Rangers travelled to Berkeley Fields on Saturday where a win over North Greenford United would have ensured safety from relegation. But with United's hat-trick hero, Killen, in no mood for benevolence, Rangers have an agonising wait until Tuesday night to find out their fate. At the same time, United have put themselves in a fine position to grab a play-off place, after closest rivals, Burnham, unexpectedly lost to Reading City. Rangers' four-one defeat showed just why they have spent most of this season around the foot of the table, creating little to bother the United defence, whilst defensive frailties of their own were evident throughout. With Rangers kicking into a strong wind on a bone hard pitch it was the visitors with the first shot when Mohamed Ihid fired over a difficult chance after seven minutes. From the resultant goal-kick United swiftly went up the other end and took the lead following something that wouldn't have been out of place in 'Fred Karno's Army'; In an almost comical melee Rangers keeper Connor Coulson was forced into two saves from close range, United twice hit the woodwork before Killen finally slammed home from close in, the Rangers players seemingly having declined to get involved. It summed up this season! Seven minutes later and Josh Chamberlain's header was well blocked following a Rangers corner, the eventual shot from Lewis Toomey wide of the post. The home side followed up with a couple of shots, both blocked, before a great chance following a corner was cleared off the line by the Rangers defence. Rangers countered with a neat move ending with a United defender turning the ball against his own cross-bar with his keeper stranded, also somehow summing up Rangers' season. A couple more shots by the home side followed, neither troubling Coulson and at the other end six minutes before the break Chamberlain had an effort deflected away as Rangers hunted for an equaliser. United added a second on the stroke of half time, this too a comical affair, as defenders in red and keeper alike stood like statues whilst Killen wandered through onto a loose ball, said thank you very much, and prodded into an empty net. It was a shocking goal to concede! As the players trooped in for tea the Rangers fans busily did the math's and prayed not to lose by four clear goals, as that would put them below Berks County on goal difference and into the bottom two.

To make matters worse, news had filtered through that bottom club Wembley were winning two goals to nil at Broadfields. Following a quiet ten minutes a scramble in the United area finished with Rangers' Arel Amu screwing his strike wide. A minute later the chance Rangers had been waiting for arrived when a long throw from Lewis Horn-Haynes into the United box was flicked on. In the ensuing scramble a Risborough shout for handball was agreed with by the referee and Lewis Toomey sent the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot to give the visitors some hope. That hope was dashed just four minutes later when Rangers again failed to clear a loose ball and Killen punished them with a good finish in the far corner. United should have added another soon after, but a terrible miss with the goal gaping let Rangers off the hook. The home side did get a fourth in the 75th minute with a defence splitting pass finding Mbele who did the rest with a nice toe poke past the onrushing Coulson. Rangers did battle well after this in an effort to contain United and they were successful at least in ensuring that they didn't change places with Berks County who are now relegated. Good news arrived from Broadfields where Wembley's two goal lead had been turned into a three-two deficit, meaning that Rangers' fate will be decided on Tuesday night when hosts North Greenford United face Wembley in the final Combined Counties Premier Division North game of the season. Following their emphatic win over Rangers and Burnham's defeat, United need only a draw on Tuesday to secure a play-off place whilst Wembley must win to overtake Rangers on goal difference. All Rangers can do is watch with bated breath and hope that North Greenford can get a result against their local rivals to secure Rangers step five football next season. After all the hard work and money in securing a Step 5 ground grading it would be a great pity if Rangers go down, especially when there are clearly plenty of grounds in the division that are not Step 5. On a personal note, whatever happens on Tuesday I for one will be glad to see the end of this season; We have lost two great stalwarts with the death of Chairman Richard Woodward and Life President, Colyn 'Nibbo' Makepeace, plus two much loved supporters, Mick Beckenham and Maureen Dean. Coupled with the teams struggles on the pitch, a change of manager and a huge turnover of players, it has made for an Annus Horribilis, as our late Queen once said. Finally, league tables do not lie and Rangers are where they are for a reason, therefore, whilst I will be cheering on North Greenford on Tuesday night, I will not celebrate if things go our way!