Joy for Rocks, despair for Hastings

A goal by Kye Ruel (pictured) after 27 minutes was enough for the Rocks, who effectively clinched fifth place. Met Police can in theory catch them, but they are three points and 16 goals adrift so it is purely theoretical.

Hastings could have stayed alive going into the last day had Wingate lost at home to Lowestoft, a result which would also have confirmed the Trawlerboys as runners-up.

But, despite falling behind to a Joey Benjamin goal after only five minutes, Wingate battled their way to a 3-2 victory which ensured their survival.

Teenager Ryan Scott levelled the scores in the 28th minute and Hector Mackie put the hosts ahead just after half-time. Hakeem Araba squared it again in the 66th minute but Wingate refused to cave in and Ahmet Rifat netted the winner with 13 minutes left.

So it remains a three-way scrap for second place: Lowestoft go into the final day a point ahead of Wealdstone and two ahead of Concord. All three have home games, against Hendon, Canvey and Leiston respectively.

There were plenty of sighs of relief when Hastings’ defeat was confirmed. Cray and Thurrock are both now safe from the drop, as are Harrow. They needed no help to reach safety, however, achieving it for themselves with a 3-2 home win over Bognor.

Like Wingate, they fell behind in the fifth minute, Ollie Pearce the scorer. Jordan Berry equalised, Simon Woods restored Bognor’s lead and Ola Williams made it 2-2 right on half-time. And, again matching Wingate, Harrow won it with 13 minutes left thanks to a strike by Vences Bola.

Two clubs are left in danger of the other relegation place, but Carshalton will need something special to escape. They trail Lewes by three points and seven goals.

Canvey needed a win at Hampton to maintain their play-off hopes if East Thurrock slipped up but, as it turned out, they could only manage a 2-2 draw.

Hampton earlier in the day announced that caretaker managers Paul Berry and Darren Powell had been confirmed in their posts on a permanent basis, and their side grabbed a point with an 85th-minute goal by Gary Holloway.

Jay Curran had put Canvey ahead on the half-hour. Alan Bray squared it ten minutes after the break, only for Bradley Woods-Garness to restore the islanders’ advantage four minutes later with his 22nd league goal.