Boss Ian Chapman hailed super-sub Ryan McBride after his last-minute winner kept Whitehawk in pole position in the title race - and then told him he may be on the bench again for Wednesday's top-of-the-table clash with Eastbourne Town.

Top-scorer McBride was surprisingly left out of the starting line-up against third- placed Crowborough but Chapman's decision was justified as he pounced in injury time to head home a Lee Newman corner, his 28th goal of the season.

Fellow substitute Craig Bunch had put the Hawks ahead in the 37th minute, just two minutes after coming on, but Bobby Godfrey equalised in the 68th minute.

The victory kept Whitehawk two points clear of Eastbourne Town - who won 2-1 at Chichester - going into Wednesday's crucial clash at The Saffrons.

Chapman said: "Ryan has been fantastic for us this year and is the main reason why we are up at the top of the table.

"But he has had a long season and you cannot expect someone to play 50 games without a break so we had a chat before the match to explain why we were leaving him on the bench.

"We did it before against East Preston a few weeks ago and he changed the game when he came on and he's done it again. It was a fantastic header for the goal and couldn't have come at a better time.

"There are four games to go now and if we win all four then we will be champions. Wednesday's game is massively important and we'll be going all out to win it but I'm sure Eastbourne Town are thinking the same."

Eastbourne Town boss Ady Colwell believes Wednesday's clash will determine the destination of the title.

They kept the pressure on Whitehawk after beating Chichester with breakaway goals from Liam Baitup - his 42nd of the season - and Danny Simmonds. Joseph Briggs pulled one back in the 83rd minute to set up a nervous finish but Town held on to stay two points adrift with a game in hand.

Colwell said: "Wednesday's match is almost set up as a title-decider because the team that wins will be in a very advantageous position.

"It was not a flamboyant performance but at this stage of the season it doesn't matter how you get the points as long as you get them. Chichester had the lion's share of possession but we dug in."

Arundel are hoping to finish third after they beat Hailsham 2-0 at Mill Road.

Lee Barnard opened the scoring when he pounced after Matt Huckett's shot had been parried.

Huckett then combined with brother Mike to score his 31st of the season three minutes after the break.

Boss Vic Short said: "We're after third and we've got a chance now with Crowborough losing.

"It was a good result against a decent side. We're playing well at the moment."

Tom Ridley scored his 25th goal of the campaign as Selsey ended their home campaign with a 3-2 win over Ringmer.

Ridley produced a cool finish with three minutes remaining after earlier strikes from Scott Hinshelwood and Daren Pearce.

Ringmer seemed to have rescued a point when Aaron MacMillan equalised in the 83rd minute.

Selsey boss Danny Hinshelwood said: "We haven't won enough of those games that could have gone either way so it was pleasing and a nice way to finish our home games."

Tony Hibbert was Hassocks' match-winner at Sidley, converting a 15th-minute penalty he had won after he was pushed.

Robins' boss Dave John said: "It was pretty hard-fought and a draw would have been a fair result. Neither side created much but there was no argument about the penalty."

Ben Fillery was Three Bridges' hero with an 85th-minute winner in the 2-1 success at Shoreham.

There was no change at the wrong end of the table as the bottom five teams all drew.

Defender Chris Hazel scored a 90th-minute equaliser for Littlehampton at Eastbourne United after strikes from Simon Catt and Nathan Crabb had cancelled out Jay Lycett's early goal.

The games between East Preston and Rye and Oakwood and Worthing United, who are relegated, both finished goalless while Redhill drew 1-1 at Wick.