EASTLEIGH dropped another place to fourth in the Ryman Premier play-off race with a 2-0 defeat at Billericay on Saturday - and added three more names to their seemingly endless injury list.

Keeper Wayne Shaw had to be substituted by Lee Webber after smashing his head against the post, while striker Paul Sales slipped on the heavy surface and tugged his groin with the match only five minutes old.

Sales's replacement, Nicky Banger, deputised superbly but was troubled by his old hamstring problem in the closing stages.

With James Stokoe on loan at Bashley and Andy Forbes possibly unavailable for Wednesday's Bryco Cup fourth round tie at home to Hampton & Richmond Borough, manager Paul Doswell is working overtime to try and get a new striker on board.

"It was another one of those days," he said. "But I was very happy with our performance. That's as well as we've played away from home.

"Both teams had about six decent chances each but Billericay managed to get on the end of two great crosses, whereas we didn't.

"The first goal Neil Cousins came right on half-time and the second one Ross Wareham was right at the death when we were pressing hard to equalise.

"We worked really hard on a gluepot of a pitch and Martin Thomas had two volleys from six yards that could have gone anywhere.

"The keeper's gone the wrong way for one of them, but the ball's hit his legs. That's the kind of day it was for us."