Leaders held by brave Loxwood NEW boys Loxwood held leaders Pease Pottage to a draw in County League division three but manager Barry Hunter was disappointed not to take all three points.

Player-boss Hunter rolled back the years to score twice as Loxwood, promoted from the West Sussex League last season, took a 3-2 lead with five minutes remaining.

But Pottage grabbed a point thanks to Sam Kelly's strike to remain a point clear at the top.

Hunter said: "We were disappointed not to pick up all three points because with five minutes to go we were leading and we had just hit the crossbar.

"But Pease Pottage are a good side and they are tipped to be up there at the end of the season.

"I said I would assess things after five or six games but we have not lost in our first three and have played teams who are expected to be up there so we are very happy."

Pottage twice led through Matt Kelly and Chamal Fenelon but hosts Loxwood levelled through Craig Grantham, who finished off a flowing move, and Hunter, who had come on for the last 20 minutes.

Hunter, who spent the best days of his career playing Ryman League football for Worthing, Uxbridge and Leatherhead, made it 3-2 on 83 minutes before Kelly levelled.

Recent signing Scott McDonald was on the scoresheet again as Bexhill won 3-0 away to the other promoted side, Rottingdean Village. Mark Funnell got the other two.

Gary Holmes bagged a hattrick as Newhaven won 4-2 at Ifield Edwards to go third in the table. Simon Halsey had sent the Dockers on their way with a flukey opener while Ifield twice levelled through Stewart Small and Clive Piller.

Player-manager Jason Tighe said: "It was a good all-round performance and we matched them physically as well. I was back and that gave us a little more command in defence which we had missed the previous week."

Goalkeeper Graham Leach opened the scoring with a fifthminute penalty as Uckfield Town beat Hurstpierpoint 4-1.

Leach allowed Ben Mitchell to open his account for the season when Uckfield were awarded a second spot-kick early in the second half and further goals followed from Ross Sawyer and Mitchell's second. Darren Mansell hit a late consolation.

Adam Burton scored twice as Haywards Heath got off the mark with a 2-1 win at Bosham, who led through Steve Wellham's 14th-minute strike.

Lewis Hole (two) and Chas Lister scored as Little Common beat Forest 3-0.

In the Vernon Wentworth Cup, Rustington booked a second round tie at home to Storrington Reserves after easing past Worthing United Reserves 6-0 with goals from Ryan Walton (two), Craig Cox, Andy Smart, Sean Duffy and an own goal.