CARETAKER manager John Snape believes the battle for survival in Vanarama National League North will go down to the wire and is predicting a “fairytale” finish for Worcester City.

Worcester look set to scrap it out with Gainsborough Trinity to avoid finishing in the bottom three along with already-relegated Altrincham and Stalybridge Celtic who are 10 points adrift of safety.

With five games left City are two points ahead of third-from-bottom Gainsborough and 14 better off on goal difference.

The Blue and Whites take on mid-table Curzon Ashton at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground today (3pm) before facing four teams in the top seven.

They travel to sixth-placed Chorley on Good Friday before hosting play-off chasing Stockport County on Easter Monday and big-spending Salford City on Saturday, April 22.

City then close their campaign with a tough outing at leaders AFC Fylde on Saturday, April 29.

And Snape is relishing his side’s fight to retain their sixth-tier status.

“We are playing some of the big boys,” he said.

“They will be wobbling as they will be anxious and nervous, just like we will be at the other end (of the table).

“But hopefully we can have a fairytale end to the season and get ourselves some good results with some great performances.

“These are the games you want to play in. It may sound wrong but at this time I would rather have a battle on to stay up.

“It is exciting and something for the lads to look forward to and see what they are made of between now and the end of the season.”

Gainsborough have an equally tough run-in as they welcome Stockport and Salford to Northolme today and on Good Friday respectively.

They then visit eighth-placed Brackley Town, tackle high-flying Kidderminster Harriers at home and face an inconsistent FC United of Manchester side at Broadhurst Park on the final day.

“I think it will go down to the last game of the season,” Snape said.

“We can’t let it go out of our hands and we need to get a result against Curzon. That’s our priority.

“I want to win every game between now and the end of the season. It’s as simple as that and that starts today.

“In the other games it will be tight as I don’t want to get beaten in them so until we start keeping clean sheets again we are not going to win those matches.”

Despite being in a relegation battle Snape says he will persist with Callum Devlin and Ben Tilbury, both 16, who both came off the bench in City’s 1-0 defeat at AFC Telford United last Saturday.

But he has challenged his experienced players to “step up to the mark”.

“There are going to be times when we are a bit naive,” Snape added.

“But the older lads need to step up to the mark and bring the young players through. Callum gave his all (at Telford).

“He found himself up against a very physical defender but hopefully he has learnt from that.

“As for Ben I am waiting for him to happen but hopefully he will give us a spark in the next couple of weeks.

“If he is not quite right then I will have to juggle the side to get the experience in there.”

CITY’S RUN-IN

Today – Curzon Ashton – Home Friday, April 14 – Chorley – Away Monday, April 17 – Stockport County – Home Saturday, April 22 – Salford City – Home Saturday, April 29 – AFC Fylde – Away

GAINSBOROUGH’S RUN-IN

Today – Stockport County – Home Friday, April 14 – Salford City – Home Monday, April 17 – Brackley Town – Away Saturday, April 22 – Kidderminster Harriers – Home Saturday, April 29 – FC United of Manchester – Away