Ollie Rowland was the only hat-trick man in the top flight as Whitehawk turned on the style.

The young goalgetter helped Hawks thrash Hassocks 7-0 with Karim Djelassi also grabbing two.

The main action at the top of the table took place at Arundel, where a Sam Wincell double helped the Mullets defeat Ringmer 3-2.

That result knocked Blues off the top, replaced by Pagham, for whom a scorching Paul Morby volley and Kevin Dewey's composed finish clinched a 2-0 defeat of Littlehampton.

Pagham boss Richie Reynolds is not geting excited He said: "Being top this early does not mean a great deal. We were there for most of last season.

"We should have taken maximum points so far but we will only get better."

Burgess Hill continue to look ominous. Strikes from Dean Venton, Paul Williams and Ashley Carr helped them make it four wins out of four as they played some attractive stuff to beat Three Bridges 3-0.

Winless Sidlesham were three-up on neighbours Selsey, for whom goals in the last five minutes by Barry Rishman and Ian Ford helped salvage a 3-3 draw.

Sidlesham had Dave Towers sent-off for retaliation but took credit for a spirited display.

Selsey boss Danny Hinshelwood admitted: "I am disappointed with how we defended and the chances we missed but the team showed character to come back."

Paul Balch hit the clincher for Sidley at home to Peacehaven, big Matt Kelly was Redhill's matchwinner at Horsham YMCA and Tony Holden struck twice in Southwick's impressive success at Hailsham.

Newly promoted Wickers are finding their feet in the top flight and boss Bob Hitchock said: "I am proud of the boys."

Second division leaders East Preston enjoyed a 5-0 victory at Oving with Chris Jack netting twice.

Rye's win at Seaford takes them second after Oakwood and Crawley Down drew.

Division one: Arundel 3 (Wincell 50, 79, Tucker 68), Ringmer 2 (Randell 55, Lopez 60); Burgess Hill 3 (Venton 9, P. Williams 20, Carr 85), Three Bridges 0; Hailsham 1 (D. Jones 50), Southwick 3 (Dineen 15, Holden 10, 56), Horsham YMCA 1 (Francis 60), Redhill 2 (S. Stone 6, Kelly 65); Pagham 2 (Morby 31, Dewey 60), Littlehampton 0; Sidlesham 3 (Evans 11, Barnes pen 21, Mandry 37), Selsey 3 (Reed 57, Rishman 86, Ford 90); Sidley 2 (Baker pen 47, Balch 55), Peacehaven 1 (Gilmour 70); Whitehawk 7 (Rowland 11, 19, 51, Christison73, Byrne 70, Djelassi 80, 85), Hassocks 0.

Division two: Mile Oak 0, Lancing 1 (Cole 85), Oakwood 0, Crawley Down 0; Oving 0, East Preston 5 (Cumber 5, Jack 33, 77, Smith 37, Huckett 57); Seaford 2 (Loughton 16, Knight 90), Rye & Iden 5 (Adams 15, colbran 59, Warnes 82, 85, Ray 89); Shinewater 0, Westfield 0; Shoreham 1 (O'Donnell 80), Eastbourne Town 0; Storrington 2 (Tewsley 32, Norris 47), Bosham 0; Wealden 3 (D. Brown 52, 70, Sale 56), East Grinstead 4 (Thorpe 14, Hilton 63, 83, Burns 87); Worthing Utd 1 (Rapps 16), Broadbridge Heath 0.

Division three: Ansty 0, Upper Beeding 2 (Barber 2, Barry 74); Bexhill 1 (sparks 34), Uckfield 2 (Davis 1, Carter 20); Crowborough 3 (Simpson 61, Lattimer 74, 85), St Francis 1 (mcKay 60); Forest 2 (Bonnyman 12, Tasker 60), TSC 0; Franklands 2 (Honeysett 83, 90), Hurtspierpoint 0; Newhaven 1 (Clancy 36), Haywards Heath 1 (A. Turner pen 52); Pease Pottage 4 (Otway 21, Powis 39, 86, A. West 77), Lingfield 1 (Lemaire 89); Steyning 1 (Garman 63), Ifield 1 (Scott 13).