Sheffield United may have been promoted back into Barnsley's division but the first team from the town to visit Bramall Lane will be double-chasing Shaw Lane AFC in Wednesday's Sheffield Senior Cup final.
The Ducks won 1-0 against Witton Albion in their top-of-the-table clash in midweek, to go three points clear in the only automatic promotion place with three games to play. The Ducks – who had come from 2-0 down on Saturday to win at Newcastle Town – are eight ahead of Witton on goal difference so could almost guarantee a sixth promotion in seven years with victory over Chasetown on Saturday and Kidsgrove on Monday.
They will then visit Bramall Lane to play Frickley Athletic in the final, a year after pulling out of the same fixture to focus on the play-offs. Owner Craig Wood said: "Anything less than a double would be disappointing now. The lads have done so well to get us to this position and now we just want to finish it off.
"We were disappointed to lose in the play-off final last season and it is still a little bit raw. But we have regrouped, learned from it and come back stronger.
"The Sheffield Cup is important to us. We took a lot of criticism last season and particularly me because it was my decision to pull out of the final. It's not ideal timing this year either but the lads will be going there to win it."
At Newcastle on Saturday, the hosts took the lead then doubled it from a rebound after Shaw Lane goalkeeper Jon Stewart saved a penalty. But Spencer Harris pulled one back before the break then Alex Byrne levelled with 15 minutes left and Oscar Radford got the winner. Witton also won at the weekend so arrived at Shaw Lane level on points with the Ducks.
In front of a crowd of 690, Jono Wafula got the only goal a minute into the second half when he lobbed the goalkeeper with a fine finish. Witton hit the post from long range and drew one fine save out of Stewart, but the Ducks had the better chances throughout. Allott missed three one-on-one opportunities while Wafula and Godwin Abadaki both came close several times.
Manager Craig Elliott said: "I'm over the moon. We were superb and back to what we are about. It wasn't pretty but we showed a lot of heart and deserved the win. It was a great night for the club in front of a big crowd but we don't want to waste that now, we want to finish the job. There is still a job to do but the title is ours if we focus and work hard."
After the Easter matches and the cup final, Shaw Lane's last scheduled game of the season is at home to Stamford on April 22.
