Totton striker Patrick James' missed penalty cost the home side two points, but the team's biggest loss may be a lengthy spell on the sidelines for captain Martin Whiddett.

Manager Ian Robinson had to give debuts to rookies Glen Maidment and Richard Curtis as he was already without four first teamers.

His problems increased when Whiddett was brought down by Hamble 'keeper Peter Harris on 85 minutes. Whiddett, who had headed home a 54th-minute equaliser, had to receive treatment to his knee before being carried to the Totton dressing room. Meanwhile, the resulting penalty, fired towards the bottom left corner by James, was tipped around the post by Harris, who appeared lucky not to be sent-off.

It was James's second miss from the spot in three games and Harris was able to deny the livewire player again during a late onslaught from Totton, who had to play the last five minutes with ten men in the absence of Whiddett.

But Hamble boss Larry Clay backed the referee's decision - after speaking to his defenders. He said: "I told Peter that I thought he was lucky but the other lads were adamant that he wasn't the last man."

Hamble had dominated the first half and deservedly led at the break through James Musslewhite's 38th-minute strike, a far post effort following a clever ball in from the left by skipper Joe Partridge.

Robinson was as disappointed with his side's lacklustre first-half performance as he was with Harris's late escape. Louis Langdown, one of four Southampton-based players in the Hamble starting line up, Dan Jeffrey and Steve Whitcher all had chances to score before the break.

Totton struggled to get their passing going on a gluepot of a Testwood Park pitch but Robinson refused to use that as an excuse. "I think we must have had too much Christmas pud because we were very lethargic and off the pace. I had to rip the paint off the walls at half-time!"

Totton dominated the second half and Whiddett's downward header inside the near post from Ben Thomson's left flank free-kick was just reward.

James accelerated through the Totton defence but fired inches wide immediately after Whiddett's equaliser.

Substitute Mark Osman fired just over and Thomson could not beat the 'keeper from close range during a sustained spell of pressure from the home side.

Musslewhite had the visitors' best chance of the second half but could not add to his first-half goal, firing a powerful left-footer into the side netting late on.

James had two other late chances as well as the penalty but Hamble continued their unbeaten run - they have not lost a Wessex League game since October 19.

Clay said: "It's good for us to come to places like Totton and get a point, it's great for the confidence.

"We've now drawn two games against Totton this season, which is a good sign, but we could have been 3-0 up at the break. I don't remember our 'keeper having a save to make in the first half, but they battered us after that."

Robinson, meanwhile, is sweating on Whiddett's fitness ahead of the trip to Whitchurch on Saturday. He said: "We might have James Sherrington and Stuart Ritchie back then but Martin would obviously be a big loss. We're not sure of the extent of the injury at the moment, but he's got fluid on his knee and may be out for some time.

"We're struggling at the moment, but like any club we need a settled side. We've got to get to get back to basics and try and find some confidence but Eastleigh are the only club in the division who can perform anywhere near their best with four regulars out."