Romsey's relegation fight goes to the wire

A thumping 8-1 victory over Southampton University – which ended a run of five successive defeats – has lifted Romsey out of the automatic relegation zone.

So, everything now hinges on the outcome of the final round of matches which see Romsey go to Portsmouth University and Bank of England, a point worse off and with an inferior goal difference, visit mid-table Sunbury & Walton Heath.

If the city bankers, who haven’t won since their 4-3 win at Romsey in late January, lose, the Abbeymen will avoid finishing in the bottom two.

But, under the South League’s complicated relegation regulations, Romsey will not know their fate until the final divisional positions in the pyramid are confirmed.

Lewis Birch was the Romsey hero against the University, who have won only twice all season and were relegated to the Hampshire League several weeks ago.

Birch, sidelined for several weeks through injury, scored five of Romsey’s eight goals, including a first half hat-trick.

The care-free end of season approach exhibited by the students, combined with a testing sand strewn Romsey School surface, produced an action-packed game and entertainment, but lacking in quality.

The university did plenty of attacking of their own and Romsey keeper Lozz Scott had to win three one-on-one situations to prevent the visitors scoring.

Romsey were five-up at half-time – Jack Forrest Charde and Jack Murray also netting. Birch continued to enjoy himself in the second period as he claimed the sixth with a close range rebound before Murray assisted the next by skipping the ball around the goalie to set up Mason.

Romsey's final goal was probably their best move of the match as they broke away at the end of a Uni attack with Will Archibald bringing the ball out from the back before passing to Mason, who set up Birch to complete his five-goal salvo.

The students kept going and gained some late reward through Liam Roper’s deflected shot.