Wealdstone manager Gordon Bartlett admits his side are on the verge of “something pretty incredible” as they look for the victory which will ensure they are crowned champions.

The Stones have five games remaining in the Ryman Premier Division and need two points to seal promotion to the Conference South.

Bartlett, who is in his 19th season at the club said: “If you had told me at the end of May when we had just lost in the play-offs, with six players leaving, winning the championship seemed an awful long way away. We are on the verge of something pretty incredible.

“The people deserve this. This is a unique club where everybody is valuable to us. It’s a people club and I would love to win it for them.”

The Stones had to put the champagne on ice after a goalless draw at home to in-form Lowestoft Town on Tuesday night.

Bartlett, who has previously won promotion with Yeading twice and Wealdstone from the Isthmian Division Three, said: “It would have been a lovely way to win the title in front of our own supporters.

“It is so much better if we can go out and win it rather than other teams losing. We would like to win and then we will celebrate rather than having to wait on the end of a phone.”

Although the Stones are virtually promoted, the manager is keen for his side to rubberstamp this sooner rather than later. Their first opportunity comes away at Grays Athletic this weekend.

Bartlett said: “All we can do is win one of our last five games.

“You don’t often get an opportunity to win a championship let alone with a few games to spare. But we would like to do it sooner rather than later.

“Other teams are playing against the champions elect and they don’t want to give us an easy time.

“We were a bit frustrated against Lowestoft but that has taken us to only four defeats in 41 games and we have an excellent defensive record.”

Bartlett added: “I would expect us to show good application and go about our business professionally at Grays.

“If we can conjure up a win then there will be celebrations. But if we can’t then we will just take the same attitude into game at Margate.

“I would rather have won it against Lowestoft but then didn’t happen so we’ll focus on the next game.”

The Stones suffered a rare defeat on their way to the title on Saturday when they were beaten 2-1 at Met Police.

The league leaders got off to a promising start and took the lead after 11 minutes when Elliot Godfrey was bundled over in the area. Sean Cronin tucked away the penalty for Wealdstone.

But the hosts grabbed an equaliser before the break when Steve Sutherland netted at the far post.

The Stones were punished 12 minutes from time when Ty Smith fired home the winner for Met Police.

It ended a 15-match unbeaten league run for Wealdstone and was their first defeat since losing at Canvey Island back in January.