Fleet boss Mick Catlin must be wondering when his side's luck will change. After seeing his team dominate for the first 45 minutes of Thursday's game against Bashley, he then could only watch in horror as all the first-half good work was undone by defensive errors the New Forest side cashing in with five second-half goals, all scored by striker, Richard Gillespie.
Without a point from their last nine league matches the Fleet side remain anchored to the base of the Eastern Division table, only two points above bottom side, Rothwell.
Once again there was a new look about the Fleet side, with Catlin forced to make changes after the 3-0 defeat against Burnham last Saturday. Despite Brian Wood, Jamie Proctor and Eddie Smith all picking up injuries in that game, Catlin was able to recall skipper, Ian Saunders and wingman, Shaun Hale back from suspension, and there was a starting place for new striker, Richard Mealey, signed in mid-week from Wessex Leaguers, Alton Town.
Fleet started confidently and enjoying plenty of possession they were soon testing Bashley keeper, David Elm. With Bashley on the back foot, Fleet's front-men were given plenty of half-chances to break through. Both Craig Leworthy and new man, Mealey found the target on several occasions.
Fleet's best chance, on the half-hour needed a goal-line clearance from Bashley defender, Mark Lisk after a Steve Black volley from a cross from Tony Millerick beat keeper Elm.
At the other end, Fleet keeper Calvin Sparshatt brought off a great save from Bashley wingman, Andy Culliford to keep the scores level. But the visitors' best chance came just before the break, when ex-Fleet front-man, Martin Whiddett should have scored from close range, but somehow his shot sailed over the bar.
Disaster struck for Fleet immediately after the interval, when a back pass to Sparshatt slowed in the soft ground, and the keeper's desperate attempted clearance ricocheted into the goal off Bashley striker, Gillespie.
Two minutes later it was 2-0 as Gillespie broke free from his marker and made no mistake with a firm shot into the far corner of the net.
Catlin then changed things bringing on a third striker, Steve Whitcher in an attempt to get back into the game. Unfortunately for Fleet this gave the Bashley front-men a little more space as they looked to capitalise on their good fortune.
On 60 minutes, the visitors scored again. Once again it was Gillespie who was able to sprint past his marker and scored with another great finish, this time with his left foot into the far corner.
Four minutes later Gillespie added to Fleet's misery with a fourth, this time unmarked at the far post he was able to head in a free-kick from right wing-back, Paul Gazzard.
For their part, the shell-shocked Fleet side kept going well, and thoroughly deserved their consolation goal in the 69th minute, courtesy of leading scorer, Shaun Hale, after good work by mid-fielder, Ed Hare.
But it was Gillespie who had the final word, adding a fifth in the dying minutes, this time showing great skill in stopping and controlling a poor pass, leaving himself with a simple tap-in.
Fleet Town: Sparshatt, Buckland, Millerick, Clark, (sub, Whitcher, 58 minutes), Jeffery, Saunders, Black, Hare, Mealey, Leworthy, (Scammell, 82), Hale. Subs (not used): Tiller, Paul Smith, Jason Smith.
Bashley: Elm, Gazzard, (sub, Gibbons), 70 mins), Lisk, Jones, Darnton, Cook, Gee, Wakefield, Whiddett, (Hussey, 84), Gillespie, Culliford, (Cherret, 45). Sub not used: Vyne.
Attendance: 184