STOCKTON TOWN are hoping to make it third time lucky in the play-offs when they take on Dunston in the NPL East final in front of a sell-out crowd this afternoon.

There will be 1,800 people inside Bishopton Road West today, hoping that the Anchors will banish the memory of the defeats in the last two years in the final against Long Eaton and Marske.

Stockton were league leaders for most of the season and had an eight-point lead at one point, but they were overtaken by Hebburn in the closing week of the campaign. However, manager Micky Dunwell feels that they have rediscovered their best form after beating Carlton 2-0 in the midweek semi-final.

“We were very good in midweek,” said Dunwell, who has been manager since Stockton were in the Wearside League ten years ago and overseen three promotions and an FA Vase final since. “It was a very professional performance, the lads were all very determined to win the game. We created chances, were solid in defence, and passed the ball around well.

“Carlton were the only team to beat us at home in the league this season, and the players went out on to the field determined to make sure that it wouldn’t happen again. We pressed them hard, forced them into playing the long ball, and once we nullified them, we slowly got on top and could have won by three or four.

“The lads have been good in the last few games, but we lost the title when we had a poor performance against bottom club Winterton Rangers and dropped other points around the same time. Hebburn did really well to overtake us in the last week of the season.

“Hopefully, this is third time lucky, and we’ve learned from the last two finals. We know what we have to do to get through, we must put our chances away when they come along.”

Former Darlington striker Stephen Thompson will be missing because of injury, but otherwise Dunwell will choose from a full squad. Another former Darlington player, Tom Portas, will be included.

“I think the team has improved in the last few matches after we brought some new players in," Dunwell continued. "Nathan Harker, for example, has made a big difference in goal, and Michael Fowler and Cameron Painter have come back into the team."

There’s been nothing between Stockton and Dunston in the league this season. They drew 1-1 at Stockton in October and 0-0 at Dunston in January.

“We know plenty about Dunston from our two games and having watched them in midweek, but on the other hand, they know plenty about us," said Dunwell.

“On Tuesday night against Carlton, we showed plenty of tempo and intensity from the start of the game, and we must do that against Dunston.

“Plus, we will have a big crowd behind us again. There were over 1,600 in the ground for the Carlton game, and we’ll get more than that for the final. It’s sure to be a great occasion, and hopefully we’ll be on the winning side.”

Dunston finished third in the table, and got to the final after beating Pontefract in their midweek semi-final.

They have done well to get into the play-offs because they have had to play almost half of their home games away from the UTS Stadium because of the poor state of their home pitch. They have been playing games at Consett, Morpeth and even one at Brighouse in Yorkshire.

They will include former Darlington midfielder Phil Turnbull in their squad.