Kingstonian boss Alan Dowson is hoping dropping out of the play-offs this week will give his players the kick they need to return to winning ways.

The Kingsmeadow chief is stepping up his search for a goal scorer after watching his side fire blanks for the second successive match in a 1-0 defeat at resurgent Sittingbourne.

Top strike pair Bobby Traynor and Saheed Sankoh have scored just three goals between them in nearly three months, one reason for a downturn in form for Dowson's men.

Ks have scored just 38 goals in 27 league matches - failing to find the net in seven of them - and risk kissing goodbye to a play-off spot unless they can find their shooting boots soon.

And the point has not been lost on Dowson.

"I can't knock the performances but we must start taking the chances we create," the manager said.

"If Bobby and Saheed don't score, the pressure is on Danny Summers and he is too young for that.

"I can accept a bad day at the office but this is happening too many times now and is the story of our season.

"If you had given me sixth place at the start of the season, I would have snapped your hand off, but this team is talented enough to get to the play-offs and it would be a failure if we don't make it.

"They have still got something to prove and I think slipping out of the play-offs should give them a bit of a kick up the backside."

Ks were undone by a 77th-minute goal after dominating Sittingbourne for long periods, and missed a host of gilt-edged chances to kill off the game.

This Saturday, they make the short trip to bottom club Molesey, but Dowson is not expecting his side to have it all their own way.

"They are a better side than people give them credit for. I am not expecting them to feel the backlash," he added.

"I would be happy to get just a win, whichever way it comes.

"A scrappy 1-0 would suit me just fine."