Wickers, winless in their last seven matches, are third from bottom, just one point above Steyning Town, who sit in the relegation zone.

Midhurst have taken just four points all season and Southwick joint manager Dominic Shepherd has described it as "must-win" before they host leaders Loxwood on Tuesday.

Southwick failed to build on a positive first half performance on Saturday and lost 2-1 at Rustington.

Wickers joint-manager Dominic Shepherd said: "We were unlucky. We played quite well but silly mistakes are costing us. If the players listen to what we say to them and they work hard, we should be okay.

"The lads who came in from the reserves did very well and we've still got players to come back. But it was the same old story and it's still a nightmare on the injury front."

Shepherd put Wickers in front when he volleyed home from 10 yards in the 22nd minute. Jamie McLeod had a one-on-one effort saved a minute later and Jamie Stideford also went close as Southwick went in at half-time one goal ahead.

Blues equalised through Steve Kirkham a minute after the break and Jason Wimbleton completed the turnaround 10 minutes later.

Wickers were then denied an equaliser by a combination of bad luck and good goalkeeping. Ryan Walton struck the post, Kristian Bridle fired wide and Sam Page's excellent free kick produced a superb save from Blues keeper Andy McCarthy.

Wickers' Grant Bean was sent-off late on for a foul and Rustington's Rob Butcher was dismissed for two bookable offences.

Southwick's home game with Clymping on Tuesday was postponed owing to an unfit pitch.

SOUTHWICK: Cook; Stideford, Boiling, Page, Rahaman; McLeod, MacNeill, Bridle, Steele; Shepherd, Walton. Subs: Bean (Stideford 75), Arscott (Steele 84), Rowehurst.

Mile Oak recorded a vital 2-1 win over fellow strugglers East Grinstead in Division 1 after they overcame a nervy finale.

Oak manager Anthony Whittington said: "We should have been out of sight by half-time but it was a massive win for us. Aaron Ransom is in good form and Aaron Stenning was excellent for us when they put us under pressure."

Oak's opener arrived on the half-hour mark. A goalmouth scramble resulted in the ball breaking to Nick Kerly, who bundled home from six yards.

Their second arrived eight minutes later. A sweeping move saw Ransom receive the ball 30 yards from goal and his left-footed effort flew into the top corner.

Grinstead were dominant after the break and Matt Crane pulled a goal back, but Oak held on.

On Wednesday, Oak lost 3-2 at home to division-lower Worthing United in the Brighton Charity Cup. Ransom netted both Oak goals, while Darryl Livesey played his first game since breaking an ankle in September.

MILE OAK v East Grinstead: Stenning; Paine, Lansdale, Porter, Lamont; Whiting, French, Kerly, Howard; Aylett, Ransom. Subs: Hollick (Whiting 60), Burnett (Aylett 75), Ash, Sargent, Austin-Slade.

v Worthing United: Evans; Ash, Paine, Lansdale, Livesey; Whiting, Kerly, Austin-Slade, Howard; Aylett, Ransom. Subs: French (Kerly 68), Greer (Howard 70), Jenman (Aylett 78), Porter.

Shoreham recovered from the early sending-off of keeper Michael Hunter, and a 2-0 deficit, to earn a point through a Rob Boddy brace in their Division 1 clash with St Francis Rangers.

Hunter was dismissed for fouling Geoff Pitcher, who subsequently netted the resultant penalty on 22 minutes.

Defender Lee Denyer took over in goal for Mussels, and Chris Maynard added a second but Shoreham rallied and pulled a goal back though Boddy in the 40th minute.

He then converted a 76th-minute penalty, and although they had numerous chances to win it, that was the way it stayed.

Shoreham joint manager Mark Burt said: "I'm pleased with a point and our effort and attitude was excellent. The sending-off affected our game plan but our response to going 2-0 down was brilliant."

SHOREHAM: Hunter; Tidey, Jordan, Fogden, Garrod; Boddy, Smith, Eastman, Callaghan; Clayman, Bradley. Subs: Denyer (Clayman 15), Ellis, Blundell.


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