RELEGATION is all but a mathematical certainty for Melton Phoenix as the team stares down the barrel of two farewell games in men's provisional league division 2 north-west.

A 2-0 loss to Bell Park at the weekend and unfavourable results further up the table left Melton six points adrift of safety with two games to play and 17goals difference to boot. Melbourne Tornado in 10th place has 21 points and a negative four-goal difference; Melton occupies the first relegation place with 15 points and negative 21 goals, while Collingwood City is 12th and last with 14 points and negative 25.

Just a week after playing promotion contender Surf Coast and winning 3-1, Melton's season-long inconsistency returned as a first-half Bell Park double put paid to its chances of avoiding the drop.

After earning promotion from provisional 3 north-west in 2007 only to be relegated in 2008, Melton has again suffered the same fate after winning last year's title.

Marcelo Tejo will not continue his two-year stint as club coach next season.

"It's been a terrible year, but even up to a couple of weeks ago we thought we could do it [survive]," Melton president Steve Fuller said.

"We beat Surf Coast and beat them well. That score didn't even reflect our control of the game.

"But we've had absentees with the World Cup, a few injuries and a lot of suspensions this year. If you go through the team it's never really been the same for any two weeks."

Fuller said the club had to play out the season before thinking about the future and any discussion of off-season plans would wait until then.

Melton plays its final home game on Saturday with a 7pm kick-off against Lalor United at MacPherson Park.

Melton's women finished the season with a 5-0 defeat to finals-bound Yarra Jets, but they still finished sixth in women's state league division 3 north-west.