Worthing face their first major test of character of the season after crashing 3-0 at home to classy Whyteleafe yesterday.

Rebels suffered their third successive division one defeat and also lost defenders Danny Smith, to injury, and Simon James, to a red card just four minutes after half-time.

James, one of three home defenders to be booked, saw yellow for a second time for elbowing Stephen Vidal as they contested a high ball.

The dismissal roused Rebels from a lethergic first half display which saw them fall behind to ferocious left foot strike from Paul McKay on 34 minutes.

Damian Webber was particularly unlucky not to drag the hosts level four minutes after the sending off when his downward header from a corner was blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Danny Rose.

The loose ball dropped to Webber again and this time a full-blooded volley crashed off the crossbar, then the startled keeper, before rebounding behind.

For all their spirit, that was the closest Rebels came to a leveller and, after sacrificing defender Andrew Beech, they were twice caught out.

Both late goals centred around Daniel Nwanze and Stuart Tuck. Tuck's 81st minutre foul on the visiting striker allowed Gary Elliott to sweep a superb 25 yard free-kick into the top corner.

A minute later, a poor pass from Tuck gave Nwanze a free run on goal, where his half hit shot was blocked by James Wastell's foot but diverted into the net by Mark Knee as he attempted to clear.

It was a depressing afternoon for Rebels, whose main source of consolation will have been the efforts of rookie striker Gavin Jones in place of flu victim Marc Rice.

Jones was behind most of their best moments, but a tough afternoon was summed up two minutes into stoppage time, when he went round a defender and Rose and unselfishly pulled the ball back to strike partner Gavin Geddes, who blazed yards wide.

Lewes thrashed visitors Leatherhead 5-1 to remain unbeaten in division two.

They thoroughly deserved the lead given to them after 33 minutes when Sam Francis side stepped keeper Stewart Vaughn before blasting the ball past two defenders.

Rooks doubled their lead on the hour mark when a low cross by Francis was turned into his own net by James Blason.

Francis hit the post before Justin Harris rounded Vaughn for the third, though Phil Ruggles replied on 72 minutes.

Substitute Lee Newman finished well to add Lewes's fourth after good work on the left from Francis and, five minutes from time, Newman was brought down in the area and got up to convert the penalty himself to complete an excellent Lewes performance.

Horsham were held to a 1-1 draw at Molesey and again had lack of fire power to blame.

They took the lead after just five minutes. Luke Gedling's corner evaded two defenders at the near post and the ball fell nicely at the feet of Marcel Dennis, who stabbed home from two yards.

Stuart Hardy and Jason Lillis were just wide with headers and Lillis also had a volley narrowly off target.

Molesey managed to equalise in the 38 minutes when a speculative 25-yarder from Symon James squeezed inside Ian Chatfield's left post.

Combined Counties League: Withdean 0, Ash 1