Barkingside 4-3 Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest’s relegation was finally confirmed, in a helter-skelter encounter at Oakside.

It was the same old mistakes which cost Forest dear, as two former Stags contrived to send the visitors down.

Chris Taylor went closest for the hosts, lashing a half-volley into Ferhat Husseyin early in the first half.

However, it was Forest, building on their victory over Erith & Belvedere at the weekend who took the lead.

L’Hereaux Menga was alert to chase a through-ball to the bye-line, and with ‘Side ‘keeper Chris Clark rushing out into no-man’s-land, Menga was able to finish from the very tightest of angles.

Menga could have made it two shortly after, firing over from six yards after Stephen Ikumelo’s initial effort had been well saved by Clark.

But Lee Scott increased Forest’s lead just before half time, turning his defender and firing low past the on-rushing Clark.

Before the half was over, there was time for some handbags, as Joe Ellul punched the ball out of Ben Long’s hands after Barkingside had been awarded a free-kick.

As has been the case on a number of occasions this season, Forest went into their shell in the second half.

The game became a real scrap, and Menga and Matt Waldron were both booked for an off the ball incident, which left Menga requiring lengthy treatment.

Steve Carvell pulled the hosts a goal back with 20 minutes to play – his shot taking a huge deflection and leaving Husseyin stranded in the Forest goal.

And it was former Forest player-coach who got his side back into the game, knocking in a header on 74, with all the time in the world to pick his spot.

From then on, there was only going to be one winner. Barkingside hit the bar from fully 40 yards, before Forest allowed another free-header in the box, this time to Lewis Francis who made no mistake.

The drama didn’t end there though, as Immanuel Parry finished off Richard Worrell’s perfectly weighted through-pass, to level the scores in injury time.

But there was one final twist in the tale, as Joe Ellul – who was lucky to still be on the pitch – was allowed another free header in the box. His initial shot was straight at Husseyin, but the Forest stopper could only drop the ball at Ellul’s feet, who lashed in the rebound, confirming Forest’s fate.