Horsham won at Barton Rovers by the narrowest of margins to keep their title hopes alive - if only mathematically.

Both sides tried to play attractive football on a difficult pitch.

A Steve Payne shot flashed across goal and home goalkeeper Brad Gillham saved a Marcel Dennis volley.

At the other end, Ian Chatfield was off his line sharply to foil Reuben Max-Grant.

After the break, Hornets pressed for a goal. There were appeals for a penalty when Stuart Hardy appeared to be tripped, before Gillham saved at full stretch from Luke Gedling and a Jamie Taylor header was blocked on the line.

The breakthrough came in the 79th minute, Eddie French scrambling the ball over the line from a Lee Carney free-kick.

Horsham continued to press but were unable to add to their tally.

Two early goals from Eastbourne Borough meant an easy three points for Gary Wilson's side at Sittingbourne in the Dr Martens League eastern division.

Borough were 2-0 up in the first 12 minutes.

After keeper Gavin Hopper had acrobatically tipped John Westcott's drive over the bar, Ben Austin headed home from the resulting corner on six minutes.

Then in the 12th minute Daren Pearce extended the lead with a clever piece of thinking.

The Borough captain spotted the keeper off his line and tlobbed him from 40 yards.

Borough dominated the rest of the half and should have got a couple more goals but a mixture of desperate defending and poor finishing thwarted them.

The second half failed to get going and Borough were in cruise control as Sittingbourne chased the game.

Substitute Steve Dallaway went close for Borough and Keith Marsh volleyed wide for the home side but that was as good as it got.

Withdean 2000 beat Chipstead 2-1 at Horsham in the Combined Counties League. Paul Smith and Jamie Quinlan were the scorers for Withdean.