It's Derby Day As The Play-Off Heat Really Starts To Crank Up

Now there’s pride at stake as well as promotion - it’s going to be electric in Lincolnshire and Essex this weekend.

A huge crowd will gather at the Attis Arena as Scunthorpe United meet Boston United and it couldn’t be much bigger.

You could slip a cigarette paper between the two sides this season, two draws points to the fact that this could go to the wire - as does the fact that the Pilgrims have turned into a defensive powerhouse.

It’s almost 450 minutes since they’ve let in a goal but the Iron have shown there’s life in them late in the season - four straight wins concluded a frustrating campaign, coming second in a division they were widely tipped to win.

Boston boss Ian Culverhouse knows how to win promotion for this division and counterpart Jimmy Dean is well aware the club playing in the Championship just 13 years ago really need to start their climb back up the Pyramid.

The derby dates don’t stop and those down south will say the only way is Essex on Saturday.

There’s no love lost between Chelmsford City and Braintree Town and the historic rivals would just love to put one over each other. The Clarets, who finished third, won less than half their home games and ended with one win in their last four.

But they bettered the Iron twice last season, winning 3-0 both home and away with free-scoring midfield man Charlie Ruff on target in both matches.

Braintree are out for revenge and manager Angelo Harrop says Tuesday’s Eliminator win over Bath City shows they can perform when the pressure is on.

But accepting it will be a different test at Melbourne Stadium, he said: "Our players have been fantastic this season but it was a one-off game and there was a lot of pressure on everyone.

"What a performance it was under pressure, under a big, big crowd and I couldn't be any prouder of the management team and the players and fans.”