A change of boots brought a dramatic change of fortune for Bashley's traditionally goal-shy skipper Paul Gazzard.

For the first time in his career, the 30-year-old defender scored twice in one game to fire Bash up to eighth in Ryman 1 at the expense of play-off rivals Kingstonian.

After ripping his favourite Adidas World Cup boots in last Tuesday's 2-1 win over Molesey, Gazzard raced into Southampton on Friday night to buy a replacement pair.

But the best he could find at short notice was a £65 pair of Nike boots which he'd planned to sell off after one wearing so he could go back to his favourite brand.

Two magnificent goals - one a header and one an acrobatic scissor kick - quickly changed his mind, however, and now it looks as if the lucky Nike boots are here to stay!

Gazzard laughed: "I've been wearing Adidas World Cup boots since I was 12 because they're like slippers to put on. But my pair split the other night when someone caught me late. I didn't have much time to get a new pair and had to buy Nike. I said I'd be selling them afterwards, but I think I'll be keeping them now. That's two goals I've got today and three for the season!"

Gazzard confessed to having his eyes shut when he powered home a bullet header from Zeke Rink's superbly struck corner to give Bashley a vital 2-1 lead two minutes before half-time.

And, although Kingstonian equalised with Kenny Ojukwa's second goal of the game on 54 minutes, the former Lymington & New Milton centre-back was determined to have the last word.

Just after the hour mark fellow defender Matt Parnell headed a corner back across the area and Danny Gibbons's initial effort was cleared off the line. But the ball came out to the edge of box for Gazzard to meet with an acrobatic scissor kick, which Gibbons hurdled on its way into the net.

"I was gutted to start off with," Bashley's goal hero admitted. "I hit it with my left foot but the first thing I saw was Danny running away celebrating and I thought he was trying to claim it.

"The first goal was a great delivery from Zeko. I knew I just had to meet it and I closed my eyes as I did it."

Saturday's result made it just one defeat in the last seven matches for the strong-finishing Foresters and, with just five games to go - three against bottom-six opponents - there is a growing mood in the camp that the play-offs are achievable.

Bash are now just two points behind Kingstonian, who occupy the fourth play-off place.

"I think we're good enough to do it," said Gazzard. "But it's not just down to us, it's what the other teams do.

"If it were in our own hands, I'm sure we'd get promoted. It's superb in the dressing room. I've never been involved in something so good before. It's the most enjoyable season I've had.

"It's April and normally the season's been over for six weeks by now and you're just turning up to finish as high as you can, but this year we've still got something to play for.

"It'd be nice to make a couple of signings in the summer, but I'd like to think we will keep this squad together. And if we don't go up this year, we'll definitely be in with a shout for next season.

"Bash deserve a bit of luck because for the last four years they've been on a steady slope backwards."

Former Fleet Town targetman James Rose was instrumental in both Kingstonian goals.. On nine minutes he headed Richard Taylor's long throw onto the bar and Ojukwa was there to tuck home the loose ball.

Bash levelled on 23 minutes when Richard Gillespie was desperately unlucky to strike the foot of the post from Jimmy Anderson's left-wing delivery. As the ball rebounded out, it sat up perfectly for hard-working frontline partner Gibbons to fire in his fourth goal since rejoining the club in December.

Gazzard put Bash in front on 43 minutes and K's again responded from a set-piece - Rose rising first to meet a free-kick from the right and Ojukwo striking with a close-range header.