North Greenford United 0 Beaconsfield Sycob 3

Relegation loomed a step closer for 10-man North Greenford following defeat to fellow strugglers Beaconsfield Sycob on Saturday.

Three goals in a nightmare last 10 minutes during which Borja Camacho was also sent off for two bookable offences leaves Barry Morris' young side four points adrift at the foot of the Southern Central table and 10 shy of safety prior to tomorrow night's clash with third bottom Leighton Town.

The margin of defeat was harsh on United after a dire game which appeared destined to finish goalless, but on this evidence it is hard to see where the run of form needed for a great escape will come from - the Blues managed just one shot on target in the match.

Heads up: A Beaconsfield defender clears his lines

Morris made six changes from the recent cup defeat to Egham, but both United and the visiting Rams struggled to get going on a pudding of a pitch just about passed fit to stage its first league game in almost two months.

The first half was a good cure for insomnia, the visitors mustering the only shot on target, courtesy of Romaine Walker's right foot shot deflected behind by United skipper Jessie Yoboue.

Both managers shook things up at the break, Morris bringing on Gaylor Mbunga for George Isaac, while Gary Meakin made a double swap, Walker and Kofi-Lockhart Adams making way for Ollie Jones and Aaron Berry.

The game briefly flickered into life with Beaconsfield's Jordan Ajanlekoko,'s long-range drive forcing home keeper Amadou Tangara into a fingertip save.

My ball: A challenge in the middle of the park

The Blues responded with their only shot on target on 58 minutes, Amadou Sow forcing Brendan Hazlett to dive to save at his near post.

Tangara then spread himself well to block an effort from Victor Osubu, but the pattern of scrappy football strewn with misplaced passes was soon resumed.

It was a real shock when the stalemate was broken with 13 minutes left.

A long, hopeful punt forward saw Victor Osubu get the wrong side of Yoboue and the striker was soon around Tangara to roll the ball into the far corner.

Legs up: Beaconsfield's Kofi Lockhart-Adams and North Greenford's Bryan Vigeron

Barely a minute later any hopes of a United fightback all but vanished when right-back Camacho, booked earlier in the half clattered Osubu and was sent to the dressing room.

It was the space he vacated which Osubu exploited to settle the game with three minutes left, his side-foot shot deflecting over keeper Tangara.

The impressive Ajanlekoko was denied a third by a good parry from Tangara while Berry's follow-up effort was kicked off the line.

However, the substitute would add the gloss for Rams in stoppage-time with a fierce shot inside the far post.