Chichester City and East Preston warmed up for the crunch top-of-the-table clash on Tuesday night with home victories.

Chi boss Adie Girdler was the happier of the two managers after two Scott Murfin goals earned his side a 2-1 victory over Three Bridges, who had earlier taken the lead through Scott Langridge.

Headers from Duncan Barnes and Josh Biggs secured East Preston their points in a 2-0 win over Pagham but boss Vic Short gave his players a rollicking at half-time and full-time after a below-par performance.

Girdler said: "Three Bridges are a strong side but we showed character to come back from a goal down and dug out the victory.

"All the boys are looking forward to Tuesday and are up for the match. However, we are not looking any further ahead than the next game."

Short said: "We were awful. I hope my boys will be up for it on Tuesday after this performance but with respect to Pagham, we are a young side and I think they raise themselves for the better opposition. They roll their sleeves up and know what has to be done."

Murfin's first goal was a superbly struck curler from the edge of the area while his second was a chip over the keeper with the aid of a deflection.

It now looks to be a two-horse race for honours after Eastbourne Town suffered their second successive home defeat.

An injury time goal from Kris Trevor earned ten-man East Grinstead Town a 1-0 win at the Saffrons, a result which pushed Grinstead back above Bridges into fifth place.

But the visitors had to play for the last 15 minutes with ten men after skipper Dave Gellatly was sent off for the second successive game for two bookable offences.

Eastbourne looked less of a threat when top scorer Yemi Odubade went off with an ankle injury and there were no complaints from boss Dave Winterton.

"It was our last throw of the dice and the bottom line is that we are just not good enough," he said.

"We know our limitations and it's up to me to try and improve the squad in the summer."

A bonus for Grinstead was a successful return for midfielder Matt Thorpe who has missed most of the season after having an ankle operation in November.

Rye and Iden lost further ground at the top after Hassocks grabbed a point in a goalless draw at a windy Salts. Robins keeper Joel Harding was in fine form to deny Rye, who hit the woodwork a couple of times too.

Harding had a good day, winning £60 on a Hassocks sweepstake for the first goalscorer.

Robins manager Dave John said: "They were on top but we defended very well in very difficult conditions. Joel did really well."

Arundel slipped up when they lost 1-0 to Ringmer in a hard-fought clash at the Caburn. A diving header by Jon Donoghue from a Matt Beeston cross secured the three points although Arundel had strong claims for an equaliser turned down after an effort was cleared from off the line.

Ringmer manager Paul Thomsett, who had to watch from the sidelines due to a foot injury, said: "It was a good win and one that we needed after our midweek defeat to East Preston."

Youth teamer Dave Mitchell made a dream debut for Whitehawk as they edged out Sidlesham 1-0.

Mitchell, one of seven under-18s in the Hawks' squad, came off the bench to score with his first touch seven minutes from time.

Phil Churchill rescued a point for Horsham YMCA at home to Sidley with a 90th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw.

Wes Tate and an own goal appeared to have won it for the visitors after Matt Duffield had put YM in the lead.

Selsey claimed a point in a goalless draw with Redhill at the High Street Ground.

The top three sides in division two all won to maintain the status quo at the summit.

Derek Chester grabbed a first-half brace for table-topping Littlehampton as they won 2-1 at Peacehaven.

Second-placed Eastbourne United were home winners over Broadbridge Heath after Steve Prodger opened the scoring with a 57th minute penalty and striker Scott McDonald wrapped it up in the 90th minute.

Westfield led 1-0 after 49 minutes following a Duncan Jones goal but third-placed Worthing United came back to win 3-1 with Steve Blake, Stuart Sale and Vaughan all on target.