Ben Hoggan reports: "Brighton & Hove launched their 2025 on Sunday with three points, a clean sheet and a statement of intent sent to both ends of the league table as they travelled back from the capital with a 2-0 win over London Wayfarers.

On unfamiliar turf for both teams – Wayfarers having not yet played a home game at Blagdons Sports Ground this season – the game began on level terms in several ways. Both teams entered into early attacks, finding space high up the pitch and threatening the circle. With Wayfarers showing early defensive quality, the Brighton attacks were stunted before they could become clear cut chances.

At the other end, the home side had the best of the first-half chances but failed to capitalise on any of their well-crafted efforts, often missing the target from just a few yards away. Brighton survived through some good goalkeeping from Chris Borsoi, their deep defence disrupting attacks just enough before then recovering the scraps well and continuing to threaten the Wayfarers circle.

Both sides struggled to hold the ball for any meaningful periods of possession and their respective counter attacks were all short-lived. That the first-half saw no penalty corners won or conceded was a sign that both teams were creating good opportunities to shoot directly at goal rather than looking for corners, but neither team made their chances count and the game remained goalless at half-time.

The third quarter played out in a similar fashion, with both teams piercing the opposition circle but struggling to force the ball into the goal. Wayfarers won a couple of penalty corners that fell flat against a well structured Brighton corner defence. With 20 minutes to play, it was a game that the Brighton team of three months ago may well have sought to squeeze a point out of but, with an upturn in form before the Christmas break and the clean slate of a new year, there was no reason to not target all three points.

Into the final quarter, the away side continued to threaten as they had done for the entire game. Early in the quarter, the home goalkeeper, Alex Rooney, made a strong save from a Sam Rose deflection. Following that chance, Brighton seemed to turn the screw more fiercely, until the 56th minute: Ben Trigwell found space in the top left corner of the circle to hit at goal, where Rose was again waiting in the goalmouth to deflect between Rooney’s legs and break the deadlock.

With a 1-0 lead and 14 minutes left to play Brighton pressed hard, trying to limit space and continue to frustrate Wayfarers. Launching into another counter attack, new Kiwi signing Rio Tuson picked the ball up on the edge of the Wayfarers circle before finding a foot and winning Brighton’s first penalty corner of the game. With 10 minutes left to play, it was a huge opportunity to double the lead and further irritate an increasingly-irked home side. The ball was sent out to Adam Flett, who sent the keeper to his left before firing the ball into the centre of the goal, finding the back of the net and cementing a solid Brighton lead.

The final 10 minutes saw the ball continue to regularly change hands as Brighton defended well before clearing the ball as far away from their circle as they could. Tim Upchurch’s overhead pass was utilised often, finding Brighton forwards who looked to take the ball to safety. Wayfarers attacked in numbers, firing balls into the circle and winning corners, in the face of which the Brighton corner defence remained resolute.

The home side continued to miss good chances at goal, somewhat reminiscent of the way in which Brighton had been lacking a clinical touch throughout the first-half of the season. A reverse strike from the side of the circle was deflected on its way to the goal but was not enough to evade the outstretched toe of Borsoi, who glanced away the shot that many thought to be already in the goal.

In the final moments, Wayfarers missed another glaring chance at goal, with three of their players attacking just one Brighton defender. It was their final opportunity in an attacking performance to forget for the team in second place in the table and one that seemed to reflect their day as a whole. The game remained 2-0, Brighton had their third win of the season and, importantly, their first clean sheet.

Three invaluable points for Brighton in the context of the league; they remain ninth but are equally only four points from fourth place. A game against last-placed West Herts next Saturday is a vital chance for the squad to take strides up and away from the relegation zone, a place that they will hope they can leave for good.

Having played top of the league Surbiton twice and having already claimed wins against the teams in second, third and fourth in the table, Brighton have every right to be confident in their run-in of fixtures. They will need to build further on the momentum created so far and not remain happy with settling at their current level, but have every chance to move up the table quickly. Any support at West Herts on Saturday at 6pm will be very welcome as Brighton look to continue their perfect start to 2025 and move further up the Conference East table."

Week 11 results: Surbiton 4 West Herts 1, Old Cranleighan 1 Bromley & Beckenham 2, Wimbledon 4 Tunbridge Wells 3, Hampstead & Westminster 0 Spencer 0, London Wayfarers 0 Brighton & Hove 2.

South Saxons 1s 3
BHHC 3s 1

Andrew Bromley reports: "In a normal season, arranging a squad to take on the dreadful drive east to Hastings is the hardest task of the season. This season however we are blessed with that task not once but twice! Thankfully for us that's now done and dusted, and, given that Saxons are at the top of the table, it's likely not to be twice in a season for a short while at least (crosses fingers).

Journey aside, Horntye is a tough place to be the away team. The pitch resembles a poorly maintained allotment and the hosts tend to be 'passionate'! This match was no different but made trickier with only nine regulars available. Thankfully we were able to call on the goalkeeping services of Chris 'Shamrock' Sharrock, Matt Sexton and new joiner and Hastings local 'King' Louis.

Expecting a very tough match, we set up with a very strict press which worked very well for long periods. As per my match report from the reverse fixture, Saxons play a retro style, crashing the ball at our D, hoping for deflections etc. The same happened: however we were much more astute at stepping in front (almost like a development team should be, right?!) Sadly for us, reliable centre midfielder come centre back James Broad had his pocket picked when bringing the ball out of the back, which was shipped quickly by Saxons to former BHHC player Andy Acott, who slammed the ball home. Time for some new astroturfs perhaps?

We went into the second half with optimism, given we were still very much in the game and that their only goal had come from a BHHC error. Sadly, things got immediately much harder as B-Road found out why life can be tough at the back, as he slipped whilst passing and Saxons doubled their lead. Not ideal. Thankfully he made up for it with some cool skids and decent aerials but barring a great goal from youngster Jacob (Juno) Ridley, we couldn't stop the Saxons from scoring their third and putting the game to bed.

Again, missing several players, we were up against it. However it was a hugely improved performance compared to Lewes last week, so lots of positives. Broady almost unanimously took control of the DoD beret, with MoM going to GK Shamrock for a cracking match in the pads.

Southwick at home this week. Hopefully we can make this the first match post-Christmas where we win the points that we feel we were robbed of in the opposite fixture."

Other results

BHHC 2s 2 Old Georgians 3s 2
BHHC 4s 5 South Saxons 3s 0
BHHC 6s 2 BHHC 5s 1
BHHC 7s 5 Lewes 5s 1
BHHC 9s 0 BHHC 8s 2
BHHC 10s 2 Lewes 6s 0