WALTHAM FOREST ladies’ late promotion bid was taken out of their hands as the team head into the final match of the season this week.

The local side needed maximum points from their two weekend fixtures, and while they managed to scrape through their first match against Hertford with a victory, they could only manage a draw with Chelmsford.

The results mean they must either achieve the impossible by firing 22 goals past Newmarket, or hope other results go in their favour.

The dream looked to have hit a snag early on as Forest failed to convert their dominance into goals against Hertford.

Philippa Leguen de Lacroix twice went close, but they had to rely on a late intervention from Kathryn Tucker, whose shot from a corner squirmed past the keeper and over the line.

Things were looking up for Forest against Chelmsford as captain Ayleen Duske produced a moment of quality in an otherwise scrappy game when she cleverly turned in Tucker’s quick hit from outside the circle.

However, Chelmsford hit back with an equaliser, leaving Forest adrift of promotion for another year.