Eastbourne United boss Brian Dennis refused to criticise his players after they blew the chance to go back to the top of the table following a 2-1 home defeat to Lingfield.

Danny Gillard gave the visitors an early lead from a free-kick and Steve Agoula doubled the advantage midway through the first half before Ben Billings pulled one back with five minutes to go.

Dennis said: “We were poor in the first half but in the second half it was all us and we had enough chances to win the game.

“We hit the post four times and had three cleared off the line but it was just one of those days it was not going to happen for us.

“Luckily other results have gone for us and I am starting to think maybe someone up stairs is looking after us. It is still in our own hands but we need to bounce back.”

Redhill boss John Crumplin believes the title is heading to the Oval after seeing his side score three second-half goals to dent Wick’s title challenge.

Crumplin, whose team have also beaten Eastbourne in recent weeks, said: “I think Eastbourne will win it and Arundel still have a slight chance. I told (Wick boss) Carl Stabler that I will do him a favour by taking three points off Eastbourne when we play them at the end of the season.”

Tony Reid (two) and Andrew Dalhouse were on target for Reds.

“It’s frustrating because we have wiped the floor with a lot of big clubs this season but our own chances of winning it are very slight – we’ve probably left it too late.”

Horsham YMCA revived their title hopes as two goals from Tom Manton and a beauty from James Rhodes earned them a 3-0 home win over Shoreham.

Boss Chris White said: “It is all down to whoever holds their nerve now. We had a shocking March but are still in contention so if we can push on in April we will be right there.

“It is all to play for and hopefully we’ve got our blip out of the way.

“We dominated from start to finish on Saturday and Shoreham couldn’t have complained if it had been five or six.”

Three Bridges kept their flickering hopes alive with a comfortable 3-0 win at Hassocks thanks to goals from Marlon Maxwell, George Hillier and Jamie O’Hara.

But Arundel seem to be running out of steam after they were pegged back to a 1-1 draw at East Grinstead.

Howard Neighbour breached the offside trap to fire Mullets in front but veteran striker Simon Funnell scored his tenth goal of the season to rescue a precious point for Wasps, who remain three points clear of the bottom three.

Grinstead’s assistant manager Paul Thomsett said: “It was a great finish by Simon.

“I’m happy with a point against a good side but I felt we deserved all three.”

East Preston ended a run of six straight defeats to win 4-0 at fellow strugglers Oakwood and improve their chances of staying up.

Kevin Budge, Charlie Oatway and Jay Huet were all on target while Terry Dodd struck from the spot as EP leapfrogged Oakwood.

Worthing United remain rooted to the bottom after they were sunk by a solitary goal from Kieran Patel at Ringmer.

Goals from Danny Pilham, Calum Britton and Ross Woolf earned Selsey a 3-1 home win over Hailsham who had taken the lead through Scott MacDonald.

Ben Vassallo scored his 23rd goal of the season as Chichester came from behind to draw 1-1 against Whitehawk.

Sam Jeremiah and Phil Gault, with a penalty, earned St Francis Rangers a point after two first-half goals from Rob Wimble had put Pagham in front.