Twenty matches, 20 wins - Brighton and Hove's Starlings soar ever closer towards a perfect season in the Sussex Girls Development League, the latest success a 4-0 victory over Horsham Hotstars on Saturday.

Already assured as champions, the Starlings have two games to negotiate if they are to complete a flawless season but their toughest test will come this weekend when they tackle their clubmates, the Gulls, who have lost just once (narrowly to the Starlings) and have secured the runners-up spot.

Clare Cook was delighted with her charges on Saturday. "A fine performance from 11 Starlings today facing Horsham Hotstars in weather that can only be described as a hurricane," she reports.

"Nothing daunted their weekly enthusiasm and team spirit and once they’d settled into position they scored their first goal after about 10 minutes and started to take more control of the game. The second goal was another well worked team performance. Horsham had a number of counter attacks, dispatched with disdain by our solid backs and an amazing performance by our keeper.

"A small change of positioning at half time led to a beautiful reverse stick goal from the edge of the D in the opening seconds of the second half and our ‘round the back and down the line’ passes improved in fluidity and execution as the game went on. Our final goal was a beautiful piece of selfless team hockey and the game finished 4-0 to an as yet unbeaten Starlings side!"

Meanwhile, the Gulls made light of the windy conditions and Lewes Lionesses, winning 2-0 away to maintain their impressive record.

"The Gulls were fantastic this week," reports Sue Everton. "Buffeted by the wind, the mids and forwards launched numerous attacks whilst the defence efficiently contained Lewes' attempts on goal. Two goals in the first half from Nia S and Sophie E secured the win for us, but this was very much a team performance.

"Congratulations to Rosa T as RM who had her best game ever! Lewes played very well too and the game was played in the best of spirits. A good warm up for the Gulls in anticipation of our fixture against the Starlings on Saturday morning!"

That match between the two Brighton sides takes place at Blatchington at 10.30am.