Lewes kissed goodbye to the play-offs after being held to their fourth successive draw, this time 1-1 away to Bognor.

Steven King's side appeared to be making a late challenge for promotion with three successive victories at the start of March.

Yesterday's derby draw extended their unbeaten run in Conference south to 12 games but seven draws in that sequence has left them eight points off the top five with only three games to play.

Few could argue with this latest stalemate. Lewes should have had the game wrapped up by half-time but their failure to take advantage of the chances created allowed Bognor back into the game.

The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute when a free-kick from Simon Wormull was headed back across goal by Paul Booth and turned home at the far post by youngster Chris Greatwich, who was making his first senior start.

Booth was then denied by the woodwork when he curled a free-kick around the wall and against the outside of the far post.

Bognor repsonded with Luke Nightingale going close but Lewes had another chance when Booth crossed and Jean-Michel Sigere was just unable to make contact from close range.

It was a different story after the interval. Early on, a Ben Watson effort was spilt by goalkeeper Steve Williams who did well to claim at the second attempt under pressure from Michael Birmingham.

There was nothing the keeper could do to prevent Albion youngster Scott Chamberlain equalising for the Rocks in the 52nd minute as he side-footed home a cut-back from Nightingale.

Minutes later Watson combined with Ben Johnson, who drove forward before rasping an effort into the side-netting.

Bognor came close to taking the lead just before the hour when Watson turned Johnson's free-kick goalwards but Ian Simpemba cleared off the line.