Wealdstone boss Gordon Bartlett was left to lament the penalty which saw Havant & Waterlooville score twice in as many minutes to condemn The Stones to consecutive Conference South defeats for the first time since September.

Havant won 3-1 at West Leigh Park and speaking afterwards, Stones manager Bartlett fumed: “A penalty has changed the game for the second week running.

“I thought we were the better team in the first half but I was bitterly disappointed at our lack of response after going behind.

“It is the little things that make a big difference in a game and the penalty gave them a massive boost and lifted their energy levels.”

He added: “We now have the opportunity to bounce back quickly and to create an intense atmosphere at The Vale on Monday night.”

Stones had enjoyed a competitive first period against the sixth-placed Hawks, pulling level through Luke O’Nien after Brian Dutton had given the hosts a 20th-minute advantage.

The hosts re-took the lead in the second half when James Hammond was adjudged to have felled Brian Howard inside the penalty area, with former Stone Scott Donnelly scoring from 12 yards.

And Donnelly doubled up immediately after his first to send Wealdstone to defeat and ensure The Stones slip two places to 14th.

The first half saw Stones play some good football and they fought back well after a fortuitous opener from Dutton, who struck lucky when a shot which looked to be going well wide instead flew past the out of position Jonathan North.

However, it took just nine minute for Bartlett’s side to draw level.

Jefferson Louis used all of his strength and experience to shrug off several challenges and square the ball across the box for O’Nien to tap home the equaliser.

Indeed, the Watford loanee could have netted minutes earlier when his long-range strike tested home stopper Ryan Young.

Tied 1-1 at half time, the game changed when The Stones conceded a penalty after nine second-half minutes.

Hammond was the man penalised for brushing experienced former Barnsley and Reading midfield Howard inside the penalty area and from the resulting spot kick, ex-Queens Park Rangers prospect Donnelly beat North.

And 120 seconds later Stones were hit with a sucker punch as Lee Bradbury’s side snatched their third to move out of Wealdstone’s reach.

Donnelly was again the scorer for The Hawks, lifting the ball over North after making a well-time run to latch onto a pass.

Despite having 34 minutes remaining in order to find a route back into the game, Stones were unable to spark a fight-back against the Hampshire side, who move into the Conference South play-off places with the win.

It does not get any easier for Wealdstone, who host sixth-placed Gosport Borough at Grosvenor Vale on Monday evening (kick off 7.45pm).

Wealdstone: North; Hammond, Parker, Martin, Watts; Davies (Lucien 74), Godfrey, Ball, Corcoran (Brown 70), O’Nien; Louis (McGleish 78).

Subs not used: Mavila, Jolly.