CARETAKER boss Michael Birmingham praised the bravery of striker Dan Beck as Bognor beat Hayes and Yeading 3-0 at Nyewood Lane to climb out of the Conference south relegation zone for the first time this season.

Beck suffered a black eye in a challenge with Hayes goalkeeper Delroy Preddie as he headed Bognor's second goal ten minutes after the break. Chris Breach had given the Rocks the lead on the stroke of half-time and Mark Knee wrapped up the scoring in the 90th minute.

Birmingham said: "Dan was very brave and that shows the commitment of the players. We didn't play very well but the situation we are in I would rather play badly and have the three points."

Sam Gargan signed off his three-month loan spell at Worthing with a double as Molesey were dispatched 3-1 in Ryman division one south.

Gargan made it 13 for the season with a first-half opener and then a stunning long-range strike in the second half which wrapped up victory.

Worthing joint boss Danny Bloor said: "The only disappointment is I asked him to go and get a hat-trick!"

Ben Andrews and Danny Davis combined for Ben Johnson to make it 2-0, only for the struggling Molesey to pull one back on the stroke of half-time.

Burgess Hill boss Gary Croydon was left scratching his head after his side's losing run continued.

The Hillians went down 1-0 at home to Kingstonian with a second-half strike settling the issue.

The hosts created a number of chances, the best falling to Steve Harper. Croydon said: "That is three 1-0 defeats on the spin now. We are playing pretty well but if you don't score you don't deserve to win."

Eastbourne Town boss Ady Colwell is interested in signing Sean Ray.

Town, who have had only one division one south win all season, lost 1-0 at home against Whyteleafe with Jamie Brotherton, on loan from Worthing, notching a late winner.

Ray was released by Hastings last week and Colwell said: "I'd love to sign him. He could prove the difference in staving off relegation We need an experienced centre-half."

Horsham YMCA lost 3-0 in the top versus bottom clash at Tooting and Mitcham. Paul Vines put Tooting ahead in the seventh minute and Des Boateng scored twice.

Hastings were beaten by a late goal against struggling Leyton in the premier. An 88th-minute spot-kick, converted by Solomon Henry, condemned Hastings to only their third home league defeat in 12 months and second this season.