Joint manager Darren Freeman praised the resilience of his Whitehawk side after the league leaders ended their worst run of the season.

Hawks had won just once in six games since reaching the FA Vase semi-finals but they came from behind to beat East Grinstead 3-2 at East Brighton Park.

After a goalless first half Luke Piscina put the struggling visitors in front with a free-kick but goals from Jay Head and Scott Kirkwood made it 2-1 while Freeman had two goals disallowed and hit the bar.

Piscina scored his 15th goal of the season to make it 2-2 but substitute Marc Whiteman came off the bench to win it with ten minutes left.

Freeman said: “We have had a few injuries and although we have rotated the squad in recent weeks we have had a few tired legs with the all the games.

“We have played some good football and not got the reward in terms of goals but the boys have stuck at it and it was nice to get three on Saturday.”

Grinstead are bottom of the table again after swapping places with Mile Oak, who won 3-0 at Hassocks, although Freeman was impressed with the visitors.

He added: “East Grinstead played really well but we have seen all season that anyone in the division can give us a hard game and teams do raise their performance levels when they play us.”

Peacehaven stole a march on their rivals in the battle for second place, coming from behind to beat Redhill 3-1 thanks to late goals from Lee Newman and Tom Levitt after Tom Burton’s equaliser. Marcus Elliott had put the visitors in front.

Fading Chichester lost for the third successive game after second-half headers from Sam Cane and Tony Reid earned Crawley Down a 2-1 win at The Haven.

It was the ideal confidence boost for Down ahead of Wednesday’s Sussex RUR Cup semi-final against Peacehaven. Boss Darren Guirey said: “The pitch was horrendous in the second half so we had to battle but we deserved to win.”

Selsey boss Gary Block slammed referee Bobby Bell after he sent off defender Billy Chatfield for the second time this season during their 2-1 win at Ringmer.

Defender Chatfield and Ringmer frontman Ryan MacMillan both saw red after a scuffle, a decision Block called “scandalous.”

Block was so incensed he went on to the pitch to protest. He said: “It was a disgusting decision and I think it was personal but what can you do? At worst it was a yellow card because Billy was only doing what defenders should do and get himself in front of his opponent.”

Richard Brown and Joe Miles were on target for the visitors who have gone above Shoreham after the Musselmen were beaten by Sam Schaaf’s goal at home to Hailsham, a victory which ended their six-match winless run and lifted the Stringers four points clear of the relegation zone.

Pagham, beaten 3-2 at home by ten-man Lingfield, remain in the bottom three. Teddy Ansell and Brett Lovett put the visitors in charge and although Lee Bradshaw scored from the spot for the second game running Eddie Keboah restored the visitors’ two-goal cushion.

Lingfield striker Andy Dalhouse was sent off after tussle with Keiron Urquhart while Pagham, who got a second through Danny Towers, had five players booked.

Mile Oak gained a much-needed victory at Hassocks thanks to goals from Graham Martin (penalty), Clay Lamont and Nick Kerly.

Wick stayed fifth after a 3-2 home win over Eastbourne United thanks to strikes from George Gaskin, Clinton More and Luke Huggett.

Three Bridges became the first side to beat Crowborough since Dave Adams became player-manager of the Crows ten games ago.

Goals from George Hillier and Joel O’Hara helped Bridges come from behind to win 2-1 after Sam Carrington had fired the hosts in a 25th-minute lead.