An 85th-minute Lloyd Marsh-Hughes goal ensured that Runcorn Linnets will contest the end of season play-offs in the Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division.

Marsh-Hughes headed home at the back post from a left-wing cross by James Short, to earn Linnets a hard-fought 1-0 win at Prescot Cables in front of a 1,310 Easter Bank Holiday Monday crowd.

It saw Calum McIntyre's side into the play-off semi-finals with a match to spare.

Runcorn knew at kick-off two points from their last two games would guarantee them a place in the play-offs to decide the second promotion place to the NPL Premier Division.

The West Division champions go up automatically.

In the event, Clitheroe's 1-1 draw at Colne ended the former's hopes of overhauling Linnets - they had been the only team which could have denied Runcorn a top-five finish, and with it a play-off spot, in the final week of the regular season.

The last round of league matches this Saturday will decide finishing positions and the semi-final pairings.

Linnets, although currently in fifth spot, still have a chance of finishing as high as third.

A Runcorn win, coupled with a draw between fellow play-off qualifiers Marine and Leek would earn the Yellow and Greens a home semi-final tie.

Pictured - Lloyd takes the congratulations. Photo: Tom Paul.