Rye United warmed up for their win-or-bust clash with leaders Crawley Down tonight in the best possible fashion as they thumped Three Bridges 4-0.

Scott Ramsay and Liam Upton both scored twice to keep alive Rye’s hopes of reeling in Down and all but kill off Bridges’ fading chances at the same time.

The Anvils remain 13 points clear of their only realistic challengers for the title after winning 2-0 at home against Chichester but they have played two games more and defeat at The Salts tonight would give Rye fresh hope.

Rye boss Scott Price said: “It’s a massive game for us tonight but if we play as well as we did on Saturday then I think we will win. We completely outplayed Three Bridges and could have scored a lot more.

“We dominated from the first minute and their goalkeeper (Simon Lockwood) should have been sent off when it was still 0-0 after bringing down Scott Ramsay.

“It was a good response after losing to Redhill last Thursday. It’s a must-win game tonight but we know we have got to win every game from now on to stand any realistic chance of catching Crawley Down.”

Ramsay gave Rye the lead just before the break with a header and doubled the advantage in similar fashion ten minutes after the restart. Upton completed the rout, including a stunning 30-yard strike.

Anvils boss Darren Guirey admits his side will need to play much better at The Salts tonight after a weakened team made hard work of finishing off Chichester.

Tom Burton gave Down an early lead but they had to wait until ten minutes from time until Burton’s second finally sealed the points.

Guirey said: “We weren’t at our best but the only thing that matters at this stage of the season is results. We had three or four chances to finish the game off but failed to take them and at 1-0 you are always vulnerable.

“We’ll have to play a lot better tonight but I think the boys know that. It will be tough but as long as we can get something out of the game we will be in a great position.”

Hassocks remain third after Spencer Slaughter scored twice as they came from behind to beat Redhill 2-1 while Scott Murfin also bagged a brace but missed a penalty to complete his hat-trick as Pagham won 3-2 at Hailsham to stay fourth.

St Francis Rangers boosted their survival chances as they recorded back-to-back league wins for the first time this season, Peter Martin scoring the only goal at home to Ringmer.

Rangers are now five points adrift of fourth-bottom Lingfield, who went down 3-2 at home to Selsey, and just two points behind Shoreham who crashed 4-0 at Crowborough where Wayne Clarke hit two.

Eastbourne United remain rooted to the bottom of the table after losing 4-1 at East Grinstead but earned praise from Wasps boss Tony Beckingham.

He said: “I thought they were terrific. When you are 4-1 down and bottom of the league it would have been easy to fold but they kept going for the whole 90 minutes and are definitely not the worst side we have played this season.”

Peter Cooper, Ashley Alexander, Marc Pelling and Rikki Cable scored for the Wasps.

Michael Frangou netted as Wick eased any relegation worries with a 1-1 draw at home to Peacehaven while Terry Paine scored a late equaliser for Sidley in a 1-1 draw at home against Arundel.

Much more non-league in The Argus today.