Chichester closed the gap at the top of the table to one point on leaders East Preston after a 3-0 victory over East Grinstead.

However, Chi manager Adie Girdler was in no mood to get carried away by the victory which came on the back of goals from Neil Murfin, Steve Leigh and Scott Murfin, two of which arrived in the last five minutes.

Girdler said: "They battled hard but we played the better football. The win keeps us bubbling along nicely but there is a lot of football to be played and a long way to go yet. East Preston still have a game in hand on us."

Whitehawk did Chichester a favour by beating the leaders 2-1 but boss Ian Chapman still feels Vic Short's side have the ability to take the title.

Chapman said: "I still think East Preston will win it. They have a good side and like to play the game the right way. It's still in their hands."

The Hawks went 2-0 up with Ryan McBride scoring the opener with a great finish before Simon Rowland volleyed in a Kevin Townsend set-piece. Duncan Barnes struck late on for the hosts.

Fellow title-chasers Eastbourne Town set themselves up nicely for EP's visit to the Saffrons on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Arundel.

Having trailed to a Miles Scerri penalty, Town fought back to be level at the break through Graham Holman before Lee Walsh and Eddie Koboah sealed the points.

Town manager Dave Winterton said: "I was very pleased with the performance. They worked their socks off.

"We have East Preston at home next week and it is going to be a very big game for both sides."

Rye missed the chance to make up ground on the leaders when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Redhill.

Kym Monroe appeared to have put the home side on their way to three valuable points when he scored his first goal for the club.

But Redhill levelled 13 minutes from time when Steve Gillett converted a free-kick.

Rye player-boss Scott Price said: "Not winning is bad enough, but hearing the East Preston result makes it worse.

"We had chances to get a second and kill them off but didn't take them. They scored from their only shot on goal."

Three Bridges were made to work hard for a 1-0 win over Selsey which keeps them on the fringes of the promotion race.

The visitors played five at the back and a lone striker but Bridges eventually broke through when Simon Funnell got on the end of Justin Simmonds' through ball.

Bridges' boss Sammy Donnelly said: "The points were more welcome than the performance. It was our first game for nearly two weeks and it showed.

"We're still up there, but I won't know whether we can really challenge for the title until after Easter, but it's certainly the most interesting race there has been for years."

Steve Davis pocketed a brace as Horsham YMCA beat Ringmer 4-3 in a thriller at Gorings Mead.

YM were always in front thanks to Davis and second- half goals by Paul Young and Phil Churchill, but Ringmer kept plugging away and Jon Donoghue (2) and Chris Johnson's penalty kept them in the hunt.

YM boss John Suter said: "It was quite a one-sided game, we certainly attacked a lot more than they did."

Doomed Shoreham got some relief at Pagham where they drew 2-2.

Hassocks are heading for a good finish after picking up three points from visitors Hailsham, who have ambitions of a top-six place themselves.

Hailsham keeper Russell Tanner made a string of superb saves, including a stunning tip over from a Pat Harding 25-yard strike but he could do nothing about the James Laing penalty following a foul on Graham Beveridge which gave Hassocks the win.

Sidley pulled further away from trouble at the bottom as they twice recovered from being pegged back by Sidlesham to grab a 3-2 win at Gullivers.

A brave header by Ben White and fine finish by Kevin Rose for the winner after a flowing four-man move contributed to Sidley's victory. Owen Ball got the other goal while Tim Lester and Richie Davies replied for the visitors.