BARROW AFC boss Paul Cox wants his side to end their season on a high against Wrexham tomorrow.

The Welshmen come to Holker Street with both sides firmly ensconced in the National League mid-table and with nothing to play for (5.30pm kick-off).

Despite the dead rubber nature of the match, Cox hopes the Bluebirds can fly high once more and build on form which has seen them rise into the top half of the table and put together a run of just three league defeats since November.

“We don’t want to finish on a low – it would be unfortunate for the boys if they did, because they have worked extremely hard in the last eight or nine weeks,” said Cox.

“We want to go out, especially in front of the home supporters on the final day, and give a good account of ourselves. I’m sure the players will want to finish on a high as much as I do.”

He added: “I wish the season was going on for another two or three months. We’ve had three defeats in 22 (league) matches. When the team is in that mode and in that mind-set, then you want to keep playing.

“I’m enjoying my football at the minute and I think the players and supporters are.

“Everyone needs a break and everyone wants to recharge their batteries, but I’ve got mixed feelings and I’m not too sure I want the season to finish on Saturday.”

One area where Cox will have to work hard when selecting his team is in the back-four.

Steve Williams is set to undergo surgery on a broken cheekbone suffered at Torquay today, with Danny Livesey’s season ended by a hamstring tear and Ritchie Sutton having returned to parent club Tranmere Rovers following a similar problem.

Brad Carroll has returned to the AFC squad following a loan spell with Burscough, while Andy Parry and Paddy Lacey have both been used as cover away from their usual midfield roles.

“Steve goes in on Friday for an operation. I feel for the lad,” said Cox. “He’s had a situation where he got injured and that allowed Danny Livesey back into the side.

“Danny and Grandy (Simon Grand) have been consistent in my spell here and that’s not allowed Steve back in. He’s been on the verge of coming back and then tweaked his Achilles tendon and then, when he does come back and you think he’s got two games to show what he can do, he gets a fractured cheekbone.

“I feel for him. It’s a series of incidents which have really been unfortunate for him.”

He added: “We’re going to have to patch the team up a bit.

“In the performance against Torquay, while Steve was on the pitch we had a good shape about us. When we lost him, we lost our way a little bit.

“Andy Parry went back there and did well after the initial few moments when, it wasn’t his fault, but we lost our shape a little bit, and Paddy Lacey did well at right-back.

“We have to patch it up and send the best possible side out there to try and win a football match. We’re a bit low on numbers, but we’ve got to get on with it.

“I put Brad Carroll on the bench on Saturday and he has every chance of starting or getting on this weekend.”