Fleet Town kept their status as a Ryman Division One side, despite losing their final match away at Met Police on Saturday. With both relegation rivals, Ashford Town and Dorking both losing, Fleet remain in 19th league spot, and Dorking join Croydon as the second relegated club.
With Met Police going into Saturday's match needing a win to secure a play-off place, this was always going to be a tough call for Paul Holden's men - and so it proved.
Against a side that has not been out of the top six all season, Fleet looked a little out-gunned right from the off, by a physically tougher and more physical side.
The opener came only six minutes in, when Met striker, Kevin Cooper was allowed too much time to place his well-struck shot wide of Fleet keeper, Paul Smith and into the top right hand corner.
Fleet then held on well, as the home side took charge and could have conceded several more, but Fleet were twice saved by the woodwork, and by a couple of excellent saves from Smith.
For their part Fleet were passing the ball well, and looked threatening from some set pieces and corners.
Eventually the equaliser came, in the 26th minute, when a corner from Tinoi Christie was smashed in from a tight angle by skipper, Andy Darnton.
But equality for Fleet lasted barely a minute, when from the re-start, Cooper netted his second, cleverly lobbing Smith.
Fleet came out strongly after the break and again threatened, striker Ed Smith going close on several occasions. But the Police sealed things on 69 minutes, when a mistake in the Fleet defence by Darnton, let in Cooper for a simple goal that completed his hat-trick.
Ten minutes later the Police made it 4-1 when striker, Craig Brown volleyed in from a corner, past an unsighted Smith in the Fleet goal.
