Bashley were architects of their own downfall in a 3-2 Division 1 home defeat by Horsham last night.

For the second time in a fortnight goalkeeper David Elm was substituted after taking a share of blame for Horsham's first two goals and defender Paul Gazzard - arguably Bashley's best player on the night - blotted his copybook by getting dismissed for stamping.

Manager Geoff Butler was not amused. He said: "We were 2-0 down at half-time and both times we shot ourselves in the foot. For the first one Elmo kicked the ball straight to their fella and then it was another poor kick combined with bad defending from Mat Jones that led to the second."

Top scorer Richard Gillespie - who else? - pulled Bash back into it with a class finish for his 17th goal of the season, but another defensive lapse put them 3-1 behind before Gazzard pressed the self-destruct button.

The ten men hit back with 11 minutes to go when Luke Byles side-footed home Andy Culliford's cross at the back post, leaving Butler to brood on what might have been.

He said: "Paul trampled on the fella and I'm not having that. We were 3-1 down and he was frustrated, but there's no place in this club for players who behave like that. He'll be disciplined as heavily as I'm able to.

"I like Paul and he was probably our best player tonight, but his actions have cost us dear. We got back to 3-2 with ten men, so who knows what we might have done had he stayed on the park?"

Describing Bashley's first-half performance as "rank", Butler added: "We've beaten ourselves.

"We started the game lazy and sloppy with no sense of urgency or enthusiasm. But, to be fair, Horsham's keeper was their best player. He made saves he didn't even know about in the first half including a bullet header by Gilly that went straight at him. He had an inspired evening."

With Danny Gibbons suspended, Bashley were boosted by a guest appearance from former Waterlooville, Weymouth and Newport striker Steve Tate.

They also gave a debut to midfielder Chris Knowles, signed from Hellenic Premier outfit Fairford.