Danny Bloor has challenged his Worthing players to bounce back from a disappointing defeat by beating the league leaders.

The Rebels went down 2-0 to AFC Wimbledon in front of a crowd of 2,253 at the Gladwish Stadium on Saturday.

It was their second successive league defeat following last week's 2-1 reverse away to Ryman premier strugglers Windsor and Eton.

Now joint-boss Bloor wants to see a response away to leaders Braintree Town next Saturday.

Bloor said: "I am bitterly disappointed, not for just for the fact we lost but with the manner of the performance.

"We weren't unlucky, we just didn't perform.

"But as I said before the game, it is only three points. We are still in there and there will be plenty of twists and turns between now and the end of the season.

"We have got Braintree next Saturday and what better way to bounce back."

The Rebels remain in a play-off place but they were the only side in the top ten to lose and the chasing pack, which includes the Dons, have closed the gap.

The damage was done with two goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half on Saturday.

First, defender Anthony Howard met Wes Daly's free-kick on the first with a smart finish from 15 yards to make it 1-0 just after half-time.

Then Richard Butler scored a second on 57 minutes with a confident finish past Chuck Martini.

Ben Andrews fired a free-kick over the bar as Worthing tried to respond but the visitors were good value for their victory.

In division one, Carl Rook scored twice on his debut as leaders Horsham beat bottom side Newport IoW 2-1 at Queen Street.

Rook's sparkling debut following his arrival from Dover was the highlight of the day for the Hornets.

Manager John Maggs said: "We completely dominated the first 45 minutes and the new boy produced two excellent finishes. Newport pulled a goal back just before half-time and we struggled in the second half. The goal gave them a lift, they worked really hard and made it difficult for us.

"I will take the three points. That is what it is all about at this stage of the season. People will say we should have won more comfortably but that is not always the case."

Hastings United made it ten points from 12 since Christmas with a 2-0 win away to Cray Wanderers.

Both the goals came in the second half with Sean Ray opening the scoring from a set-piece which he rifled into the roof of the net.

Substitute Danny Ellis marked his return following a long lay-off due to a hernia operation with the second to wrap up victory.

Joint boss Pat Brown said: "Cray had played four games in eight days so we upped the tempo in the second half and we knew the win would come.

"It also helps confidence as that is four clean sheets in a row now."

Burgess Hill were left fuming about a penalty that was not given as they went down 3-2 away to Kingstonian.

With the Hillians chasing the game, a home defender appeared to handle on the goalline but, having at first put his whistle to his mouth, the referee then waved play on.

It was harsh on Hillians but manager Gary Croydon did not have too many complaints with the result after some poor errors handed Kingstonian each of their goals.

Hillians twice led, first through a penalty by Luke Gedling, then through a superb goal by 17-year-old Ashley Jarvis, who is on work experience from Albion, after being set up by 36-year-old Ashley Carr.

But a flap by goalkeeper Pat Gannon gave Kingstonian their first equaliser, some sloppy defending accounted for the second and more indecision from Gannon resulted in the hosts' third goal.

Croydon said: "The most we would have deserved would have been a point. We were under siege in the second half and the winning goal was coming."