PROUD owner Ken Davy says Town will attack the play-offs with heads held high.

Speaking in the wake of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Cheltenham which denied the resurgent club automatic promotion, Mr Davy today issued a rallying message to the team, staff and fans.

Fourth-placed Town will play Lincoln City in the play-off semi-finals and secretary Ann Hough confirmed that the first crunch will come this Saturday at Sincil Bank with a 3pm kick-off.

The crucial McAlpine deciding leg will be a week on Wednesday, May 19 with a 7.45pm kick-off and it will be all-ticket.

Neither of Town's ties is currently being considered for screening by the Sky cameras.

"We will attack the play-offs with heads held high," said Mr Davy, who rescued the club last August and is hoping to top £1m from season ticket sales which started today.

"Saturday ended on the down side rather than the up, but Peter Jackson and Terry Yorath have guided the club to fourth place - far higher than the pundits were predicting at the start of the season - and there's no reason why we can't ultimately go to Cardiff and win.

"I am absolutely certain that everyone will get behind the club in the play-offs because the support we have had this season has been tremendous.

"It is that support and backing from the Town fans which will ultimately help the club achieve all its objectives."

It's the fourth time Town have been in the post- season knockout, losing semi-finals in 1992 and 2002 and winning the final at Wembley in 1995.

Jackson and his players were distraught after the final whistle at Whaddon Road, where 1,739 Town fans in a season-best crowd of 5,814 saw Andy Booth net his 100th goal for the club before Damian Spencer was sent-off for the home side and Shane Duff scored the equaliser which meant Torquay's 2-1 win at Southend took them up on goal difference.

Lincoln - who lost 5-2 in the play-off final to Bournemouth last season - lost 3-2 at home to Yeovil on Saturday but qualified in seventh place on goal difference.

Tickets for the away leg go on sale at 9am tomorrow and Town have 1,950 in the main stand and 350 in the Family Area. Prices are £15 for adults, £10 senior citizens and £5 juniors. Any remaining will go on general sale at 9am on Friday.

Tickets for the McAlpine leg are already on sale and are at normal League prices for all sections.

Season-ticket holders have until 5pm next Monday to buy their own seats.

Unreserved seating is on sale to non season-ticket holders in all stands and the Panasonic lower tier will only be open if all other areas sell out.

Due to the limited time, reserved seating is not available to non season-ticket holders.

The game is all-ticket because Town expect a large crowd and want to avoid the problems experienced before the Mansfield game, when kick-off was delayed to allow over 18,000 supporters time to get inside.