Bashley'S rollercoaster 4-4 draw at Cray Wanderers only served to underline manager Geoff Butler's opinion about the poor defensive quality of the Ryman Division 1.

He said: "There's not a team in this league you can't score against. Nobody defends properly - including us!

"With Richard Gillespie in the side and Chris Knowles proving he knows where the back of the net is, we'll always create chances and get goals, but our problem is keeping it tight at the back.

"The trouble with us is that it takes maybe three defenders, plus the keeper, to concede a goal. If one makes a mistake, you'd think one of the others would get him out of it, but we don't help each other."

Although Butler was none too impressed with Bashley's start at Cray, he felt they were hard done by when a foul on Gillespie invited Dave Wakefield to fire them ahead from the penalty spot.

"I'm surprised the fella wasn't sent off," he said. "Gilly was the last man."

Goals by Ross Lover and Phil Collins turned the tables for Cray - the first from a free kick and the second aided by a goalkeeping howler from Alan Walker-Harris, who let the ball slip under his body.

Not for the first time, Gillespie's scampering feet outstripped the Wands defence as he pulled Bashley level with his 19th goal of the season, but Leigh Bremner restored Cray's advantage three minutes into the second half.

Chris Knowles - a Bournemouth University student signed from Fairford Town - netted twice to tip a see-saw match back in the Foresters' favour, but Bremner struck straight from the restart.

Even then, Bash could have won it - Wakefield hitting the bar late on.

Bashley are signing Salisbury City utility man Steve Strong on loan and expect to have him available for tomorrow's Ryman Bryco Cup trip to Witham Town.

There was another high-scoring encounter at Hastings United, where Newport IoW climbed off the foot of the table with an astonishing 4-3 win.

Having gone 2-0 up through brace man Ashley Wright, Port were pegged back to 2-1 by Sean Ray's header from a corner before Hastings had their goalkeeper Danny Knowles and scorer Ray sent off for disputing the award of a penalty.

Adam Barsdell tucked away the spot-kick, but Port contrived to let nine-man Hastings level through Chris Honey and Andy Ducille before skipper Simon Pilcher bagged a winner with seven minutes remaining.

Fleet Town, who are due to unveil their new manager this week, remain sixth to bottom after a 3-1 defeat at Whyteleafe. Two-goal Mark Tomkins and Richard Thompson paved the Surrey club's path to victory before Richard Mealey hit back in the 51st minute.