BASINGSTOKE Town manager Jason Bristow is determined to make sure that the Vanarama Conference South title race goes down to the final day of the season.

Two wins over the Easter period saw third-placed Town move to within two points of joint leaders Boreham Wood and Bromley, making them one of four teams in with a realistic chance of winning the league.

Bromley are the odds-on favourites and the only side who hold their destiny in their own hands. Win their remaining three games and they will be crowned champions.

Boreham Wood currently top the table on goal-difference, but they only have two games left, meaning that Basingstoke will be assured of at least second place if they can win their last three fixtures.

Havant and Waterlooville are the other team in the hunt. They are level with Town, but only have two matches left to play.

It’s all set up for a dramatic finale to the season – and Bristow wants his side to make sure that they are in a position to take advantage if Bromley slip up.

“We need to make sure that we are not kicking ourselves if Bromley make a mistake,” he said. “The worst thing that could happen is if we lose and then find out that Bromley have dropped points as well.

“It could go down to the last game and if it does, then we will have done our job. We want to be in with a chance going into that final game.”

On Saturday, a talented but under-performing Sutton United side stand between Basingstoke Town and a vital win.

In addition to keeping them in with a realistic chance of winning the title, victory at Gander Green Lane on Saturday (3pm) would secure Town’s place in the play-offs.

Sutton sit 15th in the table, with very little to play for, but their position belies the quality of their squad. Their team is packed full of talented players with plenty of experience at Conference South level.

They held Basingstoke to a 2-2 draw when the sides met at The Soccer AM Stadium back in December, but are out of form at the moment, having lost five of their last seven, winning just once in that time.

Goalscoring seems to be Sutton’s biggest problem. They have failed to score in five of their last six games and Town manager Jason Bristow says his side cannot afford to give them any sort of morale boost.

“With the team they have, they should be up where we are in the league,” he said. “I’m not sure what has gone wrong, but they haven’t been scoring many goals, so confidence may be low and we need to capitalise on that.

“It’s important that we do not give them a lift or energy by letting them get ahead, because they have the experience to see the game out if they take the lead. If we turn up and perform though, then we can come away with the win we need.”

Basingstoke are almost assured of claiming their highest-ever finish in the Conference South, while winning all three of their remaining games would ensure that they finish higher than ever before, eclipsing the third place they achieved in the Ryman League Premier Division 14 years ago.

Bristow added: “It’s a good feeling to be in a different position to the one we were in last year and we have got an opportunity to finish higher than the club has ever finished before.

“I’ve not got too excited about the league position we are in and it’s just a case of seeing out the job now. There’s pressure in every game, it’s just a different sort of pressure, but we have dealt with it well.”

Town go into the game with just one injury doubt. Robbie Rice missed the Easter programme with a tight calf, but he has an outside chance of being fit for the trip to Sutton. James Harper, who was rested for Monday’s win over Farnborough, is expected to return to the side.