Whyteleafe manager Dave Swindlehurst hailed Sam Clayton's composure in scoring two penalties as his side defeated Eastbourne Town 3-1.

Sean Rivers had been Leafe's penalty taker previously, but following a few misses Swindlehurst decided to hand responsibility over to Clayton, who didn't disappoint.

Swindlehurst said: "Rivers has missed a couple of penalty's recently so we decided to give it to someone else to try. Sam is always confident with dead-ball situations outside the box and I thought he took them expertly and gave the keeper no chance.

"We had two penalty's given our way and we should have had another, which I thought was more stonewall than the others but I guess the referee thought he couldn't give another one after giving two already. They had a penalty too so it was quite strange to see three in a game."

Whyteleafe were two up before Eastbourne had Liam Baitup sent off and pulled a goal back from the spot after Ali Reeve fouled Danny Simmonds. But Leafe scored the points when Steve Causon headed home a Clayton corner.

On reaching the play-offs Swindlehurst said: "It's getting a bit tight for the play-offs but we've just got to make sure we put a run together and keep winning. If you draw a few then you are in danger of slipping away."

Whyteleafe's next game is away at Burgess Hill on Saturday.