Burgess Hill boss Gary Croydon is confident his side can avoid the drop if they can maintain the standards set on Saturday when fellow relegation battlers Corinthian Casuals escaped from Leylands Park with a point following a goalless draw.

The Hillians did everything but score against their division one south rivals as they gave debuts to forwards Gavin Geddes and Wes Tate.

Croydon saw enough to be positive about their chances of staying in the Ryman League.

He said: “I am disappointed we didn’t win but I am not disappointed in another way as I know if we play like that in the remaining seven games then we will get the wins we need.”

There were good performances all round the pitch from the Hillians with keeper Callum Christie assured in his handling, Danny Gainsford a tower of strength at the back and Lloyd Cotton working tirelessly in midfield.

John Lansdale’s delivery from corners, free-kicks, long throws and also open play looked the most likely source of a goal for the Hillians but Casuals keeper Matt Mann denied Steve Harper, Geddes and Cotton with excellent saves and also saw Geddes hit the bar when he was stranded.

It was not all one way traffic though and the Hillians were indebted to Christie in stoppage time as he superbly saved low to his right to keep out substitute Matt Powell’s well-struck shot when a smash and grab raid was a possibility.

Croydon added: “We have created more chances today than in any other game and it just wouldn’t go in for us.”

Substitute Jamie Brotherton secured a valuable point for Worthing as they drew 2-2 away to Dulwich Hamlet.

Brotherton netted five minutes from time to keep the Rebels third in the table with six games remaining.

They trailed twice to a Dulwich side who won the reverse fixture at the A2B Stadium just 11 days earlier but goals from Ross Treleaven and Brotherton earned a well-earned point.

Joint manager Danny Bloor said: “It is a point gained. They are six games left and it is all to play for. We want to make sure we finish in the play-offs but it is not impossible to win the league.”

Jorge Lopes impressed on a rare start for Worthing who hope to have some of their five missing players back for Saturday’s game with Walton Casuals.

Crowborough finished the game with eight men as they crashed 8-0 away to Godalming Town.

Scott Whibley was sent off for handling on the line and substitute John Trotter was shown a straight red for a bad tackle.

Crows also lost four players to injury – Sam Carrington, Kieran Wilson, Dan Dunford and Chris Ransome – leaving them an extra man short at the end.

Boss Stuart Nowell said: “We have just got to draw a line under this game and tick if off as another one we have got through.”

Ady Colwell felt Eastbourne Town were unlucky not to come away with a point after slipping to a 1-0 defeat at Folkestone Invicta.

The hosts had the better of the first half and scored when Town failed to clear their lines following a corner but Town grew into the game and Jamie Salvidge saw a goalbound effort cleared off the line while Simon Catt and Peter Cooper also went close.

Colwell said: “The performance was a 100% better than the previous week’s defeat to Walton Casuals.”