Jimmy Ryan is dreaming of Old Trafford as he helped to extend the best season of his career. The 22-year-old Stanley midfielder made the PFA League Two Team of the Year earlier this month, scored his first-ever league hat-trick on Saturday and sealed a play-off spot for the battling Reds, who were relegation favourites at the start of the campaign.

And now Ryan wants to be clutching a play-off winner’s medal at the end of May at Old Trafford to accompany his first-ever match ball.

"I am made up as I have only ever scored one in a game and when I got two I was surprised so I was delighted when I got the third and made up that it takes us into the play-offs," said Ryan with the Reds securing a fifth place in what has been a memorable season.

"It was a hard game against Barnet and we were desperate to win for the club and fans to seal a play-off place so to do it is nice.

"I was aiming for 10 goals at the start of the season and coming into the game against Barnet I was on seven and I didn’t thnk I would get a hat-trick to so I am delighted to hit that target and now I want more with more games to come."

The bookies certainly

didn’t fancy Stanley in the top seven at the start and, when they were just two points off the drop zone in December, it did look like mission impossible.

But undefeated in 11 at home – with nine wins in that run – and one defeat in the last 17 games means they are the form team going into sudden death and Ryan says no one will underestimate them now.

"At the start of every season we are always the favourites to go down but we know in the dressing room and fans know we are good enough to beat anyone in our league and hopefully we will show we are good enough to go up. When we play to our best we know we are a match for anyone.Everyone around the club is buzzing and that's what we have been working for all season and hopefully we can win the play-offs now.

"There will be four great teams involved and they will be hard games and we have got to focus and get into the final and hopefully go up.

"It was the best time to score my first ever hat-trick and hopefully there will be more hat-tricks to come from me – although I can’t see it! – and hopefully I will have a play-off medal.

"We have had a really good season, we have drawn a lot away but that shows we are hard to beat and we are scoring goals at home."

Saturday’s clash with relegation-haunted Barnet certainly wasn’t a classic with the swirling wind making it hard to play attractive football.

But Ryan came up with the goods at the right time – scoring a 20-yarder in the fourth minute after winning the ball in midfield to give Stanley yet another blistering start at home.

A rare mistake let Mark Marshall into equalise three minutes later and to be fair to the Bees, who were promoted into the Football League the year before the Reds in 2005, they threw everything at Stanley including a high number of corners and throw-ins.

The Reds, however, unlike perhaps earlier Stanley teams, did not buckle as they buzzed with confidence and the conviction that they were not going to let this chance slip away.

Keeper Alex Cisak did particularly well dealing with 10 corners in the first ten minutes of the second half and coping with a barrage of long throws in the dying minutes.

Boss John Coleman admitted that, as well as talent and ability in football, you need a bit of luck along they way and they got that 10 minutes after the re-start somewhat against the run of play..

The Reds won a free kick for handball 20 yards out and Ryan ‘s effort hit the wall and looped up into the top of the net, catching out the Bees keeper .

And 10 minutes later number three came as a rare left foot strike from ex-Liverpool man Ryan sealed that vital three points. That’s 16 goals in the last six games for Stanley at the Crown Ground and no team will fancy coming to Accrington and be confident of victory.

And with those around seemingly losing their heads – Stevenage and Gillingham have both lost a couple in recent games – it sets it up nicely for Stanley.

And Ryan said he definitely will need to get some building work done then.

"A PFA medal, match ball and play-off winners medal – I will need to build a cabinet!"

Barnet need to win their final game against Port Vale tomorrow to stand any chance of avoiding the drop back into non-league football.