Brighton's title aspirations in the Kent/Sussex Regional League suffered a setback after they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Herne Bay.

A week after being knocked off top spot following a similar result against Herne Bay, Holcombe returned to the summit on Saturday with a 10-2 victory at Old Williamsonians.

It now looks like this weekend's clash between Brighton and Holcombe will be a championship decider.

Despite slipping back to second place, Brighton skipper Carlo Missirian remained upbeat about this Saturday's clash.

After seeing Herne Bay snatch a late equaliser, Missirian said: "In the last minute they got a short corner, which was their only one of the game. We were gutted when it went in and the final whistle went 30 seconds later but I think it will focus us better.

"I would rather going into Saturday's game knowing we have to win than knowing a draw will be enough.

"We don't want to win this league unless we beat Holcombe. To be the best you have to beat the best."

Despite still missing their two Egyptian internationals, Brighton took the game to Herne Bay but had to wait until five minutes from time before Graham Pruce broke the deadlock.

It looked like that goal would be enough to keep Brighton top but the hosts levelled in the final minute.

Missirian added: "It is diffiult to be too disappointed when we played so well. We had 80 per cent of the possession but they set out their stall, put ten players behind the ball and defended very well.

"They were the toughest team we have played this year in terms of breaking them down."

Mid Sussex look like they have lost skipper Andy Green for the season after he broke an ankle in their 1-1 draw at Worthing.

Green, who was celebrating his birthday, suffered the injury after 15 minutes when he lost his footing. He is expected to be in plaster for six weeks and his absence will be a massive blow to Mids.

By that stage, they were a goal up thanks to a superb individual effort from James Goodwin on five minutes.

Worthing drew level shortly before half time when Matt Ansell scored at the second attempt following a short corner.

That was the end of the scoring but not the action. Mids had keeper Greg Purdie somewhat harshly sent off in the second half and also lost Duncan Wood-Allum for a stick tackle.

Both sides had chances and Mids' Phil Middleton could have won it at the end but he put a short corner wide of the target.

Worthing manager Rob Warner said: "We are disappointed we didn't get more out of the game. We are playing well again but just don't seem to be getting the goals."

Captain Terry Higgs scored five minutes from time to earn Crawley a 1-1 draw at home to Folkestone.

Crawley made four changes to the side hammered by Brighton the previous week and the first half performance was much better.

The late equaliser followed an good interchange between Higgs and new South African Peter Waller.

Higgs said: "I was disappointed we didn't get three points but keeping in mind the number of changes in the side this week and the way Folkestone dominated midfield in the first half, a point was a fair result."

Horsham put up a good display despite losing 4-2 away to third placed Blackheath.

Ian Brown scored twice for Horsham who were pushing for an equaliser when the home team scored a late fourth goal.

Horsham goalkeeper Neil Burlinson said: "This was much better than last week.

"The attitude was good and everybody put in a lot of effort but we just didn't quite have enough to beat them."

In Kent/Sussex division one, Eastbourne romped to a 10-0 win over Sussex rivals Crowborough.

Amazingly, the score was only 1-0 at half time but the floodgates opened in the second half with Robbie Redhead (two), James Mackay (two), Ben Coupe (two), Chris Burden, Nick Corbett, Dominic Barnes and Alex Barnes finding the target.

Mackay said: "Even in the first half we were all over them but we couldn't get the ball in the back of the net."