Eastbourne Town secured their Ryman League place for a second season after a battling 3-2 win at Chipstead.

Ben Putland levelled a minute after Chips had taken a sixth-minute lead before Liam Baitup made it 2-1 with his 21st goal of the season.

The hosts equalised after the break before John Piercy fired in a superb 25-yard shot to clinch victory for Town.

Boss Ady Colwell said: "To secure safety with six games left is an excellent achievement, especially as a lot of people tipped us for relegation.

"I felt we were capable of winning up there and the boys had a celebration afterwards which they thoroughly deserved."

Play-off outsiders Burgess Hill drew their game at in-form Whitstable 1-1 but assistant manager Colin Hunwick felt they should have returned with a victory.

Shaheen Sadough put Hillians ahead after 16 minutes but Dan Wisker levelled on 56 minutes.

Sadough and Steve Harper both squandered chances to restore the Hillians' lead and Hunwick admitted: "At the start of the season we said a point away from home is acceptable but we were disappointed as we could have taken all three.

"We have a tough run-in now with Dover, Tooting and Mitcham and Cray all coming up. We have been getting wins where we don't expect them and we feel confident we can pick up results along the way and will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season."

Horsham YMCA boss John Suter praised the efforts of his side as they crashed to their worst home defeat of his long reign.

YM were rocked by the departure of goalkeeper Alan Mansfield to neighbours Horsham prior to the game and late replacement Dane Palmer then suffered an injury as Sittingbourne ran out 5-0 winners.

The visitors were already leading 1-0 through a Bradley Spice goal when YM full-back Phil Fitzgerald was sent off just before half-time but the home side refused to throw in the towel. Ryan Johnson doubled the advantage in the 65th minute and two goals from Hicham Akhazzan and a Colin Richmond strike in the final 13 minutes completed the scoring.

Suter said: "We were the better side in the first half but we didn't score and once Fitzy had been sent off it was always going to be a battle. We also picked up three injuries in the second half but kept fighting and the scoreline was incredibly harsh."