Lewes 1 Horsham 0: Jimmy Quinn insists Lewes are not going up despite a vital derby win over Horsham.

Lee Newman's 23rd goal of the season kept the Rooks in the hunt for a third successive promotion.

With two of the three teams above them in division one south dropping points, Quinn's side moved back into third place with a game in hand on the top two.

Victory against Worthing tomorrow would move Lewes to within a point of second-placed Carshalton ahead of Saturday's visit to leaders Bognor.

Fans and players appeared to be in the mood for a promotion party after a scrappy encounter but Quinn does not believe his side will be playing Ryman League premier division football next season.

Quinn said: "I thought it was an awful game, the worst Horsham team I have seen. I thought we played better than them but we didn't play great.

"I suppose all that matters now is the result but it is not a good reflection on the league. I don't know what is happening with football but you don't see much good football now and I'm not quite sure why.

"The result was important but it was probably a little bit too late for us. We had to produce a good performance on Saturday (against Croydon Athletic) and we weren't good enough. This probably won't mean anything come the end of the season.

"Promotion? I don't think so. I don't think we are good enough and I have said it all season. I am surprised we are where we are and I genuinely mean that, although I haven't seen a good team in the league, so I suppose we do have a chance."

There was little to shout about on a bumpy pitch in the first half and Quinn's feelings were quite clear as he walked off to the dressing room five minutes before the interval.

Although the home side looked lively with Danny Davis breaking forward, Horsham's passing was crisper and they had the best chance of the half when Tony Chin's misplaced header fell for Gavin Geddes but his attempted lob almost cleared the new stand behind the goal.

Lewes were forced into a change just before half-time when defender Dave Soutar hobbled off with an ankle injury and Quinn's response was positive by throwing on young striker Ryan McBride.

The reward for this move came six minutes into the second half when Davis threaded a ball through for Newman whose scuffed shot had enough to beat a wrong-footed Ian Chatfield.

Chin and Ross Venables both had chances but it was a nervous final 20 minutes for the hosts as Horsham pushed for an equaliser.

Again Quinn responded by withdrawing the extra forward and throwing on former Albion defender John Crumplin, now a physio at the Dripping Pan, to close down the midfield.

Explaining his bold first half substitution, Quinn said: "I thought it was a shocking game and I would rather go down having a go. Players know that and I always ask them to be positive but for some reason they don't seem to be able to at times. We very rarely set out to stop the other team.

"It was a shocking game. My players were scared to play. I don't know why players are scared to express themselves now, particularly my players because I ask them to be positive. I don't ask them to be negative."

Horsham assistant-boss Ali Rennie felt his side should have got something out of the game.

He said: "We put them under a lot of pressure in the last 20 minutes but in all honesty neither keeper was really extended. I am not saying we deserved to win the match but I didn't think we deserved to lose."

Lewes will now have to patch up their side for tomorrow's game with Worthing. Striker Tony Reid is doubtful after missing this match with a toe injury, Soutar is almost certainly out and Lee Newman is one of a number of players who picked up knocks.

Quinn said: "We are chasing and we are running out of players as well. We were a bit short today of defensive players so we had to play a lot of attackers and now we have lost a couple more. We are just hoping we will have a strong enough team to compete in the last three games."

Lewes: Tanner, Soutar (McBride 37), Venables, Kennett, Chin, Cable, Curnow, Davis, Palmer, Newman (Crumplin 74), Wright (Harper 74). Subs not used: Pomroy, Green. Yellow cards: Palmer (time wasting 90).

Horsham: Chatfield, Ottley (Hardy 62), Castrechino, French, Kirby, Carney (Grant 86), Butcher, Westgate, Geddes (Flemming 54), Ball, Charman. Subs not used: Kenward. Yellow card: French (foul 61)

Referee: James Evamy (Liphook).

Attendance: 460.

Men-of-the-match: Chin (Lewes), Carney (Horsham).