A goal in either half heaped the pressure on Lowestoft Town as the bottom side came away with all three points in this key relegation battle.

A goal in either half heaped the pressure on Lowestoft Town as the bottom side came away with all three points in this key relegation battle.

The Trawlerboys lacked the cutting edge in the final third, although they did pull a goal back at the end as Travis Cole scored a penalty in stoppage time for the second game running.

Manager Dale Brooks made three changes to the side that lost to high-flyers Dulwich Hamlet, with recent signing Armani Schaar, Dean Leacock and Adam Smith coming into the side.

The visitors went into the game on the back six defeats in a row and with only two away wins all season – but how things have changed since Lowestoft won 5-0 at Burgess Hill earlier in the campaign.

The Blues – who had mustered just one win in their previous 14 were under pressure early on as keeper Elvijs Putnins saved well from Lucas Rodrigues.

But on 20 minutes, the Trawlerboys went behind. Andrew Fisk, on his 350th appearance, gave away a free-kick and the set-piece was diverted into his own net by Cole.

In the second half, the Trawlerboys faced arguably their biggest 45 minutes of the season, but in truth, they struggled for momentum, with visiting keeper James Shaw hardly tested.

It went from bad to worse for Lowestoft on 62 minutes when a corner found its way into the back of the net off Sam Fisk.

It was a scrappy goal for the Hillians, but in the context of the season a huge goal for them and a hammer blow for the Trawlerboys.

With a few minutes remaining, Fisk had a golden chance to set up a grandstand finale, but he shot over after Leacock's knock-down.

But with many fans drifting for the exits, Manu Machaya was fouled inside the box by Aaron Smith-Joseph and the referee pointed to the spot. Captain Cole stepped up and sent Shaw the wrong way – but it wasn't enough.

Lowestoft: Putnins, Zielonka, Smith, Leacock, Marshall, Cole, Hodd, Fisk, Schaar (Youngman 76), Eagle, Machaya. Subs not used: Wren, Langdale, Leslie, Gillings.

Burgess Hill: Shaw, L Harding, Fisk, Cadman, Elphick, Richmond, Diallo, Brivio, P Harding (Smith-Joseph 78), Rodrigues, Tighe (Sanusi 90). Subs not used: Greenleaf, Bennett, James.

Ref: Carl Pearse. Att: 524