Southwick new boy Damian Webber was controversially sent off on a day of eye-catching results at the top of the County League.

Wickers crashed 4-0 at home to East Preston and leaders Burgess Hill went down 1-0 at Chichester.

Whitehawk and Pagham failed to take full advantage of their rivals' slip-ups as they shared a 1-1 draw.

Southwick must now re-group for tomorrow's eagerly-awaited derby with Shoreham.

Webber went in the first half of his debut with his side already 2-0 down.

Wickers boss Sammy Donnelly said: "East Preston deserved their win. They chased everything but I had key players missing."

Webber was sent off for an alleged head butt but Donnelly said: "We will appeal."

David Walker opened the scoring after Lee Bray had gifted him possession with a poor clearance.

Duncan Barnes headed home a free-kick for the second and, playing against ten men, EP rubbed it in with goals from Matt Huckett and Worthing old boy Josh Biggs.

Wickers were down to nine by the end as Neil Winter limped off.

Matt Smith struck the winner against Burgess Hill as pre-game planning paid off for Chichester.

Boss Adie Girdler urged his men to close down Hillians as they looked to play the ball out from the back. He said: "We hunted them down in packs."

Hillians had several corners as they looked to equalise but the better chances went to Chi, with Pat Gannon forced into some decent saves.

A freak bounce off the East Brighton Park pitch helped Whitehawk to their 1-1 draw against Pagham.

Jimmy Hassler headed the Lions into a deserved half-time lead.

Terry Cooper dragged Hawks level after the ball bounced away from the visiting goalkeeper.

Chris Dicker was Shoreham's four-goal hero in midweek but he missed a first-half penalty at Arundel on Saturday and it proved costly.

Dicker's spot-kick clipped the post and the Mullets responded with a fine second half showing to win 3-1.

Barry Pidgeon blasted the first from a corner, Gary Norgate cut inside to shoot the second and Danny McLaughlin's deflected shot clinched it before Darren Annis replied.

Struggling Wick kept Hassocks out until half-time but were hammered 5-0 after the break.

Graham Beveridge made the breakthrough before Micky Turner set up goals for Pat Harding and Matt Simpson.

Defender Anthony Hibbert went forward at a corner for his second goal in eight days before Robbie Kitchen laid on the fifth for Harding.

Hailsham grabbed a precious 2-1 win from fellow strugglers Littlehampton, Matt Smith and Scott French putting them in charge before Paul Curtis hit back late on.

Ringmer and Redhill finished goalless at the Caburn, thanks largely to some super goalkeeping from the visitors' Kirk Ritchie.