ABERYSTWYTH Town’s interim manager Wyn Thomas hopes his side can keep their play-off hopes alive when he returns to his former club Carmarthen Town for their penultimate match this weekend.

The Seasiders are a point adrift of both Carmarthen and Bangor City, who they face in their last two matches - and their destiny is now back in their own hands.

A win at Richmond Park would set-up a showdown at Park Avenue with the Citizens for seventh place, and Thomas is looking for his side to build on the 3-1 win over relegated Haverfordwest on Friday.

“It was an important three points for us,” said the Seasiders’ interim manager, who spent five seasons as a player at Carmarthen Town between 1998 and 2003.

“We scored a great goal in the first half, but we took our foot of the gas. We came out better in the second half and won it.”

He added: “Haverfordwest caused us problems at times, but we defended well.

“It was pleasing that we kept a clean sheet in the second half, and we scored two important goals to win the game.”

After back-to-back 3-1 wins over Rhyl and Haverfordwest, the Seasiders will go into this weekend’s match in good heart.

“It’s important we keep the run going,” said Thomas. “We are on a good run at the moment, and the boys are playing well. They are eager to turn up for training on a Tuesday and to do well at weekends.

“They want to win, and a lot of credit goes to the boys. They are working hard and doing that bit extra, and it shows. The players want to get into the starting 11, and there is competition for places.”

Thomas said he was pleased to see Chris Venables move joint top of the Welsh Premier League’s Golden Boot table with his 17th league goal of the season, as well as seeing striker Rhys Griffiths take his tally to six goals from just 16 starts this season.

The form of Craig Williams has also been a real positive for the Seasiders in recent weeks, and he once again opened Aber’s scoring, and provided the assists.

“It was good that Venners got his goal, and we know that players like him and Rhys can win us matches,” said Thomas. “We also know of Craig’s qualities, he can put the ball on a plate for somebody, and can also go and score goals like that.”

All attention moves to a massive game at Richmond Park on Saturday, with the Old Gold a point clear of Aber after their crucial last minute leveller at Bangor City.

The Seasiders have only lost once since the league split, but that was at home to Carmarthen in February when the Old Gold registered their second win at Park Avenue this season - to avenge Aber’s 3-0 win at Richmond Park last September.

“We are fighting for seventh spot,” said Thomas. “We have two massive games left, and we are looking to the next one. We know it will be close at Carmarthen, and we’ll see who turns up on the day.”