Bromsgrove Sporting's final regulation league game of the season saw them succumb to a 3-1 defeat on the road versus Berkhamsted.
On what was a difficult pitch, Sporting started the game a little sluggishly, with Max Farrelly putting home side into the lead inside the first 15 minutes.
The advantage was doubled six minutes later via a Matthew Bateman penalty, before Richard Gregory pulled one back for the visitors with the game's second spot-kick, three minutes into the second half.
Five minutes before the end, the result was put beyond much doubt, as Jonathan Lacey rounded keeper Jono Brown and slotted into an empty net.
Sporting almost bagged the lead shortly before the opener came, as Berkhamsted stopper Xavi Comas-Leon fumbled a shot from Gregory, which fell to Cameron Peters, who put the ball into the net but was judged to be offside.
It was Bromsgrove's inability to clear a corner that led to the afternoon's first goal, as the ball landed at the feet of Farrelly, who placed the ball into the bottom corner from inside the area.
Hopes of Sporting securing a victory from their final away day were dealt another blow soon after, as Lacey was brought down in the box by Aaron Roberts. Bateman stepped forward and coolly planted the penalty into the corner, his 23rd league goal of the season.
Gregory had a spate of chances to get the Rouslers back into the match towards the end of the first half, but his endeavour would finally be rewarded in the second half, following a handball from Farrelly inside the area, for which he was red carded due to having denied a clear goalscoring opportunity in the eyes of the referee.
Up stepped Gregory, who sent keeper Comas-Leon the wrong way and gave Sporting renewed impetus against their ten man opponents.
Bromsgrove would then go to dominate the half and would probably have gotten something out of the game, were it not for an inspired performance by Comas-Leon.
The 68th minute saw Kieren Westwood have an effort saved at the near post, shortly followed by Gregory having a fierce drive spectacularly kept out by the Berkhamsted No.1.
The final ten minutes commenced with Sporting really ramping up the pressure, with Gregory having an acrobatic volley saved by Comas-Leon, before Josh Quaynor had a free kick kept out rather unconventionally by the keeper.
However, the 85th minute saw Berkhamsted's two goal cushion re-established, as Lacey, who had a couple of half chances not long before, took the ball around Brown and hit home into an empty net, although there were some vociferous claims of offside by the Sporting management and incredible away support alike.
The final whistle blew to a chorus of singing, but from the travelling fans, as Sporting had long achieved second place in the league. On the other hand, Berkhamsted, despite the spirited win, which meant they were the only team not to lose to Sporting in the league this season, missed out on the play-offs by a single position.
Berkhamsted: Xavi Comas-Leon, James Towell, Daniel Murphy (Capt.), Benjamin Spaul (Karl Stevenson 62 mins), James Hutchins, Max Farrelly, Louie Collier, Cameron Brooks, Matthew Bateman, Jonathan Lacey, Ashley Morrissey (Sam Nolan 77 mins).
Substitute not used: Lee Bircham, Elliott Godfrey, James Weatherill
Goals: Max Farrelly (14 mins), Matthew Bateman (21 mins, penalty), Jonathan Lacey (85 mins)
Yellows: Benjamin Spaul (47 mins), Xavi Comas-Leon (85 mins)
Sporting: Jono Brown, Liam Spink, Kieren Westwood, Aaron Roberts, Tom Taylor, Tom Massey (Nathan Hayward 67 mins), Charlie Dowd (Jack Wilson 46 mins), Josh Quaynor, Cameron Peters, Richard Gregory (Capt.), Will Shorrock(Jake Heath 46 mins).
Substitutes not used: Tom Rankin, Matt Higgins.
Goal: Richard Gregory (48 mins, penalty).
Yellows: Aaron Roberts (20 mins), Jono Brown (20 mins), Tom Taylor (72 mins), Richard Gregory (72 mins), Nathan Hayward (90 mins)
Referee: Mr T Danahar (London)
Assistants: Mr T Wyatt (London), Mr W Cannon (London)
Sporting MoM: Josh Quaynor
Crowd: 216
Weather: Cool, windy
Report: Max Banner
