The Dr Martens Eastern Division title race is by no means over after Bashley and Salisbury City put the cat amongst the pigeons on Saturday.

While Salisbury were cutting the mighty King's Lynn down to size 2-0 at The Walks, Bashley claimed their second shock scalp of the week, triumphing 2-0 at league leaders Tonbridge Angels.

Just four days earlier, the promotion-chasing Foresters had knocked Folkestone Invicta out of their stride 2-1 in Kent and manager John Robson marvelled: "Who would have thought we'd get six points from those two games? No one. Not even me!"

There were a few glum faces at Bashley last month when skipper Aaron Cook was sold to Salisbury for a reported £10,000 fee. But far from falling to pieces, Bash have rallied by taking ten from a possible 12 points to edge up to ninth in the table, five points behind seventh-placed Stamford with a game in hand.

Robson reflected: "We're very good going forward and are creating chances by the dozen, but we've also been more resolute in defence. Cookie going was a massive loss, but it's how the players react to that loss and they've taken on extra responsibility. Andy Darnton, Mat Jones and Neil Morant were excellent at the back."

Bash went ahead on 35 minutes when another outstanding performer, Gary Connolly, saw his inswinging corner fumbled into the net by keeper Jamie Turner under pressure from skipper Danny Gibbons.

Graeme Gee set the seal on victory with a fine strike from 20 yards in the 58th minute.

Bashley cannot afford to slip up in their remaining six games if they are to make the top seven/eight cut-off point for Premier Division football. Robson said: "If we can perform anywhere near like we have this week, we'll give anyone a good game. It's just a shame that prior to our recent run, we let a lot of points slip through our hands."

Eastleigh, runaway 5-1 winners at Dartford, can catapult themselves up to fourth by beating third-placed Histon away tomorrow night.

With Tonbridge, King's Lynn and Histon all losing on Saturday, director of football Mark Dennis enthused: "If we win at Histon, we're right back in the hunt. The top three are struggling for dear life."

James Stokoe - two-goal hero of Eastleigh's midweek victory over Chatham - again hogged the limelight with a hat-trick.

The former AFC Bournemouth Academy lad struck in the 17th, 46th and 90th minutes, adding to Martin Beck's opener and a blistering Paul Sales drive five minutes before the break. Dartford's consolation was a 56th-minute Paul Sykes lob.

Dennis summarised: "Our first-half performance was magnificent but when we got 4-0 up we got bored and went into the comfort zone because it was men against boys.

"Rob Marshall and Danny Rofe were immense at the back and Danny Woods was back to his old self in midfield.

"We're looking to go the rest of the season unbeaten now. All credit to the lads for the way they've reacted to the Hampshire Senior Cup defeat by Fareham."