Gary Brockwell scored a brace as Eastbourne Town consolidated their position in the third promotion place in Rich City County League division two.

While seven of the top nine sides were drawing, The Saffrons outfit beat Worthing United 2-0 to remain 15 points clear of the chasing pack.

Town only have four games remaining while their rivals have as many as 12 left, but Dave Winterton's side can do no more than win their matches.

Winterton's assistant Alan Walsh said: "The players have responded week in, week out. We have lost only one game in 18 and in that run we have had only three draws. It is a fantastic achievement when you consider the start we had."

Brockwell opened the scoring with a header six minutes before the break and he sealed victory with his 22nd of the season a minute from time after good work from Wes Tate and Yemi Odubade.

Round-up:

Leaders Shoreham had to settle for a 1-1 draw with sixth placed East Grinstead.

A late goal from Matt Thorpe was enough to earn Grinstead a point but manager Bob Smith felt his side deserved more.

Smith said: "I am disappointed we didn't take all three points. It was a tight game in terms of possession but in terms of chances we had four very good ones and they only had the one which they scored from."

Darren Annis put Shoreham ahead in the 66th minute but that was cancelled out by Thorpe's 88th minute screamer which soared into the top corner from 30 yards.

Smith, whose side are 19 points behind Eastbourne Town with seven games in hand, added: "The draw probably suits them more than it suits us. We really can't afford to lose another game because I can't see Eastbourne slipping up in their last four matches."

Grinstead are hoping to re-sign striker Ben Burns from Redhill before Saturday's derby away to Crawley Down.

A goal deep into stoppage time denied second-placed Rye and Iden United victory away to Broadbridge Heath.

Michael O'Callaghan scrambled home on 73 minutes to put Rye ahead but Paul Young levelled for Heath in the seventh minute of injury time with his 28th goal of the campaign.

Rye boss Alan Hodd said: "We didn't perform too well but we deserved to snatch it."

East Preston were the only other winners among the top ten. Goals from Lee Farrell (two), a Matt Huckett penalty and Simon Clayton led EP to a 4-2 success away to Oakwood.

The result leaves Vic Short's side 17 points behind Eastbourne with eight games in hand and it ended a run of draws for EP.

Short, who has re-signed Andy Appleton from Wick, said: "We needed that. We have just got to keep plodding along and hope we are still in there with five or six games to go."

Zak Newman and Chris Belgrave (penalty) netted for Oakwood.

Lancing boss Andy Gander conceded his side's promotion challenge was over following a 2-2 draw away to fourth-placed Seaford.

Gander said: "It was a reasonable performance by us but that is the end of our promotion push. We have left ourselves too much to do."

Player-boss Duncan Kneller put Seaford ahead early on. Goals from Ben Cullen and Neil Richardson turned things round in the second half but Simon Young's strike made it 2-2.

Crawley Down needed a late penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to second bottom Storrington. Dave King put the Swans ahead at half time and it needed a twice taken penalty from Nick Sullivan, after David Juniper had been brought down, to earn the hosts a point.

The matches between Shinewater and Mile Oak plus Wealden and Oving were postponed.

In the Combined Counties League, Dominic Shepherd and Roy Pook netted for Withdean 2000 in a 2-2 draw with Westfield.