FC UNITED kept their hopes of a third successive promotion alive by beating Bamber Bridge 3-2 in a thrilling play-off semi-final at Gigg Lane.
Karl Marginson's side will now face Skelmersdale in the final on Saturday.
United took a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to Adam Carden and Rory Patterson. But two goals from Neil Zarac ensured a second-half full of tension.
Ultimately Jerome Wright's 68th-minute strike proved to be decisive, sending the crowd into raptures.
After riding their luck early on with Ryan Salmon clipping the bar and Zarac firing narrowly wide, United took control.
Their opening goal, on 22 minutes was a move of real quality as Patterson's first-time pass completely opened up the defence for Carden to put the Rebels ahead.
Carden turned provider on 32 minutes when he unselfishly squared to Patterson who had the easiest of tap-ins.
Zarac popped up to ensure it wouldn't be a stroll for United but then Wright sewed it all up.
ALEX Ferguson's Manchester United may still be on course for a Premier League and Champions League double.
But Karl Marginson's FC United are on for an amazing promotion treble.
The Rebels will have to overcome Bamber Bridge in Wednesday's crunch play-off semi-final at Gigg Lane (7.45pm) if they are to grab three promotions in three seasons.
United clinched second spot in Unibond First Division North with a 2-1 away win against Garforth Town at the weekend.
And they will gain promotion to the Unibond Premier League if they can beat the Preston side on Wednesday - and then get past either Curzon Ashton or Skelmersdale in the final on Saturday.
Jamie Baguley and a Nicky Platt penalty clinched the win for the Reds in West Yorkshire, but only after the hosts levelled through Richard Carrick.
Boss Marginson rested a number of his key stars ahead of Wednesday's clash, but was still delighted with the performance.
"The lads did really well and it was certainly a confidence booster," he said.
"We have now got the possibility of two cup finals in a week."
United hammered Brig 5-0 in the early rounds of the Presidents Cup at Radcliffe's Stainton Park in October.
But they have faced them three times in league action this term - and have not yet won.
FC UNITED'S title dreams were left in tatters last night after a shock draw with Unibond First Division North strugglers Woodley Sports at Gigg Lane.
The Rebels went into the clash with the Stockport side five points behind leaders Bradford Park Avenue knowing three points from their game in hand would take the race to Saturday's final day.
But a speculative 68th minute lob from way out on the left wing by Jamie Kay left FC United contemplating next Tuesday's play-off semi final tie.
Striker Jerome Wright grabbed a fine last-minute equaliser, but it just was not enough.
The point gives Woodley some much-needed breathing space in their battle, with Bridlington Town, to avoid relegation.
Woodley could have gone in front eight minutes before the break when striker Andy Farrell saw a close- range volley bravely blocked by home skipper Dave Chadwick.
They were forced onto the back foot again early in the second period, as FC United increased their intensity, but weathered the storm.
FC United's Unibond League First Division North title dreams are back on after a thumping win at Newcastle Blue Star.
The Rebels are now just two points behind leaders Bradford Park Avenue, with two games to play, following a defeat for Park Avenue and a draw for fellow contenders Curzon Ashton.
Goals from Rory Patterson, Jerome Wright, Dave Chadwick and Nick Robinson sealed the win at Kingston Park.
"It certainly keeps us in it with the other results," said delighted boss Karl Marginson.
"It was a good game of football, but we just had that something special."
United were roared on by a travelling army of 800, who were treating the trip as a mini-holiday.
"The last trip like this was a couple of years ago when we took 5,000 to play Blackpool Mechanics at Bloomfield Road," said fan Paul Cambridge from Middleton.
"There has been an after-match party, all the songs are out, and quite a few are stopping for the night in Whitley Bay."
Gary Rochford, from Timperley, added: "What a fantastic result - it's one of the best away results of the season."
The Rebels now play Woodley Sports at Gigg Lane on Wednesday night.
RESURGENT FC United broke their Radcliffe Borough hoodoo thanks to strikes from Nick Robinson and Chris Baguley and an heroic performance from goalkeeper Sam Ashton.
It was the first time the Rebels have beaten Radcliffe in four attempts this season and keeps Karl Marginson's men firmly in the UniBond First Division North promotion picture.
The fact they did it with an inexperienced side made the result all the more impressive. FC will hope to repeat the victory when the sides meet again in tomorrow's President's Cup final.
Radcliffe started the game strongly but were rocked by two FC goals in quick succession.
First the lively Baguley sent Robinson clear and the striker finished smartly into the bottom corner after 14 minutes.
With Radcliffe reeling, Baguley lashed home a shot high into the net three minutes later to double the advantage.
Radcliffe had chances to haul themselves back into the game, with Steve Howson blazing over when it seemed easier to score. Griff Jones then saw his header rebound off the angle of post and bar before Ashton denied the same player with a superb reaction save from point blank range.
FC brought on Stuart Rudd at half time and the striker was quickly into the action, his low shot stopped by goalkeeper Phil Priestley. The game continued to swing from end to end, with the impressive Ashton getting down quickly to deny Neil Chappell moments later.
Rudd was through again as the game approached the hour mark, but seemed to lose his bearings and prodded the ball wide.
To their credit, Radcliffe continued to drive forward but they could not find a way past Ashton. FC now have three league games remaining and Marginson is confident his side can win them all.
Next, though, FC will turn their attention to the cup final and the chance of silverware.
TWO goals from Stuart Rudd and one from Chris Baguley secured victory for FC United and galvanised their hopes of promotion to the Unibond Premier Division.
Rudd struck in five frantic second-half minutes, his second a wonderful lob from the edge of the box, before Baguley sealed the points.
This was United's first win since March 26 and sees them close the gap with First Division leaders Curzon Ashton to seven points with five games left.
Rebels' boss Karl Marginson was pleased with the ruthlessness his side showed, especially after they had started sluggishly and deservedly found themselves a goal down on 25 minutes from a Ben Jones penalty following Shaun Roscoe's clumsy tackle.
The visitors got back into the match through a combination of determination and quick-passing and equalised on 46 minutes when Rudd turned his marker and rolled the ball past keeper Tom Morgan.
The imposing forward struck again soon after and as the hosts tired the Rebels went for the kill.
Top scorer Rory Patterson almost got the third when he hit the bar with a right-footed strike but Baguley made sure with a close-range shot.
FC UNITED'S hopes of securing automatic promotion to the Unibond Premier Division remain in the balance after they could only draw at Bradford Park Avenue.
Both sides fought hard but neither could create any real chances and it was no surprise when the match ended goalless.
This result means FC have now failed to win in five matches and while they remain in the play-off places, they are running out of time to catch leaders Curzon Ashton.
Karl Marginson's side are now 10 points off top spot with six matches remaining.
Having lost their previous two games, the Rebels can take some comfort in the point they secured on a bitterly cold night, but their front pairing of Stuart Rudd and top scorer Rory Patterson were forced to feed off scraps.
Indeed, it was left to the strikers to combine to create their best chance of the game. On 18 minutes Rudd sent a through-ball to Patterson, who had space in the Bradford box but hit his half-volley over the bar.
That effort was sandwiched between two excellent chances for the hosts, but on both occasions they failed to test Sam Ashton in the FC goal.
And there was even less of a threat from either side after the interval.
A PUNISHING run of matches caught up with FC United on Thursday night as they squandered a half-time lead to lose 3-1 at Ossett Albion.
The Rebels broke the deadlock on 18 minutes when midfielder Simon Carden poked the ball in from six yards out after Ossett had failed to clear a Chris Baguley corner but the hosts turned the match around with two goals from David Sears and one from Shaun Kelsey in the second half.
This was the Rebels' sixth match in 12 days and Karl Marginson's side now have to face five league fixtures in ten days starting with a visit to Wakefield on Saturday.
The Rebels, however, remain in the play-off places and are still only eight points off leaders Skelmersdale with three games in hand.
United had the first chance on goal when on 15 minutes Stuart Rudd headed Liam Foster's superb right-wing cross just wide of the post, but Ossett quickly got back into the game.
They eventually pegged United back with an excellent curling shot from Sears on 51 minutes and secured all three points in stoppage time when Kelsey poked the ball past Sam Ashton in the United goal.