Steve Harper scored twice to get Burgess Hill back on the winning trail.

Harper took his tally to eight for the season with a brace in a 2-1 win at home to Met Police in Ryman division one south.

Delighted manager Gary Croydon said: “For a number of games we have been doing well attacking and not scoring and then looking vulnerable at the back because we are not scoring so I am delighted to get back to winning ways.

“The first half was a bit scrappy but we had all the chances that fell.”

Lloyd Cotton hit the crossbar in the first half before Harper broke the deadlock around the hour mark.

Met Police drew level when goalkeeper Joe Adams dropped the ball into his own net but Harper struck again ten minutes from time to seal the points.

Worthing dropped four points behind leaders Folkestone Invicta after a 3-1 defeat away to fifth-placed Croydon Athletic.

The Rebels had skipper Paul Kennett sent off for a second bookable offence in the second half but manager Simon Colbran had no complaints with his players.

He said: “We kept fighting and creating chances right to the end so all credit to the players. It was just one of those days when it didn’t happen.”

Colbran was upset with the hosts’ first goal when defender Glen Woodburn appeared to be flattened by a push and Croydon scored a second soon after.

Ben Williamson pulled one back on 69 minutes but the home side scored again when Worthing were pushing for an equaliser.

Horsham YMCA failed to heed the warning of boss Chris White as they went down 2-1 at home to fellow strugglers Chipstead.

YM looked like continuing their impressive run of form when Terry Dodd put them ahead from the penalty spot midway through the first half after Gavin Geddes had been brought down.

The visitors were then reduced to ten men but scored twice in the second half to seal the points.

White said: “Sometimes you can see it coming and we had warned the players that they could not afford to relax after such a good run.

“But we were flat right from the warm up and never really got going. I’ve praised the players a lot recently but they let themselves down on Saturday.”

YM’s misery was compounded by injuries to Drew Cooney and John Westcott in the first half which may rule them out for tomorrow’s clash with Burgess Hill.

Eastbourne Town plunged back into deep relegation trouble following a 3-0 defeat at Ramsgate.

Ady Colwell’s side were undone by a Gary Mickelborough brace and a strike by Tom Tsangarides although they had chances to make it a much tigher match.

Mickelborough gave the Rams a 33rd-minute lead but Town rallied after the break and looked threatening until Mickelborough struck his second on 58 minutes following keeper Andy Alban’s parry from a Sam Jones shot.

Tsangarides added the third on 74 minutes.