LEWES will take over top spot in National League division one if they win away to leaders Loughborough Students this Sunday.

A 3-1 success at home to Stourport has left Lewes just a point behind Loughborough as the title race hots up.

A slack start saw Lewes concede a penalty inside two minutes, but Stourport struck it wide and that seemed to wake up the home side.

On 15 minutes Jeremy Boyse scored with a low flick from a penalty corner and two minutes later he repeated the feat to make it 2-0.

The visitors pulled a goal back from a breakaway and then enjoyed a spell of pressure just before half time with Nick Dale having to make a couple of good saves.

The second half remained an even affair, but the clincher came seven minutes from time when a long through ball from Boyse found Jonathan Hill on the right and he crossed for Ed Cabay to score his seventh of the season with a reverse stick flick.

Manager Peter Boyse said: "The result this week could decide the title, although Doncaster are coming on very strong.

"Loughborough play Doncaster the following week, so it is a vital time for them.

"If we can beat them this Sunday, we will be in a strong position."

LEWES: Dale; Standing, Champness, J. Boyse, Heslop; Hawes, Owen, Poulson; A. Boyse, Hill, Cabay. Sub used: Hurle.

Man-of-the-match: Danny Poulson.

EAST GRINSTEAD got a taste of Doncaster's title aspirations as the Yorkshire side crushed them 9-0.

Returning to action after the mid-season break, Grinstead went into this game in a hopeful mood, especially as they had only lost 3-2 to Doncaster earlier in the season.

However, the reality was far short of expectation as Doncaster proved to be fitter, better organised and more determined than East Grinstead, who should have done better despite injuries to some key players.

The game was lost in the first half as Doncaster were 2-0 up inside 12 minutes and 4-0 ahead at half time.

Grinstead upped their workrate in the second half and had more possession.

But poor distribution meant attacks were easily broken down and the home side were able to break away at will, adding five more goals.

A huge improvement will be needed this Sunday for the visit of Brooklands.

GRINSTEAD: Spight, Harms, Holland, Baker, R. Payne, B.Payne, Sears, Bhatti, Male, Aked, Thomas. Subs: King, Sullivan, Coote.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.