If Lowestoft Town is a long way to go for a midweek league game, it's a lot further on the way back after a heartbreaking defeat, but thus it was for Kingstonian after Tuesday night's 3-2 defeat.

Manager Alan Dowson placed blame for the loss squarely at the feet of the officials picking out reasons to suggest all of the goals his side conceded could well have been overturned.

While the post match chatter may focus on decisions made by the referee and his assistants, it would be unfortunate to overlook a fine game of football between two of the best sides in the division.

And while the blow almost certainly knocks the Ks out of playoff contention, the spirit shown by his side after a nightmare start must be of consolation to Dowson.

It took just 21 minutes for Lowestoft to take a two goal lead.

Firstly, Chris Henderson nodded home after the entire visiting defense assumed the ball had gone out of play, and while this may have been the case, there was no excuse for such lax defending.

Similar defensive frailties allowed Andy Fisk to double the lead, and while Dowse appealed for offside, the claim seemed spurious, and the game seemed all but lost.

The comeback that followed was remarkable, with Bobby Traynor's angled finish from a set-piece routine reminiscent of the forward's best work.

Simon Huckle fired wide a golden opportunity to level before the break, but 10 minutes into the second half Saheed Sankoh's beautiful turn and shot from 25 yards stunned just about everyone in the ground to level the scores an amazing comeback looked on.

The optimism of the visiting fans was added to when Erkan Okay was dismissed for the hosts for a second yellow, yet Dowson’s attempt to up the ante by playing more direct with a second striker backfired.

The hosts were able to regain their shape and halt the wave after wave of Ks attacks that had been building.

Yet the defining point was still to come.

A mystifying penalty decision at a corner gave Dean Sinclair the chance to steal it for Lowestoft, and he made no mistake.

A tough loss to take for Dowson, but another performance that suggests that while this season is lost, next season could be one to remember.