Bashley boss Steve Riley apologised to supporters for a “lacklustre” display against Barwell as his relegation-haunted side looked nervously over their shoulders.

Fans made for the exits before the final whistle after two goals in six second-half minutes had condemned Bash to a 2-0 home defeat, which left them without a win in six.

Luke Whitley struck the outside of the post for the hosts, but that was as good as it got as Bashley’s defence opened up for Tom Weale to lob Kearn on 54 minutes.

The impressive Matt West added a second on the hour, hitting a 25-yard half-volley on the turn that looped over Kearn.

Manager Riley said: “I apologise to the fans who came – it’s sad to see people leaving before the end of the game and I think me and the players need to give ourselves a big kick up the backside and do something next Saturday.

“It was lacklustre from our point of view – we just huffed and puffed and we didn’t have enough quality in the final third.

“We talked about the only two players that would give us a problem at half-time and they both scored. We should have done better with the goals and at 2-0 down we looked nervy.

“I was disappointed with the boys because it was not like them. I don’t criticise them very often at all, but we were disjointed and started arguing with each other. What I wanted to see from the players was them taking the game by the scruff of the neck and to make something happen, to encourage each other, and I didn’t see that.”

Bash are now just four points off the Southern League Premier Division relegation places with five games remaining.

Riley added: “There are lots of teams still in there, but I think our fate is in our hands. I know we’re good enough to stay up.”

Bash: Kearn, Smith (Green, 61), Strugnell, Middleton, Whitley, Casey (Hill, 81), Gillespie, Allen, Stokoe, Gamble, Oliver (Penny, 72). Unused subs: Foster, Vokes.

• Wimborne Town’s four-match unbeaten run in Division One South & West came to an end as they suffered an injury-time defeat at 10-man North Leigh.

Jamie Davidson fired Magpies into a 49th-minute lead before Tom Franklin equalised for the hosts on 56 minutes. Despite having Elliot Osborne-Ricketts dismissed during the closing stages, North Leigh netted a last-gasp winner through John Mills.

Wimborne manager Steve Cuss said: “A draw would have been a fair result.”

Magpies: Harvell, Arnold, Cole, Peprah-Annan, Brian, Hubbard, Blake, Webb, Davidson, Kemble (Bajandouh, 78), Jeffes. Unused subs: Magookin, Hunt, Battison, Ackerman (g/k).