RAMSBOTTOM United secured a place in the end of season play-offs in Evo-Stik First Division North after a goalless draw with Bamber Bridge who also secured a top five spot.

With so much at stake, there was little quality on show as both sides given the tension surrounding the game.

Defeat for the Rams could have seen them slip out of the top five.

And with Lancaster City beating Curzon Ashton 1-0, they secured their play-off place on goal difference alone.

But as a result of the draw, Bamber Bridge travel to Warrington Town, while Rammy make the lengthy journey up to meet Darlington 1886 at Bishop Auckland on Wednesday (7.45pm ko).

The game itself was a disappointment with both teams appearing to cancel one another out.

The majority of the few chances in the first half fell to the visitors. But Phil Dean went close for the home side when he wriggled his way into the area, but keeper Lee Dovey easily dealt with the threat.

Ramsbottom should have taken the lead earlier in the second half but a Lee Gaskell penalty was pushed away by Dovey.

The Bamber Bridge keeper came to the rescue again on 71 minutes when Dean beat the offside trap and raced in on goal. His shot was gathered by Dovey and one of the few genuine chances of the match went begging.

The tension of the occasion got to the players, but both sides, while being satisfied with their final league position, would have taken very little from this game. For them both, though, the final week of the season opens with hopes of a successful conclusion to what has been another excellent and entertaining season.

Padiham completed their first ever season in Evo Stik League First Division North with a 3-0 win at Ossett Albion.

In a first half of few chances, Padiham came closet to opening the scoring when Kieron Pickup rattled the crossbar.

Chris Turner fired the Storks head with a wind-assisted 40-yard free kick in the 50th minute.

Steve Wilkes’ side doubled their lead eight minutes later when Mark Sharples turned in a Spencer Jordan pull back.

And Kieran Pickup completed the scoring with an edge of the box shot in the last minute.