Jamie Lawrence is confident he can guide Worthing to promotion from the Ryman premier division despite the Rebels' latest set-back.

Worthing let slip a two-goal lead at home to play-off rivals Staines Town at the Gladwish Stadium on Saturday as their winless streak in the league extended to seven games.

Goals from Mark Knee and Sam Rents had put the home side in the driving seat inside half-an-hour but the Swans fought back with strikes from Mark Nwokeji and Michael Murphy to earn a deserved point.

The result took the gloss off Lawrence's home debut but the former Jamaica international is determined to help them learn from the disappointment.

"I think we can get into the play-offs but we have got to kill off games like that," said Lawrence, who played in the Premiership for both Bradford and Leicester.

"When you are 2-0 up and in control of the game it is not about going forward and trying to score more. You have got to be a little bit clever and be satisfied with what you've got.

"Hopefully I can bring a bit of experience to the side so we can go on to win games like this in the future.

"But a point was acceptable against a team like Staines and keeps us in contention for the play-offs."

A windswept Woodside Road was a million miles from the Premiership but Lawrence is no stranger to the rough and tumble of non-league football having played for Cowes Sports before breaking into the big time.

He quietly set about his work in central midfield with the minimum of fuss as Worthing took advantage of having the strong wind at their backs in the first half.

The crowd had seen little to get excited about as both sides struggled in the conditions until Knee latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the area to curl a shot past Shaun Allaway and inside the far post.

If Knee's finish was sublime then Worthing's second was ridiculous. There seemed little danger when Rents whipped in a low free-kick from the right but somehow Allaway allowed the ball to slip under his body and over the line.

The wind was making it tough for both goalkeepers and Chuck Martini was next to make a mistake which led to Staines halving the deficit just before the break.

Martini flapped at a hanging cross at the far post and despite a brave block by Andy Lutwyche on the line the ball was bundled home at the second attempt by Nwokeji.

With the wind in their favour after the interval Staines camped in the Worthing area and the inevitable equaliser came in the 62nd minute. Andy Alexander brought down Ali Chaaban 25 yards from goal and Murphy stepped up to curl the resulting free-kick over the wall and into the top corner as Martini stood motionless.

It could have been worse for Worthing and Martini when the Rebels goalkeeper dropped another cross seven minutes from time but was spared any more blushes by Stewart Holmes' clearance off the line.

Worthing joint manager Danny Bloor said: "When you go 2-0 up you should be professional enough to go on and win the game.

"It was disappointing not to win after being in control but in the end I was pleased we hung in there for a point in very difficult conditions.

"They are a good team and we have taken four points off them this season so we are still very much in contention for the play-offs."