Skipper Carlo Missirian led the way with a hat-trick as Brighton crushed Crawley 7-1 in the Kent and Sussex Regional League.

Missirian scored his side's first three goals and further efforts followed from Steve Edmunds (two), Richard Love and Richard Baker in an impressive team performance.

The captain said: "After I scored our third it was clinical. When we give ourselves a bit of breathing space, teams start to come at us and we are able to exploit that space."

This Saturday Brighton visit second placed Tulse Hill in a crunch league clash. Missirian added: "I think Tulse Hill are the team to beat. They are on form, although so are we. It is a 'must win' game for us but we are as ready as possible for it. There is a positive atmosphere in the camp."

Leaders Holcombe were fortunate to escape with maximum points from their home game with Middleton and Bognor.

From 2-0 down, M&B fought back as Richard Sabin scored a tremendous solo goal from his own 25 and then Brian Lock grabbed an equaliser early in the second half.

M&B goalkeeper Stephen Tubb saved a penalty stroke but it was the Sussex side who looked the more likely winners when Holcombe scored a third towards the end.

Understrength Mid Sussex moved back up to sixth place with a 2-1 win at home to Folkestone.

Veterans' captain Gareth Thomas received a call-up as Mids were missing several players. They went 1-0 down midway through the first half but Duncan Wood-Allum levelled with a penalty flick after the turnaround and James Buckeridge scored a winner from a short corner ten minutes from time.

It was an eventful game for Mark Ansell as Horsham's up-and-down season continued with a 4-1 defeat at home to OId Williamsonians.

Ansell scored Horsham's goal but also missed a penalty flick and was later sent off. Richard Lowe also had a goal disallowed for Horsham, who lost Chris Perkins through injury and had to play the second half with ten men as they had no substitutes.

Chichester's goalscoring problems continued with Clive Dunn getting their lone strike as they lost 2-1 away to City of Portsmouth in the Southern Premier.

Chi coach Andy Barnes said: "We are just not putting the ball away. They are freezing in front of goal."