THERE'S nothing like a bit of suspense to spice up the end of the football season, but Winchester City are taking it to extremes.

Needing a home victory over Larkhall Athletic to make 100 per cent sure of a play-off spot, fifth-placed City fell short with a 1-1 draw and may still require a point from the last two games to stay in the promotion mix.

Admitting his side were limping towards the Southern One South & West finish line, manager Paul Masters confessed: “We looked a bit tired after Tuesday’s Hampshire Senior Cup final. That took it out of us and we were a bit leggy first half, a bit off the pace.

“We were better second half and created a few chances but, if I’m honest, the worst thing that could have happened to us was that they had someone sent off when we won a penalty and they just sat deep behind the ball and we struggled to break them down.”

Joe Raynes took advantage of some hesitancy in the Winchester ranks to volley Larkhall into a 22nd-minute lead.

That was wiped out by City top gun Warren Bentley with a 58th-minute spot-kick after the Larks’ Mike Jones had got a second yellow card for fouling Jamie Barron in the box.

But although City carved out one or two openings second half, the ten men of Larkhall defended well in front of on-loan Eastleigh ’keeper Lewis Noice.

And the Larks themselves might have won the game had City's young Canadian goalkeeper Brendan Norris not tipped a goalbound Jamie Lyons strike over the bar.

With sixth-placed Evesham United winning their penultimate game 1-0 against North Leigh, City – three points clear of Evesham with a game in hand, but with an inferior goal difference of three - could do with winning at Slimbridge on Wednesday to spare themselves any last-day nerves.

Winchester visit Shortwood on Saturday, while Evesham go to Marlow.

Masters, though, just wishes they were already over the line and able to conserve some energy for the play-offs.

“The disappointing thing is that, had we won yesterday, I could have rested one or two in midweek, but I can’t do that now because we still need a point," he said.

“We’re another point closer, that’s the positive, but we looked a bit weary and it would have been beneficial for us to be able to rest a couple.”