Gary Croydon hailed the unsung heroes who cleared the Leylands Park pitch of snow before his side's 2-1 home win over battling Hailsham.

A team of 25 volunteers made sure the ground was playable and they were rewarded with two Phil Churchill goals as Hillians moved 13 points clear at the top of division one.

Boss Croydon said: "We got a good crowd and the pitch held up well.

"We have hardly got any league games in January so we thought 'let's get this one on' and the supporters were tremendous."

Churchill opened the scoring after great work from Clinton Moore, signed from Crawley on Friday.

A penalty won and converted by Churchill gave the hosts extra breathing space.

But Hailsham competed well and a Scott French strike seven minutes from time set up a nervous finale.

Wick boss Carl Stabler also had some forward planning to thank as his side grabbed an impressive 3-2 success at Selsey, who could have gone second.

Stabler adopted a 5-4-1 formation to cope with Danny Hinshelwood's in-form side and told tricky Gareth Green to get forward in support of lone hitman Adie Miles whenever possible.

Green caused problems all afternoon and opened the scoring after good interplay between Gary Young and Richie Phillips.

Young was involved in all three Wick goals. His corners were headed home by Miles and Brett Court, either side of a super Barry Rishman strike for the hosts.

Kevin Dewey poked in Selsey's late second but Stabler said: "I was delighted. It would be hard to pick anyone out from that display."

Selsey boss Hinshelwood admitted: "We need to be more consistent."

Three spectacular goals lit up Littlehampton's welcome 4-1 home win over Eastbourne United. Steve Davies cut in from the touchline and beat three men to slot from 18 yards, then Shaheen Sadough unleashed a fierce drive from a tight angle.

Davies converted a disputed penalty awarded for a foul on Grant Vanson before Vanson added the best of the lot with a 35-yard chip on the run.

Marigolds boss and former goal poacher Andy Taylor joked: "They were great goals but we need to start scoring the scrappy ones now.

"We really needed the win and we played well in spells. I thought United had some good running and movement but they did not turn it into too many chances."

United were given hope after half-time when Ollie Walton made it 3-1 following an initial save from Duncan Green.

Glenn Barlow also had a contender for goal of the day with his chip from an acute angle to send Redhill on the way to a 5-0 home win over Saltdean.

Barlow completed a hat-trick with new signing Paul Smith and an own goal completing the tally.

Leighton Allen's header from a corner gave Peacehaven a 1-0 derby win at Whitehawk.

It was a battling display from the visitors. Assistant boss Micky Maskell admitted: "It was a slog but they did not trouble us too much."

Games at Arundel, Chichester, Horsham YMCA, Pagham and Sidley were victims of the wintry weather.