Horsham kept their faint hopes of reaching the Ryman premier division play-offs alive with a 0-0 draw at Staines.

The Hornets struggled to create chances on the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Hendon, while for Staines it was their fourth successive draw.

In a first half largely devoid of incident, Staines started the stronger. Their play-off place is all but in the bag and they played with fluency.

Leroy Griffiths twice went close in the first four minutes, fizzing a shot wide and then seeing another effort smothered by Rob Tolfrey.

It turned into a midfield tussle as Horsham found a foothold in the game and for the last 20 minutes of the half were the better side. Gary Charman was an aeriel threat, while on the opposite flank youngster Tony Nwachukwu combined electric pace with a disappointing final ball.

Griffiths was denied by Tolfrey again shortly before the break following a loose Russell Eldridge pass.

An injury to linesman Chris Evans held up the start of the second half, but when it got under way Horsham picked up where they left off.

Claude Seanla went closest when he screwed a chance wide from a tight angle.

Hastings United’s fight against relegation suffered a major setback as they slumped to a humiliating 4-0 defeat at fellow strugglers Hendon.

The home side were in front after just six minutes after a foul by Steve Elliott in the penalty area.

Hastings keeper Greg Nessling saved Jamie Busby’s spot kick but the referee ordered it to be retaken due to encroachment and Busby made no mistake the second time.

Out-played and out-thought from start to finish United fell further behind four minutes before the break when Sam Collins ran through a static defence to fire low into the net.

The result was put beyond doubt on 70 minutes when Glen Garner beat the offside trap to fire past Nessling and substitute Brian Haule added a fourth.

United have dropped two places to 18th just outside the relegation places but have now played more matches than the teams around them.

Crowborough went down 3-1 at home to high-flying Kingstonian in Ryman division one south.

They put on a super show to recover from Saturday’s 8-0 drubbing at Godalming, the highlight being Tom Saunders’ solo effort to make it 2-1 early in the second half.

Manager Stuart Nowell said: “We had eight players who would have started. To come back from Saturday and put on a top drawer display like that was first class.”