Cavanagh close to crunch return

ACCRINGTON Stanley captain Peter Cavanagh could be back to lead the  Reds in their crucial game at Conference play-off rivals Woking  tomorrow.

Cavanagh has missed Stanley's last three matches with an ankle injury but is close to regaining fitness.

If the long-serving defender is given the all-clear, his return in one of the full-back berths is likely to be the only change to the side that beat Stevenage 4-1 last Saturday to re-ignite Stanley's promotion push.

Chris Butler and Jonathan Smith are doubtful after picking up knocks in the mid-week Marsden Lancashire Trophy win at Burscough, but experienced centre-back Mike Flynn will play despite being troubled by a thigh strain.

Stanley slipped down a place to eighth on Thursday night when Glenn Cockerill's Woking beat Gravesend - a match watched by Stanley boss John Coleman.

However, Coleman's men remain just three points outside the play-off zone with three games to go against top-five rivals Woking, Aldershot and Hereford in a make-or-break final eight days of the season.

Maximum points would almost guarantee Stanley a place in the play-offs and the chance of promotion back to the Football League and  Coleman is hoping to get the first of those on the board against the Cards at Kingfield.

"It's a cup final. I've been saying for weeks that these are the biggest games we've been involved in and Saturday is no different," he said.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Halifax meet Hereford, Morecambe face Barnet and Aldershot go to Northwich in games that could also have a bearing on Accrington's fate.