RINGWOOD boss Jy Taylor admitted he was "absolutely gutted" after he felt they threw away two points at basement boys Downton.
Dan Baguley scored with a cracking 20-yard free kick and Dave Sajic restored their lead with 20-yard deflected shot.
Baguley had also hit the bar with a header as Ringwood dropped points against a side who had only picked up five in 37 games before today's match.
But Downton bagged a dramatic late leveller from a penalty, the third Ringwood had conceded in four games.
So it looks like Ringwood will go down with Downton as they can only pick up a possible 15 points from their remaining five games, probably not enough to get them out the bottom four.
Taylor, who saw Tony Bellott and Andy Wright denied by Downton's goalkeeper in late one-on-ones said: "It is quite unrealistic we can stay up. We won't throw in the towel, but we're absolutely gutted we didn't win this one."
Taylor, who also saw Luke Gogan go close with a late header, added: "We lost Charlie Pierson to injury again. He got an accidental stud which opened up his knee.
"He's made all the difference to our scores since Christmas, but he's been to hospital and had stitches and glue and hopefully will be okay to return for Romsey at home on Saturday."
Ringwood: Rhodes, Greaves, Burrett, Brunnen, Pierson (J Atkins 50), Wright, Sajic (Leadbitter 89), Gogan, D Taylor, Carroll, Baguley (Bellott 76). Unused sub: Goodman.
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