WINSFORD United looked to have slipped up in the race for promotion from North West Counties Division Two following a 1-1 draw away at mid table Ashton Town.

And the result, which continued The Blues run of erratic form, seemed all the more desperate when fellow promotion hopefuls Padiham secured a 4-2 away win at Eccleshall to sit just two points behind Winsford.

But Winsford's promotion hopes were boosted by the news that the biggest threat to their most successful season for many years, Silsden, had lost 5-3 at Leek CSOB.

The defeat means Silsden are now 11 points behind Dave Twite's United, but they still have six games in hand.

Winsford have just three games remaining this season and the first of those is against Silsden on Saturday at Barton Stadium with kick off at 3pm.

And it is a game that Twite knows his team must win if they are to have a chance of promotion.

He said: "This is the crunch match and it's our biggest game of the season without a doubt.

"The lads are really up for it and I think they've had one eye on this game for a couple of weeks now.

"We've just got to make sure we produce the goods on the day.

"If we can get the win, and I'm confident we will, it will really put the pressure on Silsden and also Padiham who don't play this week.

"Padiham will then be five points behind us and will know they have to win to be in with a chance of catching us.

"It will also put Silsden 14 points behind us so they'll have to win too."