Michael Frew was the two-goal hero as Lowestoft Town withstood a late Horsham response to collect a hard-earned three points.

The ex-Corby striker has now scored five goals in his nine starts since joining the Trawlerboys at the end of January.

A very heavy pitch made conditions difficult for players but Lowestoft made a dream start by opening the scoring after just three minutes.

Andy Reynolds left his area to play a pass forward to Matt Nolan. He laid the ball off to Joe Francis who in turn threaded a superb ball between the defenders for Michael Frew to run on and slip the ball past keeper Mark Zawadski.

Lowestoft should have increased their lead on 12 minutes when Adam Smith ran on to a Joe Francis ball but was brought down in the penalty area by Tom Graves. Matt Nolan's penalty kick was saved low down by Zawadski.

Horsham came more into the game as the half wore on and Scott Mitchell needed to be alert to clear from in front of goal from Billy Dunn.

Just before the break Lowestoft suffered a blow with Adam Smith limping off and they were still re-organising their defence when Horsham levelled the scores on the stroke of half time. Horsham won the ball on the halfway line and Gary Charman made ground down the left and his deflected cross was met by a downward header from Williams Pearoux to give Andy Reynolds no chance.

Lowestoft were forced into a second change at the start of the second half with Jamie Forshaw replacing Matt Nolan but within six minutes they had regained the lead. Curtis Haynes-Brown dispossessed Hassan Nyang and played the ball forward to Michael Frew who raced away from the halfway line, held off the attentions of Tom Graves before rounding Mark Zawadski and shooting home for an excellent solo goal.

Zawadski's full-length diving save kept out a Joe Francis free-kick and Mark Knee cleared a Sam Gaughran header off the line as Lowestoft looked to increase their lead.

Having used their third substitute with Jamie Godbold replacing Joe Francis, Lowestoft suffered a further blow with Andrew Fisk reduced to a passenger with a hamstring injury.

Horsham pressed in the closing stages with Steve Davies sending a header inches over the bar before the same player inadvertently blocked a goalbound effort from team-mate Paul Kennett.

Andy Reynolds then produced a superb diving save to prevent a Matt Halliday own goal as the defender stretched to block a low cross from the right.

From the resultant flag kick Reynolds did even better to tip Gary Charman's close range header over the bar.

Lowestoft's management team were naturally delighted with the three points that sees their team move up to third in the table highlighting a good team performance on a difficult pitch.

• Horsham: Zawadski, Page, Knee, Graves (King, 53), Kennett, Storey, Nyang, Pearoux, Dunn (Harding, 56), Davies, Charman, Subs (not used): Mansfield, Graham, Farrell

• Lowestoft Town: Reynolds, Cave-Brown, Smith (Halliday, 41), Fisk, Gaughran, Haynes-Brown, Mitchell, Cockrill, Nolan (Forshaw, 46), Frew, Francis (Godbold, 76), Subs (not used): Stock. Crane.

• Attendance: 236