Eastbourne Town reckon their next three matches could hold the key to their chances of making an immediate return to the County League's top flight.

Town kept up the pressure on Division Two leaders Shoreham with a 5-0 home win over bottom of the table Bosham.

It followed their impressive midweek success against Rye & Iden United.

Now Town are on the road with trips to improving Westfield and high-flying Lancing and Crawley Down in the run-up to Christmas.

Assistant manager Alan Walsh said: "They are all going to be tough games, but if we can get positive results then I'm sure we are going to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

"Apart from losing to East Grinstead, November has been a good month for us but the promotion race is going to be very tight. Even Shoreham have dropped a few points in recent weeks although they are still in a good position."

Two goals from Gary Brockwell and one each by Ian Verow, Nick Barden and Stephen Bartholomew sentenced Bosham to their 12th league defeat of the season.

But Town's win was marred by a nasty head injury to Stefan Fuller who needed 14 stitches in his forehead after a clash of heads with Bartholomew.

Of the top six only Rye won. They strengthened their challenge with a 3-0 win over Oakwood thanks to goals from Shaun Loft, Simon Colbran and Brian Ray's 12th of the season.

Westfield, who have games in hand, could make a promotion push of their own. They ended East Grinstead's six-match winning run with a 2-0 success at the Parish Field thanks to goals from Duncan Jones and Mark Drinkwater.

Grinstead were without top scorer Ben Burns who completed a move to Redhill last Friday.

East Preston were held to a 2-2 draw at home by inconsistent Mile Oak despite Matt Huckett's 23rd goal of the season while Crawley Down faltered again when they suffered a second successive home defeat, 2-1 against Shinewater.

Storrington are now seven points adrift in the bottom two after losing 2-1 at home to fellow strugglers Oving. Graham King gave the Swans a sixth minute lead, but the Vikings pillaged all three points thanks to Craig Williams' penalty and a 78th minute winner from defender Dave Ward.

Seaford's improvement under new boss Duncan Kneller continued with a 3-0 victory at Worthing United. Goals from Luke Facer, his second in two games, Steve Lambert and Simon Halsey earned them a second successive away win.

Another new manager in celebratory mood was Wealden's Gary Allen. His first game in charge ended in a 3-0 win over Broadbridge Heath although all the goals came in the last ten minutes from Lee Sale, Andy Payne and Darren Brown.

Withdean 2000 eased to a 5-0 win over rock bottom Reading Town in the Combined Counties League. Roy Pook opened the scoring and further goals followed from Clay Lamont, Phil Simpson, Nick Loversidge and Carl Southwell.