STRATFORD Town surrendered a two-goal lead against St Ives Town on the final day of the season as the Bards missed out on a play-off place.
The Bards had a slim chance of securing a top-five finish on the final day and needed to beat St Ives and hope other results went in their favour.
However, Harborough Town’s 5-1 win away at AFC Sudbury meant even a Bards victory would not be enough.
Stratford looked on course to do their bit after Charlie Williams scored a brace to put the visitors in command at Westwood Road.
However, the Bards conceded two late goals as Amir Hadi and Will Glennon struck to deny Stratford a final day victory.
The draw means Stratford finish the Southern League Premier Central season in eighth place, four points outside of the play-off spots.
Paul Davis’s side faced their fourth game in the space of eight days against relegation-threatened St Ives who needed a point to guarantee their survival in the division.
However, the visitors broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when Williams scored from the penalty spot after the referee penalised the home side for a foul in the box when attempting to deal with a Lewis Ludford-Ison long throw.
And the Bards doubled their lead three minutes after half time as the red-hot Williams controlled a bouncing ball before firing a low effort past Dan Wilks from just inside the penalty area.
Stratford’s packed schedule eventually caught up with the Bards as the second half wore on.
St Ives halved the deficit on 78 minutes when Hadi stabbed home a low cross from the right.
And the hosts equalised one minute from time as Glennon powered a penalty past Jake Weaver after Alex Worley tugged back substitute Johnson Gyamfi in the box.
That meant the campaign finished on a disappointing note for the Bards who spent much season in and around the top-five only to fall away in the final weeks of the season.
