In-form Sidlesham took a quickfire lead as they strode to their fifth consecutive victory with a 3-0 triumph at high-flyers East Preston in division one.

Scott Tipper drilled home the first within 60 seconds before Richie Davies made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Mark Wozniak was pulled down. The third came in the final minute when 15-year-old substitute Joe Leggett got his second goal of the season.

Sidlesham manager Richard Towers said: "That's five wins on the spin so I am not complaining. We had to withstand some pressure but I always knew we would be a threat on the break with our pace and so it proved."

Sidlesham lifted themselves one place with the victory but the top two teams, Burgess Hill and Horsham YMCA, both kept ahead of the trailing pack with victories over Ringmer and Peacehaven respectively.

The Hillians' Phil Churchill opened the scoring from a great pass by Richard Carter while Matt Harper added two further strikes with good finishes following balls from Matt Geard and Sean Edwards.

Hill boss Danny Bloor said: "It was a convincing performance and we thoroughly deserved the victory."

Horsham YM created the better of the openings, hitting the woodwork twice, but it took an own goal by Scott Allison on 26 minutes to give them the points at Piddinghoe Avenue.

YM boss John Suter said: "It was a difficult game on a heavy pitch which was not conducive to good football. I felt we deserved to win on the balance of play especially as we hit the woodwork twice, which is usually a good indicator to the general way the game has gone.

"It keeps us tucked in nicely behind Burgess Hill although I know we are effectively seven points adrift of them. However, it is important we stay there."

Whitehawk also picked up a victory against bottom side Littlehampton after two goals from Tommy Pattenden, taking him to 24 for the season, and Carl Southwell did the damage. Steve Davies replied for the Marigolds.

Midfielder Dave Stevens also played his part in the victory after taking over in goal at half-time from goalkeeper Matt Ades, who had to come off with an injured wrist following a first-half collision.

Hawks manager Ian Chapman said: "It was a hard-fought win and Dave did ever so well. I am pleased to get a win under our belts as we have not been playing particularly well lately."

Southwick boss Sammy Donnelly described his side's 2-0 triumph over Sidley as a 'much-needed boost'.

He added: "We have played well in the past few weeks but the difference was we put our chances away. We only created two openings in the first half but they were tucked away and that makes all the difference."

Tony Holden got the first inside a minute for Wickers while Simon Funnell added the second on the stroke of half-time.

Wickers had centre-back Stuart Garrod sent off midway through the second half for a professional foul but a disciplined performance by the other ten players maintained the lead.

The matches at Arundel, Hailsham Town, Pagham, Selsey and Wick in division one were postponed.