ANTHONY Brown believes Witton Albion have shown already that pushing Shaw Lane hard in a race for the title has not left them feeling downbeat.

After finishing second in the Northern Premier League’s Division One South with a record points total for a runner-up, they could be forgiven for licking their wounds.

Instead they preferred to be positive, winning three successive matches since losing to the Ducks a fortnight ago.

“From the outside you might look at it and think that would have a damaging impact,” said the defender.

“But we wondered whether our chance had gone when we drew with Spalding at the start of the month – we’d have gone top of the league had we won that night.

“That meant we had to go to Shaw Lane, who hadn’t lost at home, and win. Of course, that was a big ask and we fell short.”

“We’ve just got on with things since.”

A promotion play-offs semi-final date with AFC Rushden & Diamonds awaits tomorrow.

Albion have beaten Andy Peaks’ men twice already this season, and finished 25 points clear of them in the final table.

However Witton must prove they are better than their rivals a third time if they are to keep alive hopes of a return to the Premier Division.

Brown said: “To me, second is nowhere.

“I received a runners-up medal following last Saturday’s game, but I didn’t want one. Who wants to look back in 20 years’ time and say ‘I finished second’? Not me.

“A play-offs winners’ medal – I want one of those.

“It’s a must-win game [against Rushden]; we can’t think that losing is a possibility.”

The 26-year-old’s determination is fuelled in part by the experience of losing a play-offs semi-final with Burscough last season.

After finishing fifth, like Rushden have, they made a long journey north to Spennymoor and lost.

Calvin Hare, Matty Devine, Paul Wiliams, Will Jones and Karl Noon – all now teammates at Witton – were on the field when the final whistle went to signal a 3-1 defeat.

Brown said: “It took me weeks to get over that feeling – it was horrible.

“We’ve talked about it here recently, and none of us want to go through that again.”

Peaks said on Monday that ‘anything else is a bonus’ after his side booked a trip to Witton by beating Carlton on Saturday.

However Brown is unconvinced.

“I’m not buying that!” he said.

“I was impressed when we played them; I was a sub for the first game, so got a good luck at them from the bench.

“They’re strong, and solid with it. They do the ugly things well too.

“We have to match that, and then be confident we have better footballers. That’s what made the difference in both matches.

“Look at the guys we have in attack – we’ll always feel we can score a goal if we need one.”