Richard Money cut a frustrated figure after seeing Altrincham hold his free-scoring side to a goalless draw at Kenilworth Road that ended the Hatters' chances of lifting the Blue Square Premier title.

The Town boss predicted a close game in his pre-match press conference on Friday and that's precisely what happened as Graham Heathcote's side shut-up shop to keep the Hatters out.

And Money thought that after hitting so many goals in recent weeks in front of the home faithful it was no surprise that a game like this would eventually rear it's head.

"It was frustrating to be honest," the manager said afterwards. "It was a tight game, like a knew it would be, and we just couldn't make the breakthrough.

"I'd like to see what the possession count and number of shots, corners and crossed we had but we just couldn't do it.

"I suppose when you score 24 in your past four home games you're always going to have one of those days when one doesn't go in.

"I think Altrincham came off the pitch thinking 'mission accomplished', they came to frustrate us and make life difficult and they certainly did that."

The draw means the Town will have to win promotion back to the Football League through the Play-Offs.

With competition fierce with three ex-League sides joining the Hatters in the end-of-season lottery, Money is just hoping his players' form and confidence can continue.

"We won't have to pick the players up," he said. "And hopefully the fans won't need picking up but I am proud of the players' efforts over the last quarter of the season.

"I always thought it was a bridge too far to catch Stevenage but fair play to our players for pushing as hard as they have done.

"We're not disappointed, we've had a huddle and I don't think we could have done any more.

"It's been a fantastic effort. We'd won seven home games on a row before today - and we haven't lost - and we've only lost once in 15 away games.

"That suggests that going into the play-offs we're in good form.

"I said after the Tamworth game that 14-15 games ago we just thought 'let's just get in the play-off and move off from there' but our run of form almost gave Stevenage a scare.

"Now we've got to get on with it."

The Town boss has experience the play-offs with his time at Walsall and in Australia and, as attention turned to the two-legged semi-finals, Money, naturally, is expecting two really stern tests.

"We're in for some tough games home and away," he said. "They'll be tight, exciting and hopefully we're can play confidently and we can give the supporters some real entertainment.

"We're confident and I'm sure the others will be too, but I don't expect anything other than a lot of tight games."

Money also revealed the extent of Keith Keane's injury that saw the midfielder withdrawn from the starting XI minutes before kick-off.

"Keano's felt his knee a bit over the past two or three weeks," he said. "He had a problem with it earlier in the season which has always been in the back our minds.

"He's always been keen - no pun intended - to play but today he felt it slightly in the warm-up and as an experienced pro he said he didn't want to take the chance with some important matches coming up.

"It was a sensible decision from a sensible player."

With a game to play, away at possible Play-Off opponents Rushden & Diamonds next week, Money remains undecided how to approach the fixture at Nene Park.

"At the moment we're going there wanting to win," he said. "It's unclear who we'll play in the Play-offs yet but at the minute my thoughts are to keep the players in good form in the side.

"If it was certain that we're playing Rushden then I might have been tempted to changed it but we just don't know yet."