Staines Town’s 10-match unbeaten run came to an end with a home defeat by Eastleigh.
But they thought they had salvaged a point six minutes into stoppage time when Scott Taylor lashed in a volley, only for a raised linesman’s flag to spoil the celebration.
Before that, Staines might have had an eighth minute penalty when Taylor appeared to be brought down in front of goal, but referee Childs waved play-on.
Instead, the visitors took a 13th-minute lead when Sam Butler lashed a 25-yard free kick into the top corner.
Two minutes later, Staines suffered a further setback when Marc Charles-Smith suffered a knee injury and was replaced by Dean Thomas.
Eastleight came close to doubling their lead, but Ross Bottomley volleyed too high from a corner.
At the other end, Leroy Griffiths volleyed Mazin Ahmad’s shot across goal. Then keeper Louis Wells’ huge drop kick took one bounce and flew not too far wide of the posts.
This was sandwiched by cautions for fouls by Gareth Risbridger and Andre Scarlett.
Just before half-time, clever footwork from Ahmad put Griffiths in, but defender Smith blocked his piledriver on the six-yard line.
But then disaster struck for the hosts three minutes into stoppage time. Peter Adeniyi brought the ball down the right and picked out Richard Gillespie, who battled into a box and whipped in a cross that was turned into his own net by Yado Mambo.
Not long after the restart Anthony Riviere forced a save out of Wells, but much of the second half was uneventful.
Griffiths did have a shot against the woodwork, while Eastleigh keeper Jason Matthews was booked for time-wasting.
Staines were thrown a lifeline seven minutes from time when Howard Newton’s cross was handled in the box by Adeniyi.
After Adeniyi and Luke Wilkinson, signed on loan from Portsmouth, had been cautioned for dissent and kicking the ball off the spot respectively, Griffiths smashed the penalty firmly home.
At the other end, Wells got down bravely to save from Gillespie before Staines’ final hopes of a point were ruled out by the linesman.
Staines: Wells, S Jackson, Kamara (Sterling 81), Gordon ©, Mambo, Scarlett (Newton 69), Ahmad, Risbridger, Charles-Smith (D Thomas 15), Taylor, Griffiths; unused: Ifura, Courtnage (g).
Eastleigh: Matthews, D Smith, Oliver, Riviere, Jordan ©, Wilkinson, Adeniyi (Webb 84), Forbes, Gillespie (Aaron Cook 90+4), Bottomley, Butler (Roache 74); unused Toomer, Andy Cook.
Attendance: 509.
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