NORTHWICH Victoria will be assured of a place in the promotion play-offs for a second successive season if they can beat Kendal Town on Wednesday.

After that, it's a battle with Glossop North End - who they have yet to play this term - for third position in the table.

Vics can enter the next fortnight in positive mood after three wins in a row.

"At this stage it's all about winning," said manager Adam Lakeland.

"We approach the next game feeling confident, and want to get a top-five finish confirmed as soon as possible."

Gary Burnett's first-half brace made the difference at the weekend.

He might have had a hat-trick, but missed the target from an acute angle after dribbling around goalkeeper Paul Hagreen.

The striker put the visitors ahead midway through the opening period, diverting Brian Summerskill's free kick into the net with a diving header.

Burnett doubled Vics' lead nine minutes later, this time when he swept Iain Howard's pass into the corner from close range.

Brighouse battled on, almost halving their deficit when Daniel Facey stretched to meet Sam Hewitt's cross.

Howard almost lobbed Hagreen from distance at the start of the second period, while Burnett's next attempt flashed wide after Josh Amis had laid off.

At the other end, custodian Mason Springthorpe needed two attempts to stop Ryan Hall's header.

The hosts did scored with four minutes left, when Ben Atkinson speared an unstoppable shot into the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Lakeland said: "The result suggests he game was more even than it was.

"I thought we were terrific in the first half, and thoroughly deserved to be ahead at the break.

"We were in complete control, and were by far the dominant side.

"Brighouse put us under more pressure after half-time, although we restricted them to very little - I thought we looked reasonably comfortable."

Brighouse | Hagreen (GK), Atkinson, Fisher, Pollard, Hewitt, Hurtley, Scully (Robinson 46), Haigh (Harris 46), Hall, Facey, Henry Subs not used Stead, Wallace, Tolley Goal Atkinson 87 Booked Haigh

Vics | Springthorpe (GK), Byrne, Watson, Regan, Duxbury, Cook, Summerskill (Roddy 71), Ball, Howard, Amis (Bennett 65), Burnett (Gyimah 84) Subs not used Simon Lakeland, Clarke Goals Burnett 20, 29 Booked Watson

Referee James Bell

Attendance 137