Steyning Town moved into the slipstream behind Haywards Heath Town on Tuesday evening, but Newhaven made them work hard for the three points.

Despite missing a few starters at the top end of the pitch, Town raced into a three goal lead but were pegged back late on by the Dockers for a nervy finish.

On a crisp night down by the water’s edge in East Sussex both sides could have scored at least twice before the opening goal arrived but for some fine saves and wayward finishing.

The tone was set very early, Newhaven awarded a penalty but Mitch Bromage saved Tom Howard-Bold’s effort after just two minutes.

That first goal didn’t arrive until the 37th minute when the Barrowmen’s Alex Brewer fired home after some neat footwork put him into position.

They didn’t have long to wait to double their lead, a loose pass from keeper Jonny Barnes-Galloway went straight to Dion Jarvis and the visitors skipper made sure the ball was fired into the back of the net to give Steyning a comfortable half time lead.

The game looked to be over as a contest just five minutes into the second half as Brewer added his second and a third for the Barrowmen.

However, just two minutes later Newhaven were on the board with the prolific Lee Robinson getting his side back into the match.

Despite the goal the Dockers struggled to create more than a few half chances whilst Steyning had the opportunities on the counter attack to really put the game to bed but attacks broke down in the final third and a fine save from Barnes-Galloway tipping a Brewer free kick round the post.

With two minutes left on the clock, Newhaven made it that nervy finished when Noah Hoffman poked the ball home to give the Dockers hope of snatching a point but no way through after that as the Barrowmen held out and took away the three points.