ALRESFORD Town remain rooted to the foot of the Sydenhams Premier Division after suffering an agonising 2-1 home defeat by Hamworthy United on Saturday.

The Magpies were primed to pocket a point until disaster struck in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

As the Hammers sent a hopeful last punt downfield, a mix-up between Jamie Bentley and Mike Weatherall forced the goalkeeper to handle the centre-back’s header to avert an open goal.

Weatherall was duly sent off and, heartbreakingly for the Magpies, Kane Daysh beat sub ’keeper John Howard with a curling free kick.

Just five minutes earlier Alresford had grabbed a late equaliser when they too scored with a free-kick curled in by Sam Carter at the near post.

That wiped out a controversial 74th-minute opener for Hamworthy when the referee accidentally intercepted play, presenting the visitors with a run on goal.

The Magpies managed to repel the first attacking wave but never regained possession and Matt Kemble cashed in with a heavily deflected shot and that looped over Weatherall.

Alresford had had the better of the first half but their former goalkeeper Jason Collins came back to haunt them with a string of smart saves.

He acrobatically turned away a Carter free-kick on 32 minutes before diving to deny Howard one-on-one.