A fine all round team performance brought Brighton & Hove a resounding victory over Fareham at Blatchington Mill on Sunday in another warm up match before the national league resumes next month.

Brighton came flying out at the start, racing into a 5-0 lead in the first quarter and converting all their chances. The home side finished strongly with some good passing hockey rewarded by further goals. Jamie Francis netted a hat-trick while Steve Perry, Mike Williams, Ed Zeidler, Angus Donaldson, Sam Rose and James Rayward were also on the scoresheet.

Manager Jon Williams was delighted with the display. "Structurally we looked more cohesive, we were better defensively and kept them to very few circle penetrations," he said. He was pleased with the clinical finishing, with two goals from well-worked short corner routines.

Brighton gave a debut to 16-year-old Patrick Ford while Will Buttress also stepped up to round off a good team performance.

This weekend Brighton face a double header as they build up to the trip to league leaders Southgate on Sunday February 5. On Saturday they are at Chichester and on Sunday home to Havant (1pm).

BHHC 2s 1
Worthing 1s 2

Andrew Bromley reports: "M2 hosted local rivals Worthing M1 who we'd beaten comfortably in the very early phases of this year's campaign. Despite the scoreline only being 1-0 on that occasion, M2 had the greater possession, chances, corners and - obviously - goals.

Missing eight from previous weeks' squads, we were very proud to welcome former Pebble and Rock Rufus Hodgkinson to the squad and retained the services of fellow teen Aaron Patel. The conveyor belt of quality at Brighton & Hove is paying dividends, so huge kudos to all parties that have put the hours in to make the youth players this good so early in their careers. We've gone from a 4-4-2 formation to G-C-S-E.

We set up in our favoured formation and immediately managed high numbers of completed passes, as well as an incredibly effective press. In fact, our press was so effective that it felt like the defence of our visitors were passing off of the sidelines on purpose, as they'd got bored of just slinging the ball round the back four. For the second time in my career (see Herne Bay away 2021) we also faced a 'half court attack' as the 10 outfielders of Worthing came looking deeper in their half for the ball.

On the rare occasions that Worthing managed to get the ball up to their higher players, odd tactics of stick shielding, cries of help and diving were chosen before the umpires got fed up with the combined yelping and theatrics and green carded the main offender. Apparently he's been offered a contract in La Liga.

Towards the end of the first half, Worthing managed a D penetration and fired a backhand shot at goal. The shot was saved by Grandpa Bromley but the rebound fell into No Man's Land. Sadly Worthing's forward was fastest to react and he bundled it in from half a yard.

At half time we weren't too fazed as we'd been comfortable on the ball, had pressed efficiently and were only behind due to bad luck and sleepy marking. I go on record also to highlight that for the third week in a row, 'Management' (whoever they are) have forgotten to open the fizzy watermelon sweets that I'd procured from Pyecombe Services (northbound on the A23). Very frustrating.

The second half started well for the good guys, as teenager Hodgkinson showed off his silky skills, beat a couple of the baddies and slipped the ball through to 'definitely not a moth' Chris Page. Pagey, unsurprisingly given the proximity to the goal, calmly slipped it into the Worthing onion bag. Happy days. All of this happened moments after Will Buttress had been victim to a tackle fresh out of the MMA Octagon and Riordan O'Brien had pulled his hammy.

For the remainder of the half, much of the same continued but Worthing (including our friend from La Liga, fresh from his green card for yodelling) managed to create more penalty corners. Most were batted away by the old man in the pads but sadly, after saving a drag flick that was aimed between the old timer's leg pads (weak spot), our slippery singing friend took a break from flexing his vocal chords and slotted the ball home for what turned out to be the winner.

All in all a shame to lose but, realistically, we were pretty chuffed with our performance. We played a Worthing team with some very talented individuals and dangerous attackers but we were without doubt the better team. We're playing for a league place that'll get us a place in the Intertoto cup but realistically we're rebuilding for future seasons and supporting the first XI and their campaign."

BHHC 5s 2
BHHC 6s 1

Hidetomo Moro reports for the 5s: "The return fixture of this inter-club derby was another close battle between youth and experience versus ... youth and experience. The 5s started the game on the offensive and chances cames to Sanchez, Covey and De Souza. The 6s/Rocks passed around the pitch to form chances, but the 5s held on. Eventually Lucas Owers found space and scored to gain the lead.

The second half was more frantic as the game sped up and the 6s put pressure to win more penalty corners, scoring one after a loose clearance. Things got heated between some players. Straight after this Alex Covey sprinted up the left, played a one-two with Jukes and placed the ball in to get the second goal. The 6s threw everything into the final minutes but the game ended 2-1.

The 5s played a strong team game against a skilful and developing opponent, earning three points with great pride.

MoM: Ben Laxton worked his shoes off
DoD: Alex Sanchez for wrestling."

Matt Richardson reports for the 6s: “Another Brighton v Brighton encounter and only one winner (Brighton, in case you were in any doubt), with the Rocks taking on the 5s, both sitting on the same points in mid-table.

As the opening warm-up sounds of the Sabbath’s 'Paranoid' drifted across Blatch’s south pitch, it was clear, at least, that the pre-match had some quality about it for some ... ’not that nasally rubbish that the kids listen too’, I heard one bystander observe.

The sun was out in a fixture that started with immediacy and a clear game plan from the 5s, pressing the 6s from the off. Over the course of the first 10 minutes or so, the 5s intentions were making inroads and there could have, perhaps should have, been a couple of early goals.

It took a while for the Rocks to settle into their usual rhythm with a couple of short corners coming to nothing and a mazy run from Patrick Ford on 15 minutes still ending with nothing to show. The Rocks today were ‘short staffed’, with a relatively makeshift team after having to call on a few of the more than capable young’uns (and a not-so young’un in Wappy) from the 9s to fill the ranks.

Fraser Cooper deputised in defence and proved his worth, calm and effective in distribution even when under pressure. He was supported by Rudy Maxwell and Harry Adams (returning from injury), who both played equally well whether transferring through the back line or pushing forward and working with their wingmen who provided some good play from both flanks.

The first half ebbed and flowed and just as it looked like it would end at 0-0, the 5s broke on 33 minutes and with the Rocks backing off and allowing too much space they were punished. 1-0 5s.

The second half opened with the Rocks mindful of their instructions to improve on their slow reactions and sloppy marking which had cost them at times. Within five minutes the improvement was clear and with two consecutive short corners, James Wood converted well from slip to equal the tie 1-1. Backed up with Wappy’s own brand of humour percolating from the sideline and an extremely solid Paul Harvey in defence, the Rocks were in good shape and getting under the 5s skin - seemingly a little frustrated with some niggly moments bubbling up.

On 15 minutes Miles Richardson and Toby exchanged the ball on a fast break and with Miles finishing at the far post it was 2-1 Rocks. However, there was suddenly a VAR intervention and the goal penned off for an alleged foot. Hard to tell from where we were and whilst both sides had their take on it, it remained 1-1.

More short corners came and went for the Rocks, Patrick F showing some good skill at both ends of the pitch. Then, as the reverse fixture earlier in the season, the 5s broke against the run of play and converted to make it 2-1 final score.

A disappointing loss for the Rocks who, having been unbeaten in the last five games and having had the lion's share of the second half, outpacing and out pressuring the 5s, really should have had something to show for their graft.

Yes, some of the decisions perhaps didn’t go our way but maybe there’s a lesson here for the Rocks who were not clinical enough with their chances when they were presented. So, as predicated at the start, it ended with a Brighton win ... just not the one the Rocks wanted."

BHHC 8s 2
BHHC 9s 1

Simon Smith reports for the 9s: "Umpires Alan Grey and Andrew Bromley took to the pitch on Saturday morning to test the surface. Alan was in his sheer, tight-fighting one-piece purple outfit, Bromley in his diminutive, lacy, powder blue dress and American tan tights. Silence fell as the pair took up their positions.

Such was the delightful wintery spectacle that preceded the intra club (not inter, idiot, thanks Doc) game between the 9s and the 8s. Two teams that are vying for the top of their league. Two teams that are in their pomp. Two teams that between them displayed a grace and beauty rarely seen since I wasn’t overlooked to represent the UK at the Oslo Ice Dance championships of 1986.

Rum ta ta tum ta tum tum ta. Ravel’s distinctive opening rhythmic snare drum began. Bromley lifted his instrument of discipline to his fair lips, blew on it, and so the dance commenced.

Hot from a run of victories the 9s were oozing confidence. A victory for the 8s seemed as unlikely as when Beatrix Loughran and Sherwin Badger won the first-ever United States Figure Skating ice dance competition in 1952, despite being considered rank outsiders. Or when in the 1990s, a team of ice dancers from the United Arab Emirates, Fatima Al Ali and Ahmed Al Jafri, won several national and regional competitions. UAE! FFS! I could go on.

In fact I will. Amazingly, Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, won the silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, despite Gabriella's costume malfunction at the beginning of the performance. So, Reedy’s own costume malfunction... ’where ARE my shorts?’ seemed like a good omen for the 9s…

But the world of top flight sport such as this is, of course, known for its upsets. And so it was on Saturday. The 8s took the lead with a beautifully worked (or was it a mishit?) short that fell to Chris Allen. The 9s had the run of play, but time and again could not find the finish, flourish or finesse. Not even Myles’ hot, hot half-time hair dryer could seemingly melt the North Wall defences of the 8s where Beale and Patel combined nicely to provide some exhibition lifts and turns. Their chemistry on the ice is undeniable.

Early in the second the breakthrough came with an elaborate and well-worked ‘counter chasse’. Robin ‘Dreadful’ Cousins landed the triple Twizzle *Choctaw Rocker to slap one home. But with barely minutes to go Duke for the 8s provided an upset to match when Howard Nicholson won the first British Figure Skating Championships ice dance competition in 1952 as a soloist. A soloist! Imagine!

It was a great goal. A winning goal. As the bouquets and flowers were thrown on the ice. Alan and Bromley held up some cards to indicate things. And the 9s were left to rue the day, and sharpen their blades for the next encounter."

*A step where the skater pushes off one foot, crossing it behind the other, and then glides on the other foot, in case you didn’t know.

Other result
BHHC 3s 5 East Grinstead 3s 1