Patrick Ford reports: "The final trip away day of the season saw Brighton get the train up to Spencer HC hoping to complete the double after an impressive 4-2 win at home earlier in the season.

Brighton started slowly however, with three defensive errors in the first 20 minutes leading to well taken goals from Spencer’s George Carson, John Whitfield and Sebastian Shaw. But with a 4-3 win last week against a very impressive Wimbledon side fresh in the mind of the Brighton players, they finally began return to playing the hockey more characteristic of the Men’s 1s in recent weeks. Their efforts were rewarded when Luke Owen reacted well when the ball dropped to him on the right hand side of the D and beat the goalkeeper with an impressive forehand hit.

Half-time saw a tactical intervention from coaches Chris Borsoi and Dafydd Charles which encouraged a style of play more similar to that which had led to the victory in the home fixture and this quickly paid dividends as Sam Rose was at the back post to deflect his first goal of the game two minutes into the second half. Spencer’s problems became worse soon after as following a green card, Brighton won a short corner which, after a rearward and a carefully placed dragflick was initially saved by the goalkeeper, was tucked away nicely by Juan Sosa to level it up to 3-3 with just under half an hour left to play.

After a few minutes of intense hockey, Sebastian Shaw, spurred on by his green card and the Spencer supporters, struck the ball well to retake the advantage and double his tally for the game with little time left in the third quarter. However, their excitement was short lived as James Rayward fired the ball across the D to an awaiting Rio Tuson to deflect it in just before the final quarter.

Brighton had now achieved the objective set out in the team talk before the game; “be there with 15 minutes to go”. Confidence was high following a similar situation against Wimbledon the match before which resulted in a 4-3 win to secure safety. This translated to two more goals from Sam Rose, one more deflection and one incredible forehand hit which converted a rebound from the goalkeeper into a long-awaited national league hattrick.

Three points were now in sight and the game situation clear. Brighton did well to manage the game despite two cards which made the oncoming pressure from Spencer feel even more intense for those remaining on the pitch. Nevertheless, Brighton remained resilient in defence, protecting the goal until the final minute when the whistle was blown for a short corner. Neil Hamilton dragflicked the ball into the top right corner but it was too late for the win to be at any risk.

With another win continuing their blistering form since the Christmas break, a win at home next week against Bromley & Beckenham could take Brighton up to fourth in EHL Conference East - an impressive achievement after a slow start to the season."

EHL Conference East week 17 results: London Wayfarers 4 Tunbridge Wells 1, Bromley & Beckenham 2 Surbiton 2, West Herts 2 Old Cranleighan 4, Spencer 5 Brighton & Hove 6, Wimbledon 2 Hampstead & Westminster 4.

Other results

Worthing 1s 3 BHHC 2s 0
Mid Sussex 2s 1 BHHC 3s 6
Crawley 2s 2 BHHC 4s 4
BHHC 5s 0 Worthing 2s 7
Worthing 4s 6 BHHC 6s 5
Lewes 4s 0 BHHC 7s 0
Eastbourne 5s 0 BHHC 8s 3
BHHC 9s 6 Horsham 5s 0
BHHC 10s 5 Middleton 2s 0 (walkover)