MATT Jansen hailed his Chorley ‘soldiers’ after the Magpies wrapped up a National League North play-off place with a 2-1 win at Brackley.

Having lifted the Lancashire Challenge Trophy on Monday following a 3-2 success against Clitheroe at the Macron Stadium, Chorley capped a perfect week with a comeback victory in Northamptonshire.

It was a fifth league win in seven for Jansen’s side who have roared into the promotion shootout and now face a play-off on Wednesday against Stockport.

“It was a scintillating display, the pitch wasn’t brilliant, especially first half, but we weathered that and I thought we were brilliant,” Jansen said of Wednesday’s win, secured thanks to Marcus Carver and Dale Whitham goals.

“They get one chance and it was a penalty. They’ve scored from a penalty against the run of play.

“We got back into the game which was deserved and I said (at half-time) if you play like that you’re going to get more and more chances and we were relentless second half.

“We stick together, what a bunch of boys they are, they’re soldiers. What a team spirit, I love all of them.”

Chorley’s schedule has been busy of late but they’ve kept the wins coming to put themselves in contention for promotion to the fifth tier for next season.

Jansen felt the performance at Brackley summed his side up and he is confident they can prove in the play-offs that they deserve to go up.

“We had to come all that way, a sixth game in 12 days and they put in a performance like that after a three hour journey. That just speaks volumes, it tells you about our dressing room,” he said.

“We’ll go into the play-offs and hopefully prove to people that we’re good enough to get into the next division. The boys deserve to be where they are.”

Chorley’s league season finishes with the visit of Alfreton to Victory Park tomorrow and Jansen is hoping for a celebratory atmosphere, although he could make changes, including resting Carver.

“He’s been relentless for the past eight or nine games, maybe the penny has dropped. If he works hard he’s going to score goals,” the Magpies boss said of his former Accrington Stanley striker.

“He got tight towards the end but that’s the number of games we’ve endured over a short space of time.

“Hopefully the fans come out in numbers and support us. Saturday should be fun and hopefully everyone will turn out.”

Meanwhile, Clitheroe boss Simon Haworth has announced he will step down at the end of the season,

The Blues close their campaign at home to Skelmersdale in the Evo-Stik North tomorrow while Colne visit South Shields and Ramsbottom United are away at Glossop North End.

The Hallmark Security League still has a couple of weeks to run, but in the Premier Division tomorrow AFC Darwen host Congleton Town at the WEC Group Anchor Ground while Barnoldswick Town entertain Barnton and Padiham host Maine Road.

In the First Division Nelson are away at Eccleshall and Bacup Borough visit New Mills.