BARRY BLANKLEY could not disguise his disappointment after Salisbury squandered a two-goal lead in a soul-destroying 3-2 defeat at Hampton & Richmond Borough last night.

"They didn't beat us, we beat ourselves," sighed the Whites' assistant manager, who watched on in despair as City shipped three goals in the last 20 minutes against Alan Devonshire's side.

It had looked so good for Salisbury when Craig Davis set up two goals inside 37 minutes - first threading the ball through a crowded goalmouth for Andy Cook to belt home and then delivering a corner for Leigh Phillips to head in at the near post.

Although City had three escapes when Davis cleared off the line, Hampton's Jamie Jarvis hit the woodwork and Kevin Sawyer saved one-on-one from Luke Fontana, Blankley described their first-half football as: "Some of the best I've seen since I came to the club."

The visitors should have put the game out of sight early in the second half but, having hit a half-volley wide, Matt Tubbs fired another good chance over from the edge of the box.

The introduction of Adrian Allen added an injection of pace to the Hampton attack and they reduced the deficit on 71 minutes with a 30-yard free-kick into the top corner by Richard O'Connor.

Michael Currie then finished off a route one move just three minutes after coming on as a substitute and the Salisbury collapse was complete when Andy Morley beat Sawyer to a long free-kick from the right.

The result leaves City a worrying fifth from bottom of the Ryman Premier Division with a tough home game against Billericay to come this Saturday.

Blankley reflected: "We mullered Hampton in the first half and had enough chances to have won. But they hit a good free-kick into the top corner and suddenly fear and panic set in. We've got to be a lot stronger mentally."

Salisbury's FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie away to Slough Town has been moved back a day to Sunday, October 31 (2pm). Windsor & Eton, the club where Slough groundshare, have a league game at Stag Meadow on the Saturday.

l Bashley's much-changed side came up trumps last night with a 1-0 Hampshire Senior Cup second round victory over Fleet Town.

With new signing Dan Potter ineligible, Graeme Gee and Mat Jones injured and Richard Gillespie rested until the last 15 minutes, manager Geoff Butler threw several youngsters into the fray.

But still the Foresters managed to outwit Fleet for the second time this season - Dave Wakefield doing the honours from 25 yards on the brink of half-time.

"Our back three of Chris Ferrett, Josh Thomas and Paul Gazzard were outstanding," said Butler. "Danny Gibbons worked hard up front, Dave Wakefield did a good job in the middle and the youngsters acquitted themselves really well."

Havant & Waterlooville have agreed Bashley's loan signing of midfielder Luke Byles, and the paperwork should be done in time for Saturday's home game with Hastings United in the Ryman Division 1.

Brockenhurst bounced back from Saturday's FA Cup exit against Bath City by chalking up a 2-0 home win over Hamble ASSC in the Russell Cotes Cup.

Alan Wright, Ross Drew and skipper Paul White all missed the game, but the Foresters made quick work of victory with two goals inside the first 15 minutes - both from Dave Midgley crosses.

Lee Winsall netted the first with the tie just five minutes old and then Jason Lovell followed suit by side-footing home.

Player-manager Graham Kemp said: "After getting two quick goals we just played the game out."