it cements third place.
“Naheer has come in from step five and adapted really quickly. He's been a constant goal threat and when the moment came last night, he took it. That's been the situation so many times this season.
Marlow's first play-off match against either Hanworth or Northwood will take place next Wednesday (April 26) with the final to take place (at the ground of the highest-placed league side) the following Sunday (April 30).
“We want to win the play-offs,” said Bartley. “We weren't just trying to get here; we want to win them, and we believe we can win it. I’m sure the other clubs do as well, but that's what we want to do. We look forward to Saturday and then look forward to next week. The league title is going to go down to the last day as will the relegation places. We're settled, and to get to the end of the season with only one dead-rubber, if you like, is good, because sometimes you get to the last 10 games with nothing to play for other than mid-table security. We'll train well this week and go and give it a good go.”