ERNIE Howe endured one of those deeply-frustrating nights as Basingstoke Town manager when nothing goes right, for reasons and circumstances beyond his control, at a miserable, rain-swept Camrose.
With his squad already down to the bare bones, Howe had to choose on Tuesday whether to risk injured James Taylor as a striker or instead play Martin Whiddett in only his second game since returning from a bad groin strain.
Taking the latter option, Howe could only watch in dismay as, after just 30 seconds, the 34-year-old battler landed awkwardly on the fall-out of his first aerial challenge.
His studs caught in the turf, Whiddett's outstretched right leg was completely rigid as his body came down and hit the ground hard, doing the splits.
He knew straight away it was bad and tried to run it off but the hamstring was fully torn and he had to come off.
The diagnosis is six weeks out.
Forced to throw young Aussie midfielder Dean Peltohaka up front, Howe then watched his threadbare team toil, battle well and enjoy a decent half against a Weymouth side on a high after their 1-1 FA Cup draw at Nottingham Forest.
Then came blow number two. Goalkeeper Rob Bullivant fell badly onto his shoulder as he made a catch ahead of Carl O'Connor, just before half-time.
The pain got worse for the 25-year-old during the interval and he had to be replaced by teenager Liam Castle. Again, the diagnosis from physio Mark Randall is not promising about Bullivant's length of time out of the side.
Shorn of two key players, Howe watched, powerless, as two mistakes gifted Weymouth two goals within six minutes.
Firstly, on 48 minutes, Mark Paterson mistimed his jump to cut out Andy Harris' free kick from the left flank. The delivery skirted the Town man's head but fell at the feet of Brian Dutton.
Six yards out, he diverted the ball into the goal past Castle with a deft outside-of-the-right-boot flick - 1-0 Weymouth.
Things then deteriorated for the young 'keeper when his pulled clearance kick on 51 minutes went directly to right midfielder Steve Clark, who instantly fed O'Connor in a central position.
The Weymouth striker took a touch and moved forward before rifling a 20-yard drive into the net - 2-0 and game over.
With no attacking threat and Uwa Ogbodo struggling with his strapped right leg - he was subsequently replaced by David Ray, another coming back from injury - fortune was clearly not on, or with, Town's side.
That was reinforced on 85 minutes when Ricci Dolan conceded a penalty by bringing down Dutton. Matt Bound converted in the bottom right corner but a retake was ordered.
However, Bound scored again, this time in the opposite side as Castle dived right.
It was no surprise to find Howe in such a beleaguered mood afterwards, and the Blues boss said: "I am not going to criticise the lads at all - we did the best we could under the circumstances.
"In the first half, we battled and defended, but with all the injuries and what's happened out there tonight, it wasn't good enough.
"You try to make the right decisions, cover bases and assess what to do before the game - James wasn't fit so I went for Martin and added more depth to midfield - only to see it backfire straight away.
"It's sod's law. Then things get worse when Rob is injured, we lose two goals in quick succession and the third, a very harsh penalty, sums up the night.
"Weymouth are a fit, full-time side, so you're up against it anyway. When you're down to the bare bones, lose two key players and are under the cosh, it's even harder."
Howe added: "We are back to square one, and I have to strengthen the squad before the weekend, when we play Thurrock.
"It's been difficult for the kids coming in to do the job we are having to ask them to do. We need more experience and, yes, we need someone up front.
"I'll be ringing my contacts to see what's available because I've got to do something."
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