BOWERS & Pitsea’s automatic promotion push suffered a blow thanks to a 2-0 defeat at Barking.

Albert Levett and Billy Jones were on target for the hosts at Mayesbrook Park.

And Rob Small’s side are now just three points clear of Potters Bar Town in the Isthmian North standings, albeit having played a game more than the third-placed side.

The hosts created the first meaningful chance of the evening, as Kemo Darbo fired a volley wide, while Quentin Monville should have converted a Jordan Peart cross.

Barking’s dominance continued and Bowers had to wait until 10 minutes before half-time for their first effort on goal. But David Knight’s strike went over the crossbar.

Darbo passed up a golden opportunity to score, but the home side deservedly broke the deadlock 20 minutes into the second half as Levett finished off a counter-attack.

Substitute Shomari Barnwell was unable to connect with a Lewis Manor flick-on, and that missed opportunity proved critical as Barking doubled their lead soon after.

Adalberto Pinto was adjudged to have tripped his man and Jones swept the penalty home with 11 minutes remaining.

Bowers were unable to find a way back into the game late on and Small’s charges will now aim to get back to winning ways when they entertain table-topping AFC Hornchurch at the Len Salmon Stadium on Friday night.

Bowers & Pitsea: Chafer, Pinto, Thomas, Stokes, Hughes (Barnwell 70), Leahy, Dicks (Cobblah 86), Sartain (Salmon 77), Knight, Manor, Nyanja