The calculators can be put away because the division one south title race is now simple.

If Lewes win their last game of the season at home against Banstead Athletic on Saturday, they will be champions.

Supporters tried to work out the permutations as scores from title rivals Worthing and Windsor started to come through in the second half.

But now everyone knows what is needed after an emphatic display by the Rooks.

Manager Steven King said: "We destroyed Croydon and now all we've got to do is win one more game to make sure. This is the sort of situation we want because it's in our hands.

"It's annoying Worthing won because if they hadn't then that would have been enough for us and I wanted to wrap it up early.

"But even if we draw we can do it because we've got a better goal difference so I don't expect us to slip up.

"Banstead will come to spoil it. They beat us 6-1 earlier in the season and we've got a score to settle."

Worthing can still take the title after their impressive win against Hampton and Richmond.

They must win at Slough Town tomorrow and against Ashford Town (Middlesex) at Woodside Road on Saturday to stand any chance. Should they drop any points, the championship will go to Lewes.

Windsor are theoretically also in the running. They need to win away against Croydon Athletic but by a 17-goal margin because Lewes have a vastly superior goal difference.

But none of this will matter if Lewes win their big game at the Dripping Pan, which looks likely because of the way they are playing.

Following on from their 3-0 demolition of Worthing last Tuesday, Lewes took just 45 minutes to kill off lowly Croydon.

Jay Lovett headed home the first from close range following a free kick by Danny Davis after 15 minutes.

Marc Whiteman doubled the lead ten minutes later with a simple tap-in at the back post after good work by Lovett and Lee Newman.

Peter Adeniyi added the third six minutes before half time when he brilliantly controlled a deep cross from Newman with one touch and curled the ball home with his next.

Whiteman ended any hope of a Croydon comeback when he finished off the scoring on the stroke of half time, sliding in at the back post to knock the ball into an empty net for his 22nd goal of the season.

Lewes have won four and drawn one of their last five games, form reminiscent of their early season dominance when they lost just once in their first 19 league games.

King said: "We are back to how we were at the start of the season when we seemed to be able to score at will and take teams apart.

"It's all about confidence which has been built on defending. This was our third clean sheet in a row and that gives everyone confidence because they don't have to keep worrying about what's going on at the back. They can get on with playing football, which is what we do best."

From the moment Rooks warmed up to gangster rap blaring from a loud speaker, they oozed self belief and midfielder Junior Kadi led the way.

The former Coventry professional, who came on for the second half after being rested by King, said: "All we've got to do is beat Banstead to win the league and if someone had said that at the start of the season then we would definitely have taken it."

Lewes may not be bothered about Worthing but King could not resist cranking up the pressure on them.

He said: "Slough will beat Worthing because they are the in-form team. They're up to fourth now, so they could do us a favour.

"Worthing have to win so all the pressure is on them.

"If they get a result then they would have done very well to beat Hampton and Slough both away from home."