By day, he is the Shay Stadium Football in the Community chief, but his alter ego is Albion keeper and he cannot wait to face the Shaymen.

"I have always wanted to play against Halifax Town and I'm looking forward to it," he said

"If you had told me a few years ago it would happen I would never have believed you.

"I have always lived in the area, I have always looked for their results and a few of my mates are Halifax fans.

"When I signed for Ossett I looked at the fixtures and straight away wanted to play in this game.

"The aim was to play well to make sure I kept my place in the side."

Friday's game will go a long way to deciding whether Halifax or Ossett will continue their fight to finish in the play off places into the final two weeks of the season.

Town dropped to sixth after their defeat at Skelmersdale on Saturday while Albion kept their hopes alive with a 2-0 victory at Trafford.

The Shaymen have a four-point advantage over their derby rivals who have a game in hand.

"Our manager said before Saturday that we would be looking at each game in turn," said Ashforth, who has also had spells with Guiseley, Harrogate Railway, Liversedge and Thackley.

"Winning means we can go into Friday's game with the pressure on Halifax rather than us.

"We know that if we beat them we can finish above them in the table - and then it is all about what Curzon Ashton do."

Friday's game will be a nerve jangler for both sets of players - and the supporters - as the play offs get ever closer.

And Ashforth is expecting to be on the end of some banter from the travelling Town fans.

"I had loads of stick when I signed for Ossett," he said. "And when we lost 5-3 to Mossley on my debut it got even worse.

"But just lately people have gone a bit quiet."

Before Friday's game, Ashforth has a full week of coaching youngsters at the Shay - and he will be back at the ground next week for the second half of the Easter break.

"It is getting bigger and bigger and we are currently looking to employ another coach," he said.

"Even though we are run separately from the club, people see us at the ground and associate us with Halifax Town.

"The higher up the leagues Halifax are, the better it is for us. I would love them to go up this season, but I don't want them to win on Friday."