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Anguish: Phil Ruggles sees his penalty saved. Photo: Anthony Nash

Boreham Wood 0 Carshalton Athletic 0

In normal circumstances, this would have been considered a decent enough away point, but such is the Robins situation that they must now win their final home game on Saturday to have any chance of staying up.

A home win is something that has eluded them since mid-January, and they must also hope that the results of games elsewhere in midweek go their way and leave them with this slender chance.

Few will have felt the pain as much as Phil Ruggles, whose penalty kick on the hour failed to find the back of the net and denied the Robins the victory that their overall play probably deserved.

The first scoring chance fell to the home side, when Chris Bangura's header from a cross by Gary Burrell lacked the power and direction to trouble returning keeper Aaron Howe.

The Robins responded with a short free-kick by James Evans to Liam Collins whose cross found Charlie Side coming in at the far post.

Side's shot from a narrow angle was blocked by Wood's keeper Imber at the foot of the post. Wood's appeal for a penalty when Harwood tangled with Burrell as he ran through on goal was of no interest to the referee, but the Robins were building up some good moves and a dangerous cross by Collins was turned behind for a corner.

The lively Charley Side required treatment for an ankle injury when his attempted shot was blocked, but he was able to continue after some touchline treatment.

Howe took no chances, pushing a shot by Wood's Simon Thomas around the post for a corner, but as the half progressed Carshalton were enjoying the best of the possession with Collins and Ruggles both testing Imber with shots from the edge of the area.

Half-time arrived with everything to play for.

The Robins cause took a blow when Side failed to appear after the break as a result of his earlier injury, and Rob Ursell came on to start the half.

Despite this setback Carshalton picked up where they left off and a ball from Simon Cooper flashed across the face of the goal with no one able to get a touch.

The Robins continued to press and, when Ursell was fouled just outside the area, the free-kick by York was stopped on the goal line by Imber.

Immediately after, Michael Johnson followed the ball into the Wood's area only to be held off by Marvin Samuel and referee Mr Linden pointed to the penalty spot.

Ruggles's record from the penalty spot is up with the best and he confidently placed the ball, but his expression turned to one of anguish when his kick was hit straight at Imber in the middle of the goal.

The chance was gone and possibly with it the Robins' chance of staying up.

For the remainder of the half, the Robins continued to press, but the earlier confidence began to turn to desperation as the half wore on and the emphasis for the home team became one of avoiding defeat as much as trying to win all three points.

Watts came on late in the game for Michael Johnson but, for all their hard work and effort, the Robins were unable to carve out any further clear chances and were relieved when a late break by the home team ended with a low cross from the left being missed at the far post by Steve Wales.

More than once this season, the Robins have demonstrated their ability to play high-quality football and to achieve some outstanding results, but the league tables never lie and such occasions have been too few.

Sadly, their fate will probably be decided by others in the next seven days.

Robins: Howe, Cooper, Gonsalves, Standen, Harwood, York, Collins, Evans, Side (Ursell), Ruggles, Johnson (Watts). Subs not used: Harte, Carpenter, Barnard.

Final game

Saturday, April 26 (3pm): Carshalton Athletic v Tonbridge Angels, Ryman League Premier Division.

10:15am Monday 21st April 2008

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