A MAN named Shroot finallly shot down Billericay Town's hopes of making the end of season play-offs for a third time in four seasons.

Despite taking a first-half lead, the New Lodge side, playing in front of a 2,429 crowd, were beaten 2-1 due to substitute Robin Shroot coming off the bench to grab a 92nd-minute winner for the hosts.

Although Billericay are still only four points off a play-off position down in 10th place, even the most ardent Town fan would admit that it is all over for them now for this term.

Wimbledon, Staines and AFC Hornchurch appear to have three of the play-off spots tied-up and it is inconceivable that all of the other five teams above Jason Broom and Grant Gordon's side will muck it up.

There is still plenty for Billericay to play for as their last three games are all against teams in the play-off mix, but the truth is that Town's recent form has not been good enough to warrant a potential promotion spot.

They have won just twice in their last 10 league matches and Saturday's defeat was the fourth in their past five visits to opposition territory.

In many ways Broom and Gordon deserve congratulations for lifting the Blunts Wall Road outfit into play-off potential as, when they took over in November, the great FA Cup run masked the fact that in the Premier they were facing a possible relegation fight.

Certainly injuries have not helped the cause, with the long-term absence of Joe Flack and Matt Game, and the more recent blow of losing highly-influential skipper Jamie Dormer, undoubtedly telling factors.

This is proving one of the tightest races for promotion in years - although Chelmsford City always looked the main contenders for the title.

They finally clinched the crown on Saturday when, in front of a 1,588 crowd at Melbourne Park, a 1-1 draw with Ramsgate ensured the team managed by ex-Canvey boss Jeff King would be playing Blue Square South soccer next season.

Their goal came from ex-Park Lane striker Kezie Ibe.

For Billericay, outside play-off dreams were kept alive by Billy Bricknell who started and ended a flowing move involving Lee Hodges to fire past home keeper James Pullen on 15 minutes.

But Wimbledon, having lost three of their previous four league games - two of them at home - were shaken up by manager Terry Brown's half-time talk.

They piled on the pressure after the break and, after visiting keeper Ronnie Worster made a brilliant 65th-minute one-handed save from Luis Cumbers, ex-Football League man Marcus Gayle headed home Sam Hatton's corner for the equaliser.

Billericay did find the net late on, but Bradley Woods-Garness's effort was ruled out by an assistant's flag.

And a sharing of the spoils looked certain until Shroot's late late show ended Billericay's dreams.