Scott Christensen scored a hat-trick on his debut as lowly Pease Pottage hammered second-placed Lancing 5-1 in Matthew Clark County League division two.

Pottage have struggled since being promoted last summer but the recent appointment of Dudley Christensen as joint manager has lifted spirits at the Crawley-based club.

A number of new players have been signed, including Dudley's namesake Scott, and more are expected to follow.

Former Oakwood and St Francis manager Christensen, who was brought in to work alongside Steve Bold, said: "The mood in the changing room has changed. The players are now asking who we have next. They are looking forward to games.

"I have seen a lot of the other sides and there is nothing out there to frighten us. We have quality players in the side, like Scott Christensen and Ashley Cook, and some of the other sides down the bottom don't have that quality. I am 100 per cent confident we can get out of it."

Striker Christensen, signed from Oakwood, scored all three of his goals in the first half. The first two came from Ashley Cook free kicks and the third a left foot strike into the top corner.

They lost another debutant Peter Sweet, signed from Horsham YMCA, with a hamstring injury early in the second half but added further goals through Ashley Cook, direct from a corner, and namesake Chris Cook, with his first goal since signing from St Francis. Matt Kelly hit Lancing's lone reply.

Another struggling side Broadbridge Heath held on for a 4-3 victory at home to Westfield, who have now been sucked into relegation trouble themselves.

Heath led 4-0 at half time thanks to goals from Paul Gallagher (two), Ramin Jarvand and Danny Hills. It remained that way until 12 minutes from time when Westfield produced produced an unlikely comeback, scoring three times through Darrol Parris (two) and Lawrence Brand.

Winning boss Allan Winton said: "We weathered a storm for the first 20 minutes or so in the second half and had two or three chances of our own. We then played for an offside, which wasn't offside, and they scored. Suddenly Westfield went crazy and we lost our way totally. The players got a roasting afterwards but we got the three points which was vital."

Crawley Down recorded a second successive win as they beat Seaford 3-0 to move further clear from the relegation zone. Graham White, converted from a midfielder into a striker, scored twice and Darren Tidey got the other, with his tenth goal of the season. Down goalkeeper Matt Heasman saved a late penalty from John Snelgrove.

Joint-boss Shaun Donnelly said: "We have moved Graham up front and he has been a revelation. He has also struck up a nice relationship with Darren Tidey."

Eastbourne United slipped to fourth from bottom after losing 2-1 at Mile Oak. Jamie Harman scored his first goal for Mile Oak since returning from Shoreham but later broke a collarbone after shoulder-barging United keeper Kusha Movaffagh.

Scott Carden scored Mile Oak's second just before half time with Sam Hover replying for United in stoppage time.

At the top, East Grinstead went second after Matt Thorpe scored twice in a 2-1 success at Worthing United.

Thorpe opened the scoring with a header from a James Horner corner and his second was a smart finish following a cross by Phil Thompson. Sean Berrett replied late on for Worthing. Wasps boss Bob Smith said: "We didn't really turn our advantage into goals but we got goals at important times.

"We are in a better position than we were last year so that can only be good for us. For the last two years we have finished strongly so I am quite hopeful."

Rye and Iden United bounced back from their midweek defeat by leaders Eastbourne Town by hammering Wealden 7-2 with goals from Scott Price (two), Neil Winton (two), Steve Smith, Steve Willard and Shaun Loft. Replies came from Jimmy Sneddon and Paul Rider.

Saltdean United won 2-0 at Steyning Town thanks to goals from Leigh Davis and Brad Dougal. Davis also hit a post while Richard Lester missed a great chance to get the home side back in the game.

Eastbourne Town were postponed at Shinewater while the match between Oving and Oakwood was also a victim of the weather.