A disappointing 3-1 defeat at Worthing on Saturday put an end to Kingstonian’s recent revival.

Familiar defensive lapses and a disjointed attacking display meant K’s stay down in 17th place with a quarter of the league season gone.

“It’s frustrating,” said manager Leigh Dynan after overseeing a seventh loss in 12 games. “It was just one of those days. They’ve won 3-1 but it’s not like they suddenly dominated. We push forward to get the equaliser and we obviously didn’t get it.”

A crowd of 1320 turned out in Sussex on Non-League Day and the home team had them celebrating on the half-hour when Callum Kealy got in front of Tommy Brewer to convert a cross past on-loan keeper Sam Mason. The young Woking stopper was filling in for Rob Tolfrey who suffered a concussion last weekend and acquitted himself well in an often raucous atmosphere.

The Rebels have had their own goalkeeping crisis and put 16-year-old Aaron Relf between the sticks. K’s tried to test the teenager early on with long-range shots and Elliott Buchanan saw a rasping drive come off the bar.

Buchanan played a part in the equaliser before half-time. A cross from David Fitzpatrick dropped in the right area and Buchanan pressured defender Alex Parsons to direct the ball into the Worthing net.

Unfortunately, K’s lost momentum after the break and a sweeping move by Worthing down the right gave David Ajiboye the chance to rifle a fine shot across Mason to make it 2-1 with 15 minutes remaining.

While K’s pressed for a goal, with Louie Theophanous coming closest after a scrappy corner, space opened up behind and Parsons tucked inside the returning Andrew Musungu to complete the scoring with a low shot.

K’s head to Camberley on Tuesday in the Surrey Senior Cup before hosting Harlow Town at King George’s Field next Saturday.