Leaders Cowfold extend gap but Hurst are sitting pretty
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They overcame AFC Roffey 3-0 on Saturday thanks to goals from Rhyse Nash, Callum Nash and Michael Brownlee.
And in one of only two games to take place in the entire division on Bank Holiday Monday, due to postponements, they dropped points in a 1-1 draw at title chasers Upper Beeding.
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Hide AdBrownlee’s first-half goal was levelled up by Beeding’s Ben Whales on 67 minutes to see them leap above Billingshurst into second.
![Football, Southern Combination League Division 2: Billingshurst v AFC Varndeanians. Pic Steve Robards SR1609255 team celebrate Mark Cooper's 30 yrd freekick SUS-160326-194905001](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/legacy_oak_81621342.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Football, Southern Combination League Division 2: Billingshurst v AFC Varndeanians. Pic Steve Robards SR1609255 team celebrate Mark Cooper's 30 yrd freekick SUS-160326-194905001](/img/placeholder.png)
Hurst continued to keep pace in the race with a 2-0 home victory in high winds over a AFC Varndeanians side that started the day in fifth place.
Centre-back Ollie Lambin put the hosts ahead on 33 minutes heading home a free kick, before assistant manager Mark Copper netted a stunning 30-yard free-kick 11 minutes from time to make the points safe.
Although Cowfold extended the lead at the top, Hurst, who dropped to third, will like the way the weekend went as they have yet another game in hand over the leaders.
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Hide AdCowfold lead Beeding, in second, by three points having played two games less, but lead Billingshurst, in third, by the same amount having played three games more.
![Football, Southern Combination League Division 2: Billingshurst v AFC Varndeanians. Pic Steve Robards SR1609252 SUS-160326-194853001](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/legacy_oak_81621341.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Football, Southern Combination League Division 2: Billingshurst v AFC Varndeanians. Pic Steve Robards SR1609252 SUS-160326-194853001](/img/placeholder.png)
Rottingdean Village are four points off the top of the table, having played four games less.
Fifth-placed Roffey left it late to secure a 6-0 victory away to Clymping.
All six goals came in the last 20 minutes as Ben Chowney netted a two-minute brace starting on 70 minutes.
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Hide AdHarri Nourse made in 3-0 four minutes later, before Devon Fender notched with nine minutes left.
![Football, Southern Combination League Division 2: Billingshurst v AFC Varndeanians. Pic Steve Robards SR1609255 team celebrate Mark Cooper's 30 yrd freekick SUS-160326-194905001](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/legacy_oak_81621342.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Football, Southern Combination League Division 2: Billingshurst v AFC Varndeanians. Pic Steve Robards SR1609255 team celebrate Mark Cooper's 30 yrd freekick SUS-160326-194905001](/img/placeholder.png)
Luke McGregor got in on the action, before Fender hit his second in added time.
The result leaves Roffey fifth. six points behind Cowfold with two games on hand on them, leaving the title very much a six-horse race still.
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