Injury-ravaged Lowestoft Town fell to a fourth successive defeat - but such were Ady Gallagher's selection problems that he could only muster 11 players, with no substitutes.
The Blues' boss also lost defender Rory McAuley to a late red card and will be keeping his fingers crossed he has a few more players to choose from when his side make the short trip to play-off chasing Leiston this afternoon (3pm).
The men on duty, several of whom were carrying slight knocks, showed plenty of effort and committment but couldn't halt their recent slide against a team who finished the game with nine men.
A lively start saw Lowestoft the first to threaten as Jamie Forshaw's snap-shot was collected by keeper Jack Turner. Mohammed Bettamer should have then have opened the scoring for the visitors but could only shoot against Jake Jessup's legs, but Staines broke the deadlock in the 21st minute as the Lowestoft defence was slow to react and Bettamer squared for Tom Collins to slot home. Just seven minutes later Staines doubled their lead as Max Worsfold curled a 25-yard free-kick round the wall and into the net.
Lowestoft were on the back foot, but on the stroke of half-time they were given a lifeline when Dominic Docherty surged forward before playing Nico Cotton through to slip the ball past Turner.
Hopes of a comeback were dented two minutes after the break when McAuley lost his footing to allow substitute Jonathan Hippolyte to run through and slide the ball past Jessup. Harry Barker was also alert to clear off the line after Hippolyte had clipped the ball over Jessup.
On the hour Staines were reduced to 10 men following a high challenge by Collins on McAuley. With a man advantage Lowestoft looked for a way back and Forshaw was denied by Turner before Adam Smith's free-kick fell to Forshaw whose drive from 12 yards hit the upright. In the 89th minute a big melee broke out after McAuley was brought down which ended with both him and Afolabi Coker being sent off.
Lowestoft: Jessup, Barker, Smith, Docherty, McAuley, Blake-Tracy, Forshaw, Ryan Jarvis, Reed, Bammant, Cotton. Attendance 439
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