BURNHAM Ramblers’ Ryman League fate has been sealed.

Romford’s 5-1 victory against Barkingside on Wednesday night has seen the Leslie Field side relegated from division one north.

The result saw Romford move to 39 points, one place above the relegation zone, and Ramblers sitting on 18 without enough games now to mathematically catch them.

Ramblers’ 4-0 defeat against fellow strugglers Cray Wanderers on Saturday virtually ensured their drop but Romford put in the final push.

Ramblers boss Bertie Brayley said: “Saturday’s result against Cray was the nail in the coffin really.

“But I didn’t want to say it was over until it was mathematically impossible for us to survive.

“However, we do the right thing and we see the season out and go for the wins.”

Brayley was philosophical about relegation and the struggles with trying to find a settled team, with a number of players moving away from the club throughout the season.

He said: “I take it on the chin, every decision made has been mine.

“I am big enough to take responsibility for it.

“To be honest there haven’t been great resources to work with but I knew that coming in.

“And I think I have done the best I could with what I had in front of me.

“However, I have enjoyed it and it has been great experience for me.

“I have now suffered all the things that can go wrong and it will make me a stronger and better manager in the future.”

The Burnham boss, however, has no plans to walk away from the club and was pleased with the side he eventually put together.

He said: “Just in the last few weeks we got a settled side together but it came just too late for us.

“I have a good core of lads here now who love the club and we just have to bring in a few more.

“I hope that most of them will stay with me for next season.

“We now look forward to the end of the season and start to build for the next.”

Ramblers head to fourth-placed Brentwood Town on Saturday.