Sussex sides made their mark on the opening day in Division One South with Lewes, Worthing and Bognor all enjoying excellent wins.

Pride of place went to Lewes who defeated title favourites Carshalton 3-1 at the Dripping Pan even though Luke Gedling had to play up front for the first time in his career alongside Graham Nash for the injury-hit Rooks.

Gedling gave Rooks an eighth-minute lead when his shot was deflected past goalkeeper Paul Borg by Gary Elliott and Andy Driscoll hit the post. Their task was made easier by Carshalton's second-half indiscipline which saw Tom Williams and Byron Glasgow sent off in the space of three minutes just before the hour mark for second bookable offences.

Wingbacks Graham Harper and John Palmer made the game safe with well-taken goals in the last 12 minutes either side of a consolation strike from the visitors' John Hampsher who converted a penalty after Paul Thomsett had brought down substitute Scott Todd.

Lewes boss Jimmy Quinn said: "It was a fantastic start. Carshalton are favourites to win the league and rightly so. To get three points was a big bonus.

"I think we have shown the rest of the league that coming to Lewes to try and get a result won't be easy."

Rooks go to Whyteleafe tomorrow night (7.45pm).

Bognor overcame major injury problems to begin their campaign with a 2-0 win over Windsor and Eton.

Rocks were without seven players, including three forwards, and to compound their problems Jon Tucker and Matt Edwards, their only other recognised striker, had to go off with ankle injuries.

Boss Jack Pearce borrowed Phil Barnett from Havant and Waterlooville and could only name three substitutes, one of whom, Richard Hudson, wasn't fit.

But the visitors overcame their troubles to secure a comfortable win. A curling free-kick by David Birmingham put them in front after 20 minutes and rightback Chris Hall, an 18-year-old thrown up front as a second-half substitute, sealed victory late on with a header on his debut.

Pearce spent most of yesterday trying to secure some short-term reinforcements for tomorrow's home game against Chertsey Town (7.45pm).

He said: "Considering all the injury problems I was delighted to get three points.

"Now I've got to sign one or two players as cover."