In contrast to the struggles of the Brighton and Hove women's first team, the 2s are setting a fierce pace in the Sussex Ladies League Premier Division with four straight wins.

On Saturday, they travelled to promoted Chichester 2s and trounced them 9-0, with five players getting onto the scoresheet and Clare McFall hitting a hattrick, to go two points clear at the top of the table.

Happy captain Nivene Rafaat reported: "We knew we couldn’t be complacent against a newly promoted Chichester team with a number of very experienced players, so we made sure to take the game to them right from the off. It wasn’t long before we had our first attempts on goal and our speedy front line of Sumi and Clare kept the Chi defence under tremendous pressure.

"All our hard work paid off with a delightful deflection into the goal by Irish after a blistering run by Kelly. Once we’d broken the deadlock, the goals started coming thick and fast. There was a well-worked move involving Alice and Niv, that was pulled back to the P-spot for a perfectly-timed tap in, a lovely reverse finish by Clare and a well-aimed push by Kelly Sharp.

"We all started to struggle a little with the heat as we went into the second half, but kept pushing for more goals as the game went on, capitalising from a couple of short corners as well as keeper errors. Overall we managed to score nine goals with five different players getting on the score sheet. It was hard to pick MOM this week but Clare managed to clinch it thanks to her sensational hat trick."

The women’s 1st lost at home to Basingstoke 6-0 to remain goalless and pointless after four games in the South League first division. "Although the scoreline suggested one-way traffic there were plenty of excellent individual battles all over the pitch resulting in forced saves by the visiting keeper," captain Amanda Billington reported. "However the constant pressure allowed no space or time to connect passes and the onslaught ensued."

Brighton will hope for better when they travel to Maidenhead, who have also yet to register a point, on Saturday.

Also waiting for their first win are the 3s, who went down 2-0 at home to Horsham 3s.

The 4s are "in their swing" with a top win 2-1 against Burgess Hill 2s in Sussex division one says Kate Smith.

"We were confident with a full complement of 14 but the number of leaves on the pitch and the seriously muggy weather left many feeling unsure how the match was going to go. In the past, BH have often just pipped us in the league table so we knew it was going to be an even game.

"To begin with all the 4s were defending against their strong attacking front line. Happily, Bills took advantage of an opportunity at a free hit and scored the first goal of the match. Perhaps a little ‘bobbly’, but a goal nevertheless!

"The second half started slowly with everyone feeling a bit tired, warm and moist from the heat. The opposition came out strong and scored a goal off a short corner, bringing the score to 1-1. Motivated by a disappointing draw the week before and determined to get Dawkins her first goal of the season, the 4s pulled together. A break between the defence and a dribble to the side of the goalie and it was hers! An absolute cracker.

"The rest of the second half consisted of some beautiful triangle passing in midfield and a nail-biting defensive short corner in the last minute of the match. But the game was ours to win, and the whistle went at the well-deserved score of 2-1, hooray! Woman of the match was Emily, for superb saves and saving our asses a few times! And doughnut of the day to Ellie, though I’m not sure why. Well done everyone!"

In the same division the 5s had an early start against Horsham 4s at Christ's Hospital. "Horsham were quickest off the mark, scoring a goal early on in the first half, but we rallied and Sorcha scored a cracker not too long after to equalise," reported Rachel Slaughter. "The play was very equal and there were several chances at both ends, with Horsham unfortunately scoring a second before the break. The opposition came out stronger after the break and got a third and briefly had the better play, but we kept pushing and Lizzie scored a fantastic Brighton second goal from a short corner.

"The belief that we could snatch a win or at least a draw never waned, but the game finished 3-2 to Horsham. Great performance from all and an unfortunate result. MOM went to Abbie for some incredible saves that definitely kept us in the game, and DOD for the second week running for Sorcha, this time for celebrating two goals that didn't actually cross the line!"

The 6s are making steady progress with a 2-0 win over Southwick 2s to sit in mid table in Sussex division two while the 7s were unlucky again to have their game cancelled for the second week running as Worthing 3s could not field a team due to lack of players.

"Five points for us but we really wanted to play rather than just get points," said captain Betti Jordan. "Thankfully a lot of the W6s players stayed behind to play a mixed-up inter-club friendly, which turned out to still be quite competitive and the Blues and the Whites gave it everything, with the blue team winning in the end. Great effort by all, particularly nice to see a lot of new players on the pitch getting to grips with the game and getting to know each other. A glorious day for hockey with fun and games."

The Starlings under-14 girls won 8-0 away against Eastbourne Chicks, to make it five wins out of five in the Sussex Development League. "The girls were brilliant, great team play and positional awareness, set up, supported and created goals and chances for each other," reported a delighted Clare Cook.

"We switched around defenders/attackers/midfield in the second half and they all rose beautifully to the challenge and played well and very happily out of position. We only had a squad of 11 so they were all exhausted by the final whistle."

Hot on their heels two points behind are the Gulls, who beat Southdown Skylarks 3-0. "Despite the win a frustrating game this week for the Gulls," said Sue Everton. "The opposition packed players into defence, which at times included two adults, creating a very busy space with little room for manoeuvre. One of those days when we could and should have scored many more goals. Nevertheless there were some excellent individual performances from established and new players alike and we are delighted the team is gelling so well."