BEMUSED Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell has had some bitter disappointments this season, but none that cut so deep as Saturday's 4-0 home defeat by Bognor Regis Town.

First half goals from Luke Nightingale and Ben Watson and two late strikes from substitute Darren Budd overwhelmed the second-to-bottom Spitfires, who now face a desperate fight to preserve their Conference South status.

"I've had some low points this season, but this is certainly the lowest," admitted Doswell.

"When we beat Histon a few weeks back, I thought we'd turned the corner and we've played well in both games against Salisbury this season.

"But then you look at the performances against Farnborough, Cambridge and, now, Bognor and you can't see the wood for the trees.

"I can point to the fact that our two centre-backs Rob Marshall and Chris Collins were out injured, but this was an opportunity for others to come in and show what they could do and, clearly, they weren't up to the job.

"Full credit to Bognor though, they passed us off the park."

On an afternoon when an impressive 913 flocked into the Silverlake Stadium, this was Eastleigh's big chance to show they had the heart and passion to prove their critics wrong.

But they were undone by some careless individual errors and even the normally unbeat Doswell was struggling to see the bright side after an hour-long dressing room post mortem.

"No one was shouting and screaming in there, but it's pretty apparent to me that when we're without players like David Hughes, who was suspended today, and the injured Andy Harris and Steve Forbes, we lack characters.

"It just reinforces to me that the squad brought in - by me - is not doing itself justice.

"Every game from here on in is going to be like a cup final and if we finish fourth to bottom this season it'll be like winning the league.

"Steve Forbes played a reserve game on Saturday and Stuart Douglas will playing one in the next week or two. The quicker we can get them, Rob Marshall and Chris Collins back, the better.

"We're going have a tough time of it until January, then we've got to hope and pray that our players stay fit through February, March and April.

"If not, we're in trouble."

For the best non league football coverage from the weekend, don't miss today's Daily Echo.