Wealdstone 1 Billericay Town 2

Wealdstone's preferred passing game went out of the window on Tuesday night as gale force winds and driving rain all but blew them off course for a play-off place this season.

Keiron Forbes' goal gave the hosts a fortunate first half lead before Billericay stole the points with goals from Jamie Dormer and Dave Wareham in appaling conditions at Grosvenor Vale.

"We never did enough in the first half and never took advantage of the conditions with the wind behind us," said boss Gordon Bartlett.

"Towards the end the game looked as if it was on the verge of being abandoned as there was a lot of surface water.

"But I think we've got to say we've contributed to our own defeat as we never had enough strikes on goal in the first half and never adapted to the conditions at all. It was impossible to get the ball down and play."

"I think we were a bit naive," he continued.

"Kieron (Forbes) lost the ball in the middle of the park, Sean (Thomas) made a good save and the ball was cleared.

"But one of their strikers picked it up on the edge of the box and picked his spot when we would have been tighter on him.

"For their second Hicksy (David Hicks) gave away a free kick and Chapps (Lee Chappell) should have headed it away.

"We didn't put enough pressure on their goalkeeper and if you don't do that you don't score goals."

Bartlett admits the dressing room was deflated after the game but says they must bounce back if they are to take a step closer to reaching the 50 point barrier required to ensure safety.

"They were very down as they just did not deliver," he added.

Ryan Ashe returned from illness while the Stones were without Chris O'Leary (suspended) and Callum Martin (injured).

Ben Alexander and Davis Haule fired early warning shots while Ashe pinged a shot just wide of the mark.

After 28 minutes, Wealdstone took the lead when Forbes smashed in the loose ball from close range past Tony Tucker.

However, Billericay looked dangerous on the break as Stones skipper James Gray and Alan Massey were kept on their toes.

After Ashe had pulled another shot wide in the second half the tide began to turn in the visitors' favour and they levelled after 58 minutes. From a throw in on the right Stones failed to clear and Dormer ghosted in before placing a low shot past Thomas.

Stones were now getting pinned back in their own half and soon found themselves behind when Wareham connected with a lofted free kick into the box.

He looked suspiciously offside and Gray was booked for his protests.

Bartlett threw on Ben Clarke, Marvin McCoy and Greg Ngoyi in a bid to salvage something from the game but it was Ben Alexander who was presented with the best chance of levelling matters three minutes from time, but the big striker failed to profit.

Wealdstone: Thomas, Martin, Chap-pell, Gray, Massey, Ashe, Forbes, Hicks, Haule, Alexander, Spendlove.

UP NEXT Canvey island

**Where? Park Lane, Saturday, 3pm

* Manager: John Batch

* League record to date: P31 W12 D6 L13

* Last five (most recent first): L, W, L, W, L

* Last five home: W, W, D, L, L

**Top scorer: Leon Gordon (10)

* Current league position: 7th

* Last season: 5th (promoted from 1st Division North)

* 2007/08 season: N/A