But Sports' coach Nick Greenwood is refusing to talk about a title challenge.

He said: "To be honest, I don't even look at the table. I just concentrate on getting the team ready for the next game. It really is too early to start thinking about titles at the moment.

"I was pleased with our second-half performance. We'd done well to go in all level at half-time, thanks mostly to Dean Lightwood who made two great one-on-one saves. Then, with the wind behind us in the second half, we put together some good moves and, I think, deserved the three points.

Chance

"It's also good to keep a clean sheet. If we can stop teams scoring against us then we will always have a chance of winning."

Sports had only conceded three goals all season going into the game which made them the meanest defence in division one.

Chichester City, having scored 20 goals in their previous four away fixtures, are the division's sharp-shooters.

Chi had the best two chances of a tightly contested first half. On 35 minutes, top scorer Anton Romasz found himself clear with only Lightwood to beat, but the goalkeeper got down to block the first shot and then sprang to his feet to collect Romasz's header on the follow-up.

Lightwood again performed heroics five minutes later when he used his knees to block a Tony Stephens strike after the forward had run clear of the Langney defence.

But the second half belonged to the slight figure of Matt Allen whose speed and control caused Chichester problems all afternoon.

He broke the deadlock on 55 minutes, turning in a precision cross from Andy Agutter . He was then denied a second when he was adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper Adie Girdler, before walking the ball over the line.

Allen came off 15 minmutes from time and his replacement Neil Phillips sealed victory with a brilliant solo effort a minute before the whistle.

Phillips turned his man on the half-way line before running at the heart of the Chichester defence. As they backed off, he hit a low drive that squeezed in between the post and the diving Girdler.

Of Allen, Greenwood said: "He's only 18 and a great prospect. But he took a knock on the back of his leg and Neil came on and scored a superb goal.

"Before the start, I would have settled for two-nil and I'm glad the crowd enjoyed the game."

The final whistle was greeted with a loud cheer as was the loudspeaker's news that Sports' rivals Saltdean and East Preston had drawn their matches.

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