DOWNTON lost the only Sydenhams League game to beat the weather on Saturday, going down 3-2 at home to Fareham Town.

The Robins were out of the blocks quickly.

Martin Johnson showed good skill but his low shot was straight at Luke Douglas.

Then Declan McGregor went one-on-one with the goalkeeper but fired wide.

The home team were made to pay for that wastefulness as early as the fourth minute, Ash Tattersall heading in Bradley Bester's pinpoint cross.

The score was almost level when McGregor dispossessed Nicholas Tayler on the edge of the box and drilled in a low shot but Douglas saved superbly.

Charles Aldridge then denied Tayler a headed goal at the other end, and he also pulled off a great save from Robbie Pittman's volley.

Downton made the most of this reprieve by equalising, Johnson outjumping two defenders to nod home Craig Lewis' cross.

They soon had the lead, when Tattersall handballed in the area and was dismissed.

Jamie Waters sent Douglas the wrong way from the spot to ensure it was 2-1 at the break.

Mark Cotton levelled for the visitors just before the hour, with a fierce strike from close range. Then Mat Jones headed what proved to be the winner, from Wayne Boud's corner on 75 minutes.

Cotton and Jake Bull were both played in on goal as Fareham sought a fourth goal, but Aldridge saved on each occasion.

Then Downton's late efforts were too little, too late.

“I was really, really positive with my players at half time,”

said manager Jeff Softley.

“This was one of our better first half performances, but I'm afraid our second half display was poor. We had our best chance of the season to get out of the bottom three but some players let themselves and myself down.”

Downton have now gone 14 league games without a win, and will hope to end that run at home to Totton & Eling on Saturday, and away to Winchester City on Tuesday.

“I feel we have to win on Saturday and nothing else will do,” added Softley.

“Declan Mcgregor went to A&E after our game with a badly bruised shoulder and ribs so he will be a massive loss to us, and our captain Matt Palmer is still out too. I still think it will go down to the wire.”