Manager Steven King refused to get carried away after Lewes returned to the top of the table on a pivotal day for the title race.

Goals from Steve Robinson, Matt Groves and Andy Drury saw the resurgent Rooks go one point above Eastbourne Borough with a game in hand.

With injuries and suspensions piling up at Priory Lane, Lewes are now firm favourites to clinch the one automatic promotion place but King insists there could be plenty of twists and turns still remaining before the silverware is handed over.

The Lewes manager only has to point to what has happened over the last month to remind his players of the pitfalls that could still be around the corner.

Rooks looked to be in the driving seat until a run of just one point from three games handed the initiative to Borough who have since handed it straight back with a similar return from their last three matches.

King said: "It might be a cliche but we can only take each game as it comes.

Pressures "We were four points in front before and were pegged back and Borough were four points in front and we pegged them back so we can't afford to relax.

"I still think it is going to go down to the wire. I know they have got a lot of injury problems but we have been there and got over it so now it is down to them to do the same.

"Being top brings its own pressures. Everybody wants to beat the leaders and players tend to raise their games against you so it is not going to be easy.

"We've both got tough run-ins but what is in our favour is that we've got our players back from injury and are playing the way we were a few months ago."

The Rooks line-up included two former Cambridge favourites - prolific scorer Paul Booth and substitute Dale Binns.

In blustery conditions, both sides struggled in the opening 15 minutes to create any clear-cut openings.

The home side looked the livelier with leading scorer Michael Gash and then Ashley Fuller forcing visiting keeper Michael Jordan into action.

City felt unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after 18 minutes when Gash looked to have been fouled by Ian Simpemba but the referee waved away protests from the home side.

The game sprung to life after 27 minutes when Lewes won a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Paul Booth's shot looked comfortable for City keeper Ashley Timms but he spilled what should have been a routine catch for Robinson to bundle the ball home.

Cambridge drew level on the half-hour mark when Josh Simpson found space on the right hand side and his long-range shot struck Robinson and deflected past Jordan.

Lewes restored their lead on 34 minutes with Timms again at fault after he charged out to deal with a forward ball only to slip. He regained his balance to save well from Holloway only for Groves to fire in the rebound.

The home side could have drawn level after the break when Dave Theobald met a cross from Stephen Smith but his effort sailed high over the Lewes bar.

Indecision between Theobald and Timms almost let in Booth but his effort fell to Groves, whose shot was cleared off the line by Chaffey.

Lewes added their third goal in the 59th minute when Booth's shot was well saved by the outstretched hand of Timms but Drury gleefully slotted home the rebound.

Binns came on late in th egame to relace Simon Wormull who suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury.

Cambridge City: Timms, Bruce, Radcliffe, Chaffey, Theobald, Smith (sub E'Beyer 88), Hamiver, Simpson, Gash, Roberts, Fuller (sub Neilson 69). Subs not used: Mountford, Deane.

Lewes: Jordan, Hamilton, Barness, Wormull (Binns 89), Robinson, Simpemba, Drury, Holloway, Groves, Booth, Cade. Subs not used: Legge, Beveney, Sigere, Barr.

Attendance: 384.

Referee: Adrian Sannerude (Lowestoft).