Ware's own hopes of the play-offs have looked unlikely to be realised for some time but after their first run of three defeats this season they will know that they are now only playing for pride.

At the top Needham and Harlow both won to maintain a five point difference between the two but with games running out it is looking more and more likely that the title will go to Suffolk rather than Essex. If so it will be Suffolk's third championship out of the last six. When will Hertfordshire get a look in?

With AFC Sudbury keeping up a seemingly hopeless pursuit in third place thanks to a 2-0 home win over Chatham only Wroxham of the top five failed to win, being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Great Wakering.

At the other end of the table Burnham Ramblers are effectively condemned to a bottom-three finish after their 4-0 defeat at home to Cray Wanderers. Only a 100% record from now to the end of the season with a massively improved goal difference will allow Ramblers to overtake fourth from bottom Romford who must also lose all their remaining games.

Apart from Cray none of the bottom six gained a single point meaning that things stay as they are. The cut off point finds Romford (3-1 losers at home to Heybridge) two points above Barkingside (0-2 at home to Dereham) who are six points ahead of Cray.

Barkingside have two games in hand and the comforting thought that already the calculators are out looking at who is likely to get a reprieve following the demise of Hereford United and Salisbury City. Currently one of those reprieves looks likely to go to a Ryman North side.