Craig Stone has issued a rallying cry to his Tonbridge team-mates ahead of their play-off semi-final at Haringey on Thursday.

The midfielder expects to play in north London despite tweaking his medial ligament in the final Bostik Premier match at Potters Bar on Saturday.

And Stone, 30, insists no one in blue can afford to let this opportunity pass them by after battling all season to finish in the top five.

He said: “They’re memories you never forget.

“Just before the Carshalton game (on Easter Monday), we had a huddle and I said to the boys ‘you’re never guaranteed to get this opportunity again’.

“There’s one thing in football – you do not know what next season’s going to bring around. We don’t know what’s round the corner next week, let alone in a year’s time.

“In 12 years, I’ve had three promotions so it’s not a case of being in the play-offs every season.

"I’ve been mid-table and I’ve been in relegation battles so they don’t come around very often.

“If you don’t take that moment when it’s there, you don’t know when it’s next going to come up and for some people, it may never.

"Be that person who can say ‘I’ve got three medals, I’ve done something’. Get a medal that you can show somebody.”

Tonbridge finished one point behind Haringey so the semi-final is too close to call.

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Victory at Potters Bar would have given Steve McKimm’s side home advantage but Stone isn’t worried about playing away.

He was in the Ebbsfleet side which won a play-off final at Farnborough and captained Dover to victory in another final back at Stonebridge Road.

Stone said: “Of course you’d like a home draw because more of your fans can come and watch.

“Haringey isn’t the easiest place to get to but when I’ve been in the play-offs, it hasn’t made a lot of difference. I’ve been successful in play-offs at times when we haven’t been at home.

“It’s about keeping your nerve, sticking to your game plan and not trying to do things beyond what you would normally do.

“You’ve played 40-odd games this season and you’ve obviously done them well so stick to what you’ve always done throughout that time.

“Play-offs are normally tight affairs where a little mistake causes you to go out or go through. It’s small margins so you’ve got to be as focused as you can.

“You do need an ounce of luck in there as well but they are a lottery, it’s a one-off game and things can happen.

“It could be a refereeing decision but if you give it everything and make sure you don’t have any regrets, you at least give yourselves a chance.”

Carshalton host Merstham in the other semi-final, with the final set for Monday at 3pm.

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