JUBILANT promoter Matt Ford admitted he was still pinching himself after Poole Pirates had gatecrashed the SGB Premiership play-off picture.

Ford was convinced Pirates had blown their chance of going for an unprecedented eighth top-flight crown after they had lost six matches on the trot between mid-July and early August.

And following a chastening 60-30 defeat by Rye House at Wimborne Road just 25 days ago, he even questioned whether they would win another meeting.

But his riders silenced their critics in style, embarking on a run which saw them rack up six victories in their final seven meetings of the regulation season.

The pièce de résistance came on Friday when they pulled off a dramatic last-heat victory at Somerset to book their place in the play-offs for an eighth year in succession.

Pirates are tonight due to discover who they will meet in the last four when runaway leaders Swindon select either them, Wolverhampton or Belle Vue.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “In my programme notes the week after the Rye House defeat, I said I doubted whether we would win another meeting this year.

“I questioned the riders and asked whether they had the ability to win one more meeting, let alone six out of seven.

“I don’t believe those words changed our fortunes, it was down to their conscience and ability. That’s what pulled us through.

“They knew they had let down everybody and it had been a woeful performance. But, sometimes, these things can be character-building for all of us and I include the fans in that.

“They have voted with their feet because we were losing and it has probably been my worst campaign in terms of crowds since I took over. But I understand that when you are not winning.

“All we can hope is that we have hit form at the right time. Swindon are top of pile and have had an exceptional campaign and Wolves are not far behind them. Whoever we face, it is going to be tough. But there are no silly comments coming out of our camp.

“We will just give it everything and we know we will fare a lot better than we would have a month ago.”

Ford added: “We haven’t done ourselves any favours this year. Did I get things wrong by signing Krzysztof Kasprzak at the start of the year? Unquestionably, I have to put up my hands and say that one was wrong.

“Mistakes have been made and there has certainly been an element of frustration with what myself and everybody connected with the club would have felt was a lack of effort at times.

“I don’t necessarily include the current riders in that because they are all committed and the camaraderie is unique. We are the underdogs and that will make a change.

"Usually, we go into the semi-finals being the team everyone is tipping to win. This time, nobody will give us a chance.”