The Southern League Division One South trap door claimed another victim on Easter Monday as Thatcham Town slipped through.
The Kingfishers are down with a game left to play after a 1-0 defeat at near neighbours Didcot Town and will join Cribbs and Cinderford Town at Step 5 next season.
It has been a long and difficult season for the Blues who were moved from the Isthmian League to the Southern League in the summer, massively increasing the away day travel time and altering the player pool available to a club that had become accustomed to playing around the M25 and M4 in recent seasons.
In truth the drop has been some time in coming for Yashwa Romeo’s side, but a 3-2 win at home to Bideford last week gave hope of escape. Unfortunately a follow up 0-0 draw with Bishops Cleeve and this Didcot defeat have made it mathematically impossible.
There will be some reprieves at Step 4 this season with Shaftsbury believed to be being demoted even though they are not in the relegation zone. Thatcham though are unlikely to benefit given they cannot overhaul Helston Athletic in the last relegation space.
In the Vanarama National League, Maidenhead United cling on to Step 1 status but it’s going to take maximum points from the final two fixtures and results going their way elsewhere to stay up.
Brendan Kiernan scored after just four minutes for the Magpies as things looked up but Kallum Cesay levelled on 39 minutes to give fellow strugglers Wealdstone a share of the spoils.
In the Southern League Premier Division South, it will take a remarkable set of results for Bracknell Town to actually be relegated in the final game of the season against Sholing, but a 5-1 home defeat to play-off bound Walton & Hersham will not do supporters’ nerves much good.
The Isthmian League South Central Division One play-offs are almost secure for Ascot United after a 1-0 win over Badshot Lea. The Yellas will secure play-off status next season by equalling or bettering Hayes & Yeading United’s final day result.
Meanwhile Binfield are safe despite losing 4-1 to Leatherhead. The Moles still have two to play but cannot be caught by Guernsey – the last non-relegated side – who they still have to play.
It promises to be a tense finale to the Combined Counties League Division One on Tuesday night after Rising Ballers Kensington beat Staines & Lammas 2-1 at home. Windsor and Woodley United occupy two of the three relegation places and will need to better each others results.
If Windsor beat Eversley & California they will stay up, if they draw, they will stay up if Woodley United don’t beat Oxhey Jets. Woodley United have to win their final game to stand a chance.
