Holyport are in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North play-offs after Burnham failed to beat Hilltop in the final game of the regular season.
‘Ports fate was always out of their hands having played more games than the sides around them, but winning their last five games in a row proved the old footballing adage of ‘I’d rather have points on the board’ correct.
Still, Burnham’s unlikely drop out of the play-offs comes having only needed to win one of their last two games against Wokingham & Emmbrook and second-bottom Hilltop.
The Blues lost 3-2 to Wokingham and 3-0 to a Hilltop side who had to replace their goalkeeper during the game.
Holyport manager Sam Lock revealed his side were at the Hilltop game on Thursday night and said at the final whistle: “What my boys have achieved this season is beyond anything I’ve ever seen. I’ll be going in the Hilltop changing room after this! I’m absolutely speechless, we’ll go out there Saturday now and give it everything we’ve got.
”I wish Rayners Lane the best of luck because right now we’re all the same, it’s a level playing field in a one off game.”
Holyport and Rayners Lane (who were docked four points this season for administrative errors that ultimately cost them the title) will be joined in the play-offs by Bedfont Sports and Reading City.
