BOTTOM club Heybridge Swifts added to the current depressing air over The Camrose by inflicting another home defeat upon Ernie Howe's side.

Scarcely believing the breaks they were afforded, the Essex club, who had just two wins prior to this fixture, scored twice in the second half to secure a 1-3 victory.

With the score 1-1 at half-time Toby Sumner's measured 18-yard finish cancelling out Dominic Gentle's sixth minute opener Town contrived to shoot themselves in the foot.

Just 15 seconds into the half, Scott Tarr was harshly adjudged to have brought down Gentle, when the forward had already lost the ball and clumsily kicked his own foot away before falling over.

Gentle picked himself up to convert the spot kick in the bottom right corner.

Town fought back but just as they were getting into the match, Chris Honor's weak 66th minute back header was seized upon by Simon Parker.

Tarr raced out to palm away the ball as Parker attempted to round him, but following in was Kevin Budge, who side-footed home.

The appearance of new signing Efan Elad was the afternoon's one bright spark with his direct running and passing range, but the Camrose Blues boss was at a loss to explain his side's display.

He showed me into the downcast dressing room afterwards to ask the players why they had performed the way they did.

Few would volunteer a reply, but Stuart Girdler did say: "We are working very hard in training, but it's not happening at the moment for us out on the pitch.

"At the end of the day, it is down to the players to do what we are told by Ernie out there and we're not.

"It's such a difference from last season's third place and it's difficult to pinpoint why.

"Injuries aren't helping us, and with so many players out we are having to rush players back, but it is individual errors and a lack of confidence once we make them that are costing us."

And things have got worse for Town with another two players joining an already extensive injury list.

Don Forbes' hamstring has gone, putting him out for up to a month, while Jason Eaton took a knee to his back and could barely walk afterwards.

Howe is attempting to bring in some fresh faces to turn things around and has subsequently put Mike Davis and Jimmy Fraser on the transfer list.

Tim Sills has also rejected a proposed move to Salisbury. Utility man Tyronne Banks was to come the other way in a part exchange deal but 22-year-old Sills turned it down.

Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr, Chris Honor, Don Forbes (sub Efan Elad 53 min), Jason Bristow, Stuart Girdler, Mark Lisk, Richard Newbery (sub Mike Davis 68 min), Toby Sumner, Jason Eaton (sub Simon Herbert 81 min), Tim Sills, Jimmy Fraser.

Heybridge Swifts: Kingsley Banks, Mark Cranfield, Danny Barber, Nicky Haydon, Josh Leeke, Dave Kreyling (sub Mark Emerson 88 min), Danny Roberts, Sean Caton, Dominic Gentle (sub Simon Parker 64 min), Kevin Budge, Lewis Baille. Not used: Thomas Santer.