Brighton kept their Kent/Sussex Regional League title challenge alive with a crucial 3-1 victory over Blackheath on Saturday and gave captain Carlo Missirian hope for the new year.

In their last league match before the Christmas break, a superb solo goal from Eygptian Mohamed Samak plus further strikes in the last seven minutes from Mohamed Nagey and Dickie Love made sure Missirian's men kept on on the heels of leaders Holcombe who beat Crawley 4-1.

Missirian said: "It was imperative we won this match. If we have any aspirations of winning the league we had to win this game.

"After losing to Holcombe our main aim was to be in touch going into the Christmas break and we are."

He added: "It is a tough league and there must also be pressure on the leaders. It is all coming down to the game with Holcombe on January 19.

"The commitment from the team has been outstanding and that is why we are in the position we are."

Crawley failed to de-rail the Holcombe express although the 4-1 scoreline possibly flattered the leaders a little as they scored twice in the closing minutes.

Holcombe were 2-0 up just after half-time, but Terry Higgs struck to pull Crawley back into the match before the late goals settled the issue.

Higgs admitted: "As much as I would like a Sussex side to win the title, I think Holcombe over the past couple of seasons probably deserve to win it. They are solid and have strength in depth."

Worthing captain Simon Holloway is hoping for a change of fortune in 2002 after suffering a 3-2 defeat against Horsham, who have their own ambitions for the new year.

Holloway said: "I cannot believe we lost the match. I thought we were going to be in for a really tough game but, with respect, they were nothing special and despite having 70 per cent of the play we did not convert our chances.

"We are just not getting the rub of the green at the moment and hopefully in the new year we can start getting some good results and maybe finish a bit higher than mid-table."

Horsham's Neil Burlinson admitted that Worthing had dominated at the start and finish of the game, but his own side's waywardness in front of goal was the crucial factor as they missed a host of chances.

Burlinson said: "We missed some absolute sitters and in the second half we sat back. Credit to Worthing though, they put us under a lot of pressure."

Mark Ansell and Richard Lowe fired Horsham into a 2-0 lead before David Edmundson reduced the arrears following a half-cleared short corner. Worthing then had James Godber sent off for an infringement and Horsham stretched their lead again when Lowe converted his seventh penalty flick of the season. In a thrilling finale, John Massie made it 3-2 and David Clayton had another strike ruled out as the luck deserted Holloway's men.

Mid Sussex had a good 1-1 draw at Gillingham Anchorians after taking the lead in the 15th minute through a well worked short corner goal from Andy Green.

Brian Leggatt produced a man of the match performance as stand-in keeper for Paul Harris who was red carded last week, but he could do nothing about the equaliser which deflected in off an opponent's foot.