New Saltdean joint boss Steve Bean saluted his battling Tigers as they recovered from two goals down to claim their first league win since October.

Saltdean looked dead and buried when two down at the interval against Rich City County League basement side East Preston. But a brilliant second-half performance, full of fight, was rewarded with three precious points.

Bean has been put charge for the rest of the season with Paul Higginson following the resignation of Glenn Burvill last week and his mission is to keep Saltdean in division one.

He said: "The boys were determined to win. At half time we told the team to go out there and fight back. They showed tremendous spirit and put in a performance we know they are capable of.

"We gave away two sloppy goals in the first half and were disappointed to go in two down at the break because we had created more chances."

Tigers were the better team throughout and Syd Harman could have grabbed a hat-trick by half time.

First, Mark Howells made a fine stop from the 27-year-old marksman, who then hit the crossbar with a 20-yard shot.

Later in the half, after East Preston had gone two ahead, Howells made another spectacular save, this time from a Harman header.

The visitors went in front on 30 minutes when Stuart McCreadie turned in a flick-on from a corner.

Matt Huckett doubled the advantage when we ran on to a through ball and slotted home.

Harman said: "We were gutted. I could have got a few, but their goals were caused by our sloppy defending and we only had ourselves to blame."

Owen Hill should have put the game beyond Saltdean when the game restarted, but his header produced an amazing save from Jamie Bryant.

That proved to be the turning point.

Substitute Aaron McMillan pulled one back with a volley from 18 yards that found its way into the far left corner of the East Preston goal.

Andy Johnson levelled the scores with a header from 12 yards on the hour before Nick West headed past his own keeper to give Saltdean their first league triumph since they beat Sidley 2-1 away on October 25.

Bean believes Burvill's departure will not result in a mass exodus of players.

He said: "We had an excellent response from the boys. Glenn had a lot of bad luck, but we can push ourselves forward now and get some points on the board.

"I'm making three new signings this week to take some of the pressure of the youth team lads who have found themselves elevated into the first team squad."

He has already signed 19-year old midfielder John King, released by Gillingham, and put in seven-day approaches for East Preston right wing back Dean Venton and Burgess Hill sweeper Lee Silsby.

Bean said: "Some of the young lads are having to play lots of games at youth and senior level. I don't want to burn them out so these three lads would just ease that pressure. But we have got some terrific youngsters and I'm not scared of throwing them into the team if we need them."

Harman said: "Some of the players have left and that's up to them, but the ones remaining here want to fight for Saltdean and get this club where it belongs, among the top sides."