Arlesey Town s play-off aspirations took a nosedive as they crashed 3-1 at home to Sittingbourne. A poor Blues side allowed Saturday s visitors, who were 16th in the Southern League Division One East at the start of play, to come back from 1-0 down to tak

Arlesey Town's play-off aspirations took a nosedive as they crashed 3-1 at home to Sittingbourne.

A poor Blues side allowed Saturday's visitors, who were 16th in the Southern League Division One East at the start of play, to come back from 1-0 down to take all three points.

Charlie Henry sprang the first home attack with a good crossfield pass to Ben Hammond, whose cross was headed just wide by Darran Hay.

This was a rare moment of threat in a lacklustre first 45 minutes with Henry shooting just over as the half ended.

Arlesey started the new half badly as Sittingbourne twice went close to taking the lead. Hammond, who did not deserve to be on the losing side, responded for the Blues as he spectacularly fired home past Williams in the 55th minute.

Sittingbourne were level within five minutes as Nick Bussey struggled to clear a corner and Ainsworth reacted first to rifle the ball home.

Then a splendid move from Sittingbourne saw a deft chip come back off the bar as Arlesey rode their luck.

Ryan Nichol's long ball was taken in his stride by Hammond, whose shot dipped onto the roof of the net.

Another smooth move from the visitors saw Spice round Bussey only to stroke the ball wide of an open goal.

From a free-kick, Campbell headed in with Bussey caught in no-man's land for Sittingbourne to take a 77th minute lead.

The points were secured for the visitors with two minutes remaining as Arlesey conceded a free-kick on the edge of their penalty area and Spice smacked it home.

Blues: Bussey, Houghton (Nichol 25m, Capone 80m), Bloss, Tekell, Hatchett, Cox, Hammond, Gregson, Hay, Foster, Henry (Sylvester 75m).

* The Blues are without a match this Saturday and host Potton United on Tuesday night in a rearranged Beds Senior Cup quarter-final.

A new date for their meeting with Boreham Wood is March 14.