ACCRINGTON Stanley face a win-or-bust showdown with Farsley Celtic tomorrow in the Unibond League First Division promotion race.

Stanley's whole season rests on their final 90 minutes at the Crown Ground as they look to bounce back to the top-flight at the first time of asking.

Win and they will go up as champions, lose or draw and they will miss out on promotion altogether with Nigel Gleghorn's Witton Albion remaining behind Burscough in the top two.

Reds player-boss John Coleman admits it's a strange position to be in.

But he is happy that Stanley's promotion hopes remain firmly in their own hands as he attempts to avoid finishing third in the UniBond First Division for the third consecutive time, having missed out previously with Ashton United.

He said: "It's an unusual situation where if we win we're champions and if we draw we don't go up. I don't know how many people have been in that position.

"We will be judged on whether we've had a good season on the result tomorrow and that might be a bit unfair, but we've got to take it.

"If it comes out the right way we'll be smiling and if someone had offered us this at Christmas we'd have bitten their hands off."

After being in the doldrums for the past few years, Coleman has turned things round at Stanley in his first season in charge and is looking for a fitting reward.

"It would mean a lot to me personally but I would like to do it for the players, who've worked really hard, and also for the people in Accrington.

"They've come out and supported us and they deserve a bit of success and something to shout about. But there's still a lot of work to do," he added.

Stanley were backed by a crowd of 1,826 as they beat Belper on Monday and Coleman admitted that kind of support is like having an extra man.

There will be another big gate tomorrow and Coleman is looking to his players to maintain the level of performance they gave in the last 20 minutes against Belper to overcome a Farsley side that is sixth in the table. "I'm looking forward to it and the game can't come quickly enough. I would have been happy if it had been on Wednesday.

"We won't take anything for granted and I don't think it will be easy, but we certainly don't fear anyone," Coleman added.

Meawnhile, Stanley keeper Jamie Speare admits it's the biggest game he has ever been involved in.

And that is saying something from a man who used to be understudy to Neville Southall at Everton.

"It was different then, that was a learning curve when you are a YTS and playing in the reserves.

"When you are playing in the UniBond you have to be on top of your game otherwise you could go under.

"This is a huge game and the lads will tell you, we cannot wait. We just want to play it now.

"We know it is all or nothing. Lose and the last year will count for absolutely nothing but we are all determined and confident."

However, if Stanley are to lift the league title then they will have to stop one of their old boys.

Farsley's 30-goal top scorer Ian Blackstone had a brief stint at the Crown Ground before embarking on a professional career with York City and Scarborough.

And, though he has fond memories of his time with the Reds, he remains focused on adding more goals to his tally.

"I had a half a season with Stanley and they set me on my way because I went playing professionally the following season," said Blackstone.

"It's one of the best non-League clubs going and they probably deserve to be playing at a higher level.

"But I've scored 30 goals this season and I want to add to that.

"And I know our lads are up for it because as soon as we found out what was resting on the game we couldn't stop talking about it.

"From our point of view it's a nice way to end the season.

"There's no pressure on us because we cannot move up or down in the table.

"And if there's another big crowd like there was on Monday then that will give us a big lift."

Celtic manager Martin Haresign also agrees.

"We are used to playing in front of one man and his dog so if there's another crowd approaching 2,000 on then our lads will be up for it.

"We've gone 10 games unbeaten and we want to make that 11.

"And we seem to do better against the top sides because we've done the double over Witton and beaten Stanley at our place."

Stanley's Mark Brennan is again suspended but Jay Flannery and assistant boss Jimmy Bell will be added to the squad if they pass fitness tests.

Stanley officials are asking fans to arrive early in order to avoid the congestion created last week.