Brighton's national league dream is all but over.

An exciting 4-4 draw with leaders Bromley and Beckenham on Saturday is unlikely to be enough for Brighton to claim the sole promotion spot from South Premier division one.

Sunday's thumping 8-2 win over Purley Walcountians moved Brighton to within six points of the leaders with a game in hand but the title is now out of their hands.

If Bromley and Beckenham take four points from their remaining two games against sides with nothing to play for, they will be crowned champions.

Brighton, with three games to play, can only hope their rivals slip up but player-coach Craig Carolan can celebrate a successful season whatever happens over the next couple of weeks.

Promoted to this level for the first time in their history last season, a campaign of consolidation was on the cards.

Early results suggested they may even struggle as the first four games of the campaign yielded just four points.

Sunday's victory made it 26 points from the last ten games and Carolan insists the stage is set for a stronger title challenge next year should they miss out this time.

He said: "At the start of the season I said if we came in the top three I would be exceptionally happy.

"Top three is the worst we can do now so anything more we achieve is a bonus.

"I am very proud of the guys and what they have achieved whatever happens now.

"We are limited in certain areas and we have to understand that. That is the level we play at.

"Some Brighton officials watched us on Sunday, who are not normally able to as they play for other teams in the club, and they couldn't believe how far we had progressed this year.

"They said the difference from three years ago when we were playing Kent/Sussex League hockey was amazing.

"Consolidation for a year at this level may not be the worst thing that could happen to us. It would give us a platform to build on for next year."

Brighton needed to beat Bromley and Beckenham to stand a realistic chance of overhauling their lead but Carolan had no complaints with the result.

The visitors led 3-1 at half-time and 4-3 going into the last minute before Brighton snatched a last-gasp equaliser.

On target for Brighton were Greg Nicol (two), Hugh Salter and Sam Rose, who broke a hand in the process of scoring.

Carolan said: "They were a very good side.

"They had a lot more of the ball although we had more of a cutting edge in front of goal.

"If we finish second or third in the league behind a side like that you have to hold your hands up and say well done to them. They are well coached and well organised.

"But we drew 3-3 with them earlier in the season and 4-4 now so we can't be a bad side.

"If we hadn't had a slow start, we could have been clear of them by now."

Nicol scored six goals against Purley on Sunday with Carolan and Charl van der Merwe also on target.