Town are in action for the final time for the 2021/22 season as they entertain playoff chasing Sutton United this weekend.
And it will be an emotional afternoon at The Envirovent Stadium as the club bids farewell to midfielder Lloyd Kerry, who will be making his final appearance after eight seasons and over 200 appearances in a Town shirt.Town will be looking to end the season with a win that could see them end a second season in the EFL as high as 14th, if other results go their way, improving on last season's 17th place finish.
Our opponents
Heading into the final game of the season Sutton sit one spot and two points out of the playoff mix.
As a result they will know that nothing short of a victory will suffice and will be anxiously looking elsewhere and hoping that one of Swindon, Port Vale or Mansfield slip up.
They had looked set for securing a playoff berth but two defeats in their past three games, including a home reversal to Bradford City last weekend, has seen them now on the outside looking in.
Regardless of the outcome they have produced an impressive return in their debut season as an EFL club, being in and around the promotion mix for the entire season. This has been built on fantastic home form at Gander Green Lane where they have taken 47 of their 73 points.
Earlier this season
Town will be hoping it will be third time lucky in facing Sutton this season after falling to two defeats earlier in the season in league and Papa Johns Trophy action.
Donovan Wilson got the only goal of the game on the half-hour mark in the reverse league fixture back in December.
Ones to Watch
Midfielders David Ajiboye land Alistair Smith lead the way having netted eight times this season. Ajiboye has also added seven assists.
Young forward Isaac Olaofe, on loan from Millwall, has seven goals, as does Robert Millsom. Richie Bennett, a recruit last summer from Stockport has six goals and four assists.
Town fans will also recall both Harry Beautyman and Enzio Boldewijn from our National League days.
The man in charge
Matt Gray is in the dugout for United, being in the role since 2019. Forced to quit the game in his mid-twenties due to injury after stints at Barnet, Hayes and Havant & Waterlooville.
He then went into coaching at Eastleigh before taking positions at Aldershot and Crawley. Gray then joined Paul Doswell's coaching staff at Sutton before taking over the manager's position for the 2019/20 season, earning promotion and the manager of the year accolade a season later.
History
The club were long time members of the Athenian and Isthmian Leagues before earning promotion to the Conference in 1989. They fell back into the Isthmian League in 1991, where they remained until being elected to the newly-formed Conference South in 2004.
They suffered a further relegation in 2008 before bouncing back in 2010/11, enduring a couple of near missed in the playoffs before winning the title in 2015/16.
In the National League the club reached the playoffs in 2018, being defeated at the semi-final stage, before earning a historic promotion a season ago.
Before promotion to the Football League the club was most notable for its FA Cup exploits, having defeated recent-winners Coventry in 1988/89 in round three and then reached the fifth round in 2016/17, beating Leeds United before being knocked out by Arsenal.
Team news
Simon Weaver will be without the services of Mark Oxley, Lewis Page, Josh Falkingham, Brahima Diarra, Lewis Richards, Ryan Fallowfield and Will Smith for our final fixture of the season.