Brighton's title hopes were effectively ended after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Worthing in the Kent and Sussex Regional League.

With two games remaining, Holcombe are now three points clear at the top with a superior goal difference.

The only hope for Brighton is that they win their two remaining games while Holcombe lose at least one of theirs, conceding a number of goals in the process.

Considering Holcombe have yet to lose this season, it looks like the championship is on its way to Kent.

While Brighton were disappointed, a point was helpful to Worthing in their fight against relegation.

The number of teams going down is still unclear but Worthing have now opened up a four point gap on the bottom four, two of whom have a game in hand.

Brighton skipper Carlo Missirian said: "We must try to win the next two games and hope Holcombe slip up. We all know that is unlikely, though.

"If we were going to lose a point to anyone we are pleased it is to a team like Worthing."

Worthing skipper Simon Holloway said: "Brighton needed the points to keep the pressure on Holcombe and we needed the points to keep out of the relegation battle.

"We felt we could have come away with all three points."

Paul Daniels put Brighton ahead at half-time and Worthing were grateful to goalkeeper Danny Godsmark for a number of fine saves, notably a wonderful stop to deny Missirian.

The Brighton skipper was one of four players sin-binned, although the number of yellow cards did not really reflect the nature of the game.

Worthing hit back in the second half with a number of short corners and Matt Ansell converted one of them with a straight strike.

Holloway had a couple of chances and team-mate John Massie failed to convert in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper.

The game finished in controversy when a late goal from Daniels was wiped out but a draw seemed a fair result.

Holloway said: "We were very pleased with the result. In the second half of the season we have taken seven points against the top four sides but we have lost to the bottom two sides."

Brighton finish their season with games against Ashford and Folkestone while Worthing still have Folkestone and Horsham to play.

Mid Sussex are far from safe after a 4-3 defeat at home to Folkestone left them rooted in the bottom three.

It appears as many as three teams could go down and Mid Sussex still have time to pull themselves clear of trouble.

Mids' Phil Middleton said: "We have three big games left, all of which are winable."

After falling behind in the first half, it was Middleton who drew Mids level from a short corner. Folkestone immediately regained the lead but Duncan Wood-Allum equalised from a clever deflection from a short corner.

The visitors then went 3-2 ahead and they added a fourth with ten minutes to go. Wood-Allum reduced the deficit with a penalty flick right at the end but it was not enough.

Crawley remain bottom but they are not going down without a fight. A 2-1 win at home to Old Williamsonians stretched their unbeaten run to five games.

They are now just a point behind both Old Williamsonians and Mid Sussex but survival looks a tall order with games to come against fourth placed Herne Bay and champions-elect Holcombe.

Trailing at half time, Crawley drew level in the second half when Steve Curd and Anthony Basher combined to set up fellow South African Pete Waller who smashed the ball home from 12 yards.

The winner came midway through the second half when Crawley won a short corner.

The ball came out to Keith Frimley who fed Jamie Westwood and he glanced it over the despairing dive of the goalkeeper.

Horsham appeared well below par as they crashed to a 3-0 defeat away to Gillingham Anchorians.

It leaves Horsham bottom of the form league in matches played since Christmas.