There is just no stopping Brighton and Hove Starlings as they notched up their 13th straight victory in the Sussex Girls Development League on Saturday, a goal in each half enough to see off Eastbourne Owlets.

Coach Amy MacMillan was delighted with the performance and the team's determination to keep a clean sheet.

"The Starlings faced a tough away game versus Eastbourne Owlets, who lay third behind the Starlings and Gulls respectively in the girls Under-16 Sussex Development League," Amy reports.

"With a number of regular players unavailable and one running late, we had 11 players at the start. As always, the girls went into the game with positivity, but respect for the opposition.

"The first 15 minutes were very tight, with both defences being tested, but neither keeper beaten. There were bursts of excellent attacking play, but we just couldn't find a finish.

Meanwhile, Eastbourne had a number of quick counterattacks, but our defence was resolute and calm, easily making good tackles and interceptions and intelligently recycling the ball. Holly T was particularly strong as sweeper and Jess H at CB and Tilly S at RB both made a number of excellent interceptions and tackles too.

"Our 12th player, Ines, who usually plays Gulls and had kindly agreed to play Starlings this week, arrived and slotted into LB seamlessly. She was strong at the back and linked well with the mids.

"As the half went on we took control, passing the ball around superbly and displaying excellent skills and decision making, especially across the midfield between Abi E, Frankie K, Evie P and Olivia S.

"After a number of great moves thwarted only by Eastbourne's keeper, the stalemate was broken on 22 minutes when India H and Izzy S did some beautiful running off the ball, creating space for Emily C to power through the middle and place her shot accurately in the bottom left corner.

"Eastbourne continued to make some good counterattacks, but our defence was more than equal ithw Jess N in goal making a small number of saves on the rare occasions the ball got that far. 1-0 at half time.

"The second half was more of the same - we were continually on top and created many chances, but Eastbourne's defence kept us out. Whilst it remained 1-0 and with the Owlets continuing to threaten, we really felt we needed a second to be sure of the points. We thought we'd got that when India took a superb first strike at a PC, but the ball was adjudged to have not left the D, so the goal was disallowed. Emily C, Izzy S and Evie P all came close to scoring in open play, but the ball just wouldn't go in.

"Coach Amy Mac was very proud with how the girls responded to the disallowed goal and the match situation. They didn't complain, or panic. They played their own game, which at times was a passing masterclass, and eventually were rewarded seven minutes from time with a second goal. It came from another short corner.

"The call from the coach was to slip it left, but when the injection didn't go where it was intended, Emily C calmly improvised and played a perfectly weighted ball to India in space on the right, who slotted it home nicely.

"The girls showed 100% commitment until the end, both in pushing for a third and working hard to keep a clean sheet. Which they did. 2-0 Starlings. Still unbeaten for the season and top of the league!"

Their lead is now nine points after the Gulls were held to a 2-2 draw by Eastbourne Chicks but their BHHC clubmates remain secure in second place.

In the Boys Development League BHHC Flippers enjoyed a 7-2 romp against Mid Sussex Colts while the Boys Under-10s shared a 1-1 draw with Eastbourne.