Worthing kept alive their Ryman division one south play-off hopes with a 2-2 draw against Sussex rivals Eastbourne Town.

But they will be annoyed at not taking home all three points in a lively Easter Monday clash at the Saffrons.

After dominating most of the second half, they conceded a goal five minutes from time and plenty of work lies ahead if their promotion aim is to be fulfilled.

For Town it was another small step towards almost certain safety and they got off to a great start when Mark Goodwin took advantage of a slip by Stuart Axten in the fifth minute, turning the ball in from an angle on the right.

A mini brawl broke out in the 23rd minute when Liam Baitup was left writhing in agony following a heavy challenge from Dominic Douglas. Baitup hobbled off for treatment on a gashed shin and Douglas was relieved to receive a yellow card.

Worthing levelled in the 35th minute when Jamie Brotherton fired home from close range after the always dangerous Jerahl Hughes had turned the ball back from the right.

Worthing surged back looking for a second and Ben Andrews' header crashed against the bar from Ben Johnson's cross.

The visitors remained in charge for most of the second half and it was no real surprise when Brotherton put them ahead for the first time in the 68th minute, heading home Johnson's cross from the left.

But Town refused to lie down and thought they had equalised when Banks lost possession in the air following a corner from Goodwin. The ball clearly dropped over the goal-line but the referee judged the keeper had been fouled by Adam Davidson.

There was no disputing the equaliser five minutes from time, however. Substitute Simon Catt got through some tremendous work on the left before crossing for Goodwin to providing the finishing touch for his second goal, one that could have an important final bearing at both ends of the table.

Worthing joint manager Danny Bloor said: "If you don't kill off sides you don't win games.

"In the last two away games we have scored four goals and only picked up one point. That is a facet of having a young, inexperienced side.

"We are bitterly disappointed but have taken four points from six over the weekend so we can't be too unhappy."

A goal by player-manager Jamie Howell earned play-off hopefuls Burgess Hill a 1-0 win and put another nail in Horsham YM's coffin.

On a heavy surface that cut up quite badly both teams did as well as could be expected and certainly the struggling visitors can count themselves unlucky to go away empty-handed.

With veteran Daren Pearce pulling the strings in midfield, they looked a much better side than the one Hillians beat 2-0 at Gorings Mead on Boxing Day.

The hosts were under the cosh in the opening minutes but there was not much serious work for on-loan keeper Stuart Robinson, who later was lucky not to be punished for a dreadful miskick.

It was 20 minutes before the first touch of real quality came from home skipper Steve Harper, who beat three players before firing inches wide.

The game was evenly poised after a goalless first half but after the break Ollie Rowland missed a good chance to celebrate his Hillians debut with a goal after being played in by Harper.

The breakthrough finally came on the hour when the hosts claimed an instant return on a substituion just two minutes earlier. Neil Watts was brought on in midfield for striker Phil Elkins, with Howell pushing forward to partner Harper.

All three were involved as Watts' early ball released Harper, whose angled drive was parried by YM keeper Ken Westoby to leave Howell with a simple tap-in.

Harper had a couple of chances to make the game safe after that but YM also threatened an equaliser, with sub Pani Ortis heading one effort wide and was then denied only by a desperate goalline clearance by Stuart Tuck.