SUSSEX’S Ryman premier play-off chasers both suffered frustrating defeats.

Hastings slumped to their third successive loss when they went down 1-0 at Tooting & Mitchham while Horsham suffered a 2-1 defeat at Aveley.

Hastings only roused themselves in the closing stages at Tooting where they had trailed to a 34th-minute strike from Simon Parker, who prodded home a Paul Vines cross.

Goalkeeper Greg Nessling made three outstanding saves in the second half, all of them to deny Vines, but Hastings offered little threat at the other end.

Horsham boss John Maggs had no complaints after his side’s seven-match unbeaten league run came to an end in Essex Mitch Hahn gave the hosts an early lead after a mistake by James Nicholls and although Pat Harding finished well on the half-hour to equalise the hosts won it when Martin Tuohy scored from close range after keeper Craig Bradshaw had parried an effort from Junior Dadson.

Maggs said: “The better side on the day won, they had a lot more about them after scoring their early goal. Aveley are as good a side as we have played but we have to put it behind us.

“We’ve got Wealdstone and Dartford coming up in the next two games and we have to get some good results because in this league you can quickly go from the play-offs to being one of the also rans.”

Bognor were guilty of “naivety” as they conceded two goals in the last eight minutes to draw 3-3 at home to Margate.

The Rocks had fallen behind to a James Duncan strike but fought back through Gary Norgate, Jason Prior and a Michael Birmingham penalty after Matt Wood had gone down in the area.

Bognor were denied only their third league win of the season though as Anthony Joseph and substitute Ben Clarke bagged late goals.

Assistant manager Jamie Howell said: “We got what we deserved. When you are 3-1 up with less than ten minutes to go you should be able to close a game out.

“I thought we had played well and were in control at 3-1 but naive defending cost us another two valuable points. Unfortunately that is what you get when you have got an inexperienced team.”