FAREHAM Town’s impressive start to the new year came off the rails with a 3-2 home defeat by Amesbury in the Sydenhams Premier Division.

Pete Stiles’ men went into the match fresh from knocking Sholing out of the Russell Cotes Cup.

But the boss called it “a bad day at the office” as goals from Josh Holmes and Ethan Jones (penalty) were eclipsed by Amesbury's Kieren Stephens (2) and Connor Millar.

“It simply was not good enough today,” said Stiles. "You can’t give teams a two-goal start and then decide to play.

“Even when we did play, it was nowhere near the standard we’ve set ourselves in recent weeks.

“It doesn’t help having four or five good players unavailable, but no excuses.”

There was disappointment too for Baffins Milton Rovers, outshone 2-0 at home by Shaftesbury.

Baffins had plenty of possession but were denied by some crucial first-half saves from Dan Card.

Goals by Bailey Hodge and Jack Mitchell fired Shaftesbury up to ninth.

Horndean are five points above them in eighth after condemning rock-bottom Petersfield Town to their 23rd defeat of a miserable season.

The Rams made a fight of it as goals by Josh Wycherley and Luke Kendall pulled them back to 3-2 from 3-0 down.

But a second Josh Maloney goal wrapped it up for the Deans, 4-2, with Miles Everett and Danny Boyle also on the scoresheet.