The men's national league season resumes this weekend with Brighton & Hove starting the second half of the season with a trip to Division One South leaders Southgate on Sunday.

Brighton will be looking to improve on their showing in the opening match - a 7-1 defeat - and have been through a busy programme of warm-up games in January to prepare. After a creditable draw with Guildford and convincing victory over Fareham, Brighton suffered narrow defeats in a double header at the weekend, a 2-1 loss at Chichester on Saturday followed by a 3-2 defeat at home on Sunday to Havant.

Southgate have yet to drop a point this season in the league, winning all nine of their matches and scoring 47 goals, so they pose a real test. The following week Brighton travel to Bristol University, who are winless, with both clubs among a clutch of four trying to avoid relegation.

Sunday also saw the end of Brighton's run in the Tier 1 National Over-40s Cup as a goal from a short corner 10 minutes from time decided a hard-fought tie 1-0 in favour of the home side, Epsom.

Oxted 2s 6
BHHC 2s 2

Andrew Bromley reports: "In the first of back-to-back away fixtures at Oxted HC, the M2 were again travelling light as several key players were supporting the M1 in their final critical pre-season friendlies. We also lost Josh Lawrence at training on Thursday following (delusions of youthfulness) a drag-flicking injury. 

Thankfully, normality will be restored this weekend with the National League resuming; however such circumstances provided the opportunity for debutants Patrick Ford and Adam Cuin, as well as the return of Jacob Young. We also welcomed back Fin Tookey after a near one-year recovery from a serious achilles injury during the M1 fixture at home to Reading in 2022.

After a team talk in changing rooms that resembled the trenches in Blackadder Goes Forth, we headed into no man's land against a squad almost entirely changed from the squad that faced us in the return fixture. After a brief warm up, we bullied off and were immediately under pressure. Luckily Baldrick Bromley in the pads was alert, as he was called into action regularly in the first half. 

The Ox of East Surrey went ahead first but weren't ahead for long as our Flashhearts up front immediately won us a penalty stroke (Jacob was rugby tackled). Despite General Melchett's (Jon Williams') best efforts to de-robe in time to take it, Alex Smith stepped up and scored it. Woof! Sadly Oxted then scored a decent backhand effort that Baldrick couldn't quite get his triangle in the way of, taking us into half time 2-1 down. 

Gen Melchett encouraged the squad to keep working hard and moving the ball around as we truly felt we were still in with a chance. Sadly the second half didn't quite pan out that way. 

Despite the best efforts of GK Baldrick, his balanced slug, cup of questionable coffee and his triangle, The Oxen from Surrey managed to poke home another four goals to our one (Rufus setting up Alex Smith). Captain (Page) Darling was visibly frustrated that the match had played out in this fashion but we all acknowledged that we'd played a strong 'home game specialist' team with several crucial team mates missing in action (Chichester away).
 
To mix things up a bit we're away at Oxted next week, playing in the same location in the same kit. Thankfully not at the same time as otherwise, I'd be concerned that there's a glitch in the matrix." 

Mid Sussex 2s 2
BHHC 5s 0

Hidetomo Moro reports: “The 5s started well and were on top in the first half. Mid Sussex 2s made attacks but individual errors and good communication by the defence meant these were dealt with. The midfield worked passes in for the forwards, and Sanchez and De Souza had chances to put the 5s in front.

The second half was similar but the experienced Mid Sussex side had more possession. They scored a neat tap in after an attacking overload. The 5s counter attacked often and one led to Bunny having an effort saved. After a number of penalty corners Mid scored a second goal with a tap in.

The 5s played a strong top of the league side and matched them in effort and skill but were not quite cruising, but were unlucky to lose by 2-0.

MoM: Callum Clement for some top saves
DoD: Alex De Souza for an air shot.”

BHHC 6s 2
Horsham 3s 3

Matt Richardson reports: “This lunchtime fixture v Horsham 3s pushed back at Blatch with the sun shining for a change. The Rocks were looking to bounce back from last week’s loss and despite Horsham sitting third in the league, the opening few minutes showed very little between them.

With a few absentees, George Hodgson and Toby Leonard were manoeuvred into a new partnership in midfield and soon proved to be a very effective combination behind an advancing and creative Toby Rayward. Within 15 minutes of sustained pressure the Rocks got their breakthrough with Toby L sweeping in past the opposition GK – 1-0 Rocks.  

Although Horsham had some individual skill they lacked the team cohesion and fluidity the Rocks were showing and would regularly resort to throwing aerials attempting to penetrate Brighton’s back line or returning to their “no risk” approach that the Rocks were treated to back in October in the reverse fixture, all with little effect. 

Carlo, Ivor Davies and Peter Rourke were happy using the width to transfer effectively through the backline feeding Toby L and George H who, with a good understanding between them, bossed from the centre with some great vision in moving the ball into space and creating the offensive – overall the Rocks were looking relatively comfortable.

But then on 28 minutes, a goalmouth scramble led to a decision which flipped the game on its head. A foot in the D led to the award of a P-flick to Horsham who converted and then within two minutes caught Brighton napping and suddenly it was 2-1 to the visitors. 

Carlo’s half time talk re-balanced the Rocks focus and within two minutes of the second period a superb pass from James Wood found a rapidly advancing Miles Richardson who, whilst being triple-teamed by the opposition defence, sent the ball rocketing past the Horsham GK – parity restored 2-2.  

A number of short corners followed for both sides, but unfortunately Brighton’s Achilles heel seemed to return with a string of injections hitting the spot but poorly executed in the strike or pass to slip and returning nothing of worth. At the other end, whilst Brighton’s defence were solid in the closing down of Horsham’s penalty corners, on 29 minutes they could do nothing about a scrappy finish going down 3-2 and it staying that way until the final whistle. 

The Rocks were unlucky today having certainly looked the more composed and effective of the two teams – even the visitors acknowledged so, however, as we know, goals win games and this wasn’t to be Brighton’s day.”

Crawley 4s 0
BHHC 8s 3

John Spearman reports: “For the second week running our steadfast captain was again laid up sick and the call went out to Spears to step in and act as captain for the game. Dickie had organised positions, WhatsApped tactics across and no detail had been left to chance with our central defence Hamish and Gary both away.

The meet time as usual allowed for all eventualities 11.50 for 12.00, plenty of time for the 1.30 push. Spears casually arrives at 12.02, no team, no one has seen anyone? A quick message suggested some had gone, others even more casually getting there in due course. So off to Crawley and miraculously everyone arrives there, all in good time (Hamish not playing!), lots of chat, some casual stretching and we’re soon on the pitch for the warm-up.

All’s going well until Spears receives a slightly wayward ball to his right, just as Andy C behind him gets a similarly loose ball to his left, suddenly without realising Spears is on the wrong side and - yes - it’s a stick straight across the nose….only a little cut, small plaster? No too much blood, but a bigger one does it. Round one over!

Strange looks from the umps to the big plaster as we agree ends, another tradition lost to the now cashless society! And we’re off looking good, controlling it nicely, eventually Simon Finn slots home the first, with Gareth Shorrocks making it two not long after, their keeper having a blinder, it could have been four easily!

Ten minutes left of the first half and Crawley start to push us back a bit and then Cam gets the ball in the stomach, not quite putting him on the canvas but a standing count was needed before we resume. We survive a couple of shorts and make it to half time, all well aware of our captain’s wise words, don’t forget 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline but we’re still holding the clean sheet!

The rallying half time talk took the usual path, use the space, keep it simple… and we’re off with the second half. And it came to pass… swift passing down the right, beautiful ball across the goal and slotted home by Andy Mattock on the left post: easy stuff.

Crawley’s frustration was growing and their playmaker 114 was trying to get things going with some swift passing and runs into the D. Suddenly the ball comes up high and he smashes it full volley in the direction of the goal (some later debate on whether it was going wide or not delayed) and the ball strikes Atul a full on upper cut into the chest; another man down for the count. 

But he drags himself up beating the count and we get ready to defend the following short, a couple more shorts and a bit of pressing and it's 45 seconds to go, a final short awarded to Crawley at the death. Spears running two is out there first down low, trapping the ball off 114 again and driving out of the D, the first clean sheet was not to be lost!

Final score 3-0, no cards, but a couple of injuries - a blow below the belt for Cam and a big hit for Atul; seconds out till the next game, Lewes 5s and a chance to top the league beckons! Till next time and a replenished and extended first-aid kit! Black-eyed Spears signing off!”

BHHC 9s 2 
Eastbourne 5s 2

Alistair Thomson reports: “The curse of the dead pigeon … The dead pigeon next to the dug out was an omen of trouble to come. Still reeling from a sobering defeat by the Arthritic 8s, the 9s returned to Battlefield Blatch to face Eastbourne, weirdly attired in duck egg coloured shirts.

The first disaster was the devastating news that team guru Myles ‘Kobe’ Beef had had his car tyres mysteriously sabotaged in a remote Sussex village. The lack of viable public transport options due to the infamous Dr Beeching, meant the team was listless and even the return of Wappy after his sabbatical with the Carlo All Stars, couldn’t lift the impending sense of doom.

With the no magical whiteboard to guide us into position, no one was quite sure what position or what type of press we were going to play. It showed. 

Soon disaster struck again, 1-0 down due to lackadaisical defending from a short. This led to Thompo and Wappy to play synchronised falling dominoes. Thompo wasn’t finished: after a shocking pass, he berated himself McEnroe style similar to the famous chalk/line incident, Bognor 2004. As in the previous game, the team bizarrely decided to play a slow waiting game against an oppo devoid of pace. 2-0, another short corner scramble leading to a bouncing bomb that Thompo and Simon skilfully managed to avoid.

Half time came just as Brighton were in the ascendancy, but still 2-0 down. With no hairdryer (you picked the wrong game to miss Doc), whiteboard, magnets or pens, it was left to stand-in guru Thompo to waffle on about using our speed. 

Well someone was listening. After a swift move which was rewarded with a short, Hugo slapped it home with aplomb after a fine bit of control by Callum. Dreaders was involved again after he finished off a scrappy move bundling the ball over the line. 

It was good to see the return of Stan after his nasty kidney injury for his first game of contact sport for a few months. 

Talking of contact, the game suddenly turned feisty as both sides pressed for a winner. As in previous games, the skilful but very vocal Eastbourne forward was central to the shenanigans. Upset after a robust tackle from Callum, he  continued his whinging after a brutal tackle by Matt ‘Damage’ Sale on another Eastbourne forward. ‘Damage’ caused the whinging to dial up to 11 by another fair but robust tackle, this time on the whinger himself.

With Eastbourne still causing problems, a calamitous mix up made it likely that the Pebbles would succumb to a defeat at the death yet again. Suddenly out of nowhere rode College to the rescue, swiftly moving from right touchline to left side of ‘D’. Without time for his trademark reverse stick faff, College coolly swept the ball to safety to keep the Pebbles in the points.

The focal point of the debrief was the mysterious Myles motor malarkey. With the youngsters always keen to miss the hairdryer, attention turned to who could be the culprit. With the youngsters staring at the ground to avoid giving away guilty looks, a new suspect appeared. A cackling Patrick Ford had been spotted earlier pitchside. Was it an inside job?

Special mention to Killian, who had his most assured game of the season. Growing in stature, he was there to steady the ship after many of the old guard mixups!

The weird events of the day weren’t quite over. A vision appeared in the clubhouse which had a passing resemblance to the Pebbles' very own cheerleader Dreaders. Luckily the vision didn’t appear for long, so the team were able to resume their quest to finish off all the IPA. Wappy entertained the troops by providing a passionate argument as to why Michael McIntyre provides such good Saturday night family fodder.

As previously mentioned, if you're looking for a fun hockey team to watch and socialise with, look no further than the BHHC mens 9s, aka The Glorious Vengeance!

PS: Our regular correspondent will be back next week, fresh from his Sex Pistols fancy dress party!”

Other results
Worthing 3s 2 BHHC 3s 5
BHHC 4s 1 Worthing 2s 1