Lewes and Eastbourne Borough go into the new year having underlined their dominance of Conference south.

The top two warmed up for Tuesday's showdown at Priory Lane with outstanding victories against two of the pre-season promotion favourites.

Rooks, who were left frustrated by a 2-2 draw against Borough at the Dripping Pan on Boxing Day, bounced back with a 4-0 victory over Havant and Waterlooville with Andy Drury hitting a hat-trick.

Goals from Andy Atkin and Allan Tait, meanwhile, sealed a 2-1 win for Borough at Eastleigh, who have had an enviable home record this season.

It left Rooks six points clear of Borough, who have two games in hand, with Hampton and Richmond a further five behind.

Lewes boss Steven King was full of praise for his side who were so short due to injury and illness that they were only able to name three players on the bench.

Havant, who play Swansea in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, included Albion loanee Gary Hart.

King said: "We were frustrated against Borough after losing a two-goal lead so I was delighted with our response.

"We started slowly but sprung into life and played some good football.

"There was a spell in the second half when we played as well as when we beat Bishop's Stortford 5-1, our best performance of the season.

"People might say Havant had one eye on the Cup but they shouldn't have because they will have to get back to the league very soon.

"Andy Drury had one of his best games for us. He could have had six goals. He hit a post and forced two fantastic saves. It took something special to stop him."

Drury put Rooks ahead on the half-hour with a diving header from a Jay Conroy cross.

Simon Wormull drove home the second from 30 yards four minutes later, then Drury scored his second on the turn with his left foot ten minutes after the re-start.

He completed his first treble for Rooks when he side-footed home a Dale Binns cross on the hour.

Lewes: Williams, Conroy, Barness, Davis, Robinson (sub Legge), Simpemba, Drury, Holloway, Wormull, Booth (sub Groves), Binns (sub Cade).

Eastbourne Borough maintained their unbeaten league start to the season at Eastleigh with their first victory in three fixtures.

Wilson said: "It was a hard game. It was never expected it to be easy because they are a difficult side at home.

"We had not won in the league for a while but that was because we had been playing a couple of top teams like Lewes and Hampton and Richmond."

Borough went a goal down 12 minutes after half-time when Damian Scammell, who is set to join Southend, beat three Borough defenders as he cut in from the left and crossed for Adam Forbes to score.

Atkin equalised when he converted a low right-wing cross from Pat Harding after 65 minutes.

Former Eastleigh player Adam Wilde set up the winner for Tait two minutes later.

Borough, though, might pay a heavy price for the win as they prepare to host Lewes. Wilson admitted that Matt Smart and Atkin were "touch and go" after picking up knocks.

Eastbourne Borough: Hook, Lovett, Jenkins, Smart (sub Budd), Austin, Pullan, Harding, Armstrong, Atkin (sub Ballard), Tait, M. Crabb (sub Wilde). Subs not used: Baker, Barton.

Bognor general manager Jack Pearce has urged his side to go for victory at Havant and Waterlooville on Tuesday after three successive draws.

Rocks drew 1-1 against Basingstoke on Saturday, Scott Harris putting them in front on 32 minutes before James Taylor levelled midway through the second half.

Pearce said: "It was tight and about fair, although we had the better of it.

"We're happy not to have been beaten over the holiday period but we've not been able to pull away from the lower part of the table."

Bognor: Stoner, Breach, Ray, Knee, Edwards, M Birmingham, Wallis-Tayler (sub Sackman), Balfe, Harris (sub Greatwich), Beck, Haddow, D Birmingham. Subs not used: Parreira, Rowland.

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