Danny Bloor insists Worthing's defence holds the key to their play-off hopes.

The Rebels stepped up their bid for a top-five finish with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of Harrow Borough at the Gladwish Stadium last night.

Victory moved Worthing up one place to seventh and, more importantly, on to level points with Staines, who occupy the final play-off position.

Stafford Browne's 27th goal of the campaign wrapped up the win but Bloor was just as pleased with his side keeping a clean sheet.

Joint-manager Bloor said: "We have kept two clean sheets on the trot now and that is very pleasing.

"The defence of Andy Lutwyche, Marc Cable, Ben Andrews and Tarkan Mustafa, with Chuck Martini in goal behind them, was excellent.

"It will be up to them whether we make the play-offs or not.

"I have always known we can score goals but keeping them out could be the key."

It was skipper Cable who broke the deadlock on 37 minutes with his fourth goal of the season. Up for corner, Cable made a block tackle and the ball looped into the net.

On the stroke of half-time Danny Davis made it 2-0 with a long-range effort and Browne scored the third after the turnaround.

Bloor added: "The introduction of Tarkan Mustafa and Jamie Lawrence recently has made a huge difference to us.

"Lawrence was magnificent tonight. He is getting fitter and fitter and that can only be good for us.

"We have six games left to make the play-offs. We are doing well at the moment but we have achieved nothing yet."

Among the spectators at Woodside Road were Lewes manager Steven King and assistant Stuart Cash.

Worthing play Lewes in the semi-final of the Sussex Senior Cup at Horsham next Wednesday and the Rooks management will surely have been impressed.

Before then, Worthing entertain East Thurrock on Saturday.

In division three of the Sussex County League, Newhaven drew 1-1 with Haywards Heath at Fort Road.

Gary Holmes put the Dockers ahead on 33 minutes but Simon McMenemy levelled in the second half to salvage a point for Heath.