Kingstonian boss Alan Dowson believes his struggling side must end the season the way it started to have any chance of making the Ryman League Division One South play-offs.

Ks crashed 3-2 at home to Burgess Hill Town on Saturday when it looked like goals from Tom Williams and Bobby Traynor had salvaged at least a point.

It means Dowson's men have won just three of their past 16 league encounters as they have drifted out of the league's top five - conceding 25 goals in the process.

It is in stark contrast to the opening ten matches, which brought seven wins, including four clean sheets.

Dowson, who fears he will be without defender Simon Sobihy (ankle) for four weeks, is clear where it has gone wrong, but remains confident his side can deliver a miracle turn-around.

He said: "We keep giving the opposition goals, it is as simple as that. While we keep doing that we'll not get anywhere.

"We are on a dreadful run and it is not good enough. "We have got to win seven or eight games from our final ten - at least.

"The start of the season proves we can put that sort of run together and, if we can do that, then we have a chance of saving the season."

Goals from Dean Lodge and Simon Huckle saw off Redhill, managed by former Ks boss Stuart McIntyre, in the Surrey Senior Cup on Monday night.

But Dowson, who confirmed QPR loanee Aaron Goode will not be returning to the club as rumoured, insists glory in the county cup would not make up for the disappointment of missing out on promotion.

"You want to win every competition you enter, but promotion or a top five finish was the target at the start of the season," he added.

"If we miss that target but win the cup, we will still have failed in my eyes. Silverware is no consolation."

Kingstonian travel to play-off rivals Met Police on Saturday bolstered by the arrival of Guyanan international Shawn Beveney, 25, who joins from Dulwich Hamlet having scored 23 goals in 61 appearances at Champion Hill.

Dowson, who is also chasing a new centre-half before the weekend, said: "Shawn is a strong player who can hurt teams from deep.

"I've challenged him to make things happen for the team and help get us into the play-offs."