Mere weeks after fighting off the Colston Avenue boo-boys following another dismal home defeat, Carshalton Athletic boss Hayden Bird now stands on the verge of leading the side into the Blue Square South after Tuesday’s play-off win at Tonbridge set-up a winner-takes-all showdown with Staines Town.

The Robins will head to Wheatsheaf Park on Saturday for their Ryman Premier play-off final in good heart after dumping the Angels 3-2 in Kent.

And Bird is convinced his side have what it takes.

He said: “It really is the stuff dreams are made of.

“To stay up via goal difference on the last day of the season last year and now be in a play-off final is incredible.

“But I am absolutely convinced that we can go there and win.

“We have played Staines twice this season, and been beaten twice, but none of that matters now.

“This is cup football, and it all comes down to 90 minutes.

“Our away record speaks for itself, and I honestly feel that we are the last team that Staines would want to come up against.”

That was certainly the case for Tonbridge, who despite having home advantage came unstuck against a Robins side that racked up an impressive 14 away victories in the league this season.

Richard Jolly (2) and Charlie Ide grabbed the goals, and Bird reckoned it was a well-deserved win.

He added: “Jolly and Ide are without doubt players that have the ability to perform at a higher level.

“When you have that quality in the final third it really doesn’t matter who you play.

“At 2-0 I thought we were very comfortable, but we were really on the back foot after they got their penalty.

“To then come through that says a lot about this side, and we have an immovable belief that we will win when we play away.

“If you throw the kitchen sink at us, the simple fact is we will pick you off.”

Attentions now switch to Staines, and the Robins boss is expecting a game to remember.

Bird added: “I think it will be a contest between the two best footballing sides in the division.

“From a neutrals perspective I suppose you could say that it would be a travesty if Staines did not go up because of their league position.

“But I think the pressure is all on them - for Staines a successful season is only gauged by promotion whereas for us we have overachieved.

“That could really play into our hands and we will really give it our best shot. ”