Brighton & Hove continued their preparation for the resumption of the Men's Hockey League next month by beating Chichester 5-3 at Blatchington Mill on Sunday.

Skipper Adam Flett scored twice from short corners while Sam Rose, Tom Stokes and player-coach Joe Naughalty were also on target from open play.

Brighton have lined up further friendlies against Chichester (away on Sunday January 23 - to be confirmed), Fareham (at home on Saturday January 29 at 6pm) and Oxted (away on Sunday January 30) to sharpen their game before tackling Division One South leaders Reading at home on Sunday February 6 (1pm).

Surrey Spartans 1s 2
BHHC 2s 1

Andrew Bromley reports: “A very frustrating and somewhat surprising result away at Surrey Spartans, given we beat them 13-0 at home and they'd not picked up a single point in 11 matches!

We started well and moved the ball around with confidence and conviction. In fact, we didn't at any point struggle to have decent possession in the wide channels. The Spartans team was somewhat different to the team we played at the beginning of the season but that was to be expected as they are the home team.

We were particularly surprised at the difference in ability of their GK (compared to the reverse fixture) who saved 20+ efforts on goal. Who knows, perhaps he adopted extra powers in his full Loughborough Students kit.

We had two efforts cleared off the line and numerous (5+) short corners not awarded 'not seen', including the most obvious of foot infringements in the last play of the game. Frustratingly though we couldn't manage to convert the six or so that we did win.

On the rare occasions that Spartans made it into our half, they did so with aplomb and on two occasions found unmarked players at the back post who managed to bundle the ball in past stand-in GK Andrew Bromley (Upchurch missing due to Covid).

This weekend we host Sunbury and Walton Hawks, who took points off of us in one of our other below-par trips away (on that occasion we turned up missing three players and missed a flick!). Fingers crossed that we can right the wrongs of the previous fixture vs Hawks, as well as this weekend's disaster in Guildford!”

Middleton 1s 0
BHHC 3s 2

Paul Harvey reports: “The first post-Christmas fixture is always tricky and away to Middleton 1s, who were just behind us in the league, could have been tough.

But we started well, increasingly dominated possession and controlled the game really nicely. Billy made one good save when Paddy fell over and gave the ball to their centre forward but was otherwise unemployed.

It ended up 2-0 with goals from Jack and Paddy and loads of missed chances, squandered short corners and posts hit.”

BHHC 5s 2
Lewes 4s 0

Ramzy Omran reports: “The 5s had a lively first half at Blatch with some quick passing. Jasper Cooper made a run from the left and scored the first goal.

Soon after this, Alex Covey put a reverse strike into the corner for the second. Lewes created some chances but the 5s defence made some key interceptions to stop these.

The second half was busy but remained scoreless. Warren Plaskett and Callum Pooles saw plenty of the ball in midfield, and opportunities came to the forwards. Lewes mounted further attacks and the 5s defence had to stay focused near the end to claim a clean sheet. The 5s took three points with great pride.

MoM: Warren Bunny Plaskett for controlling the midfield well.
DoD: Callum Pooles for numerous trips and dives.”

Mid Sussex 3s 1
BHHC 6s 4

Tom Wolfenden reports: “The first outing of 2022 was a trip to Burgess Hill to play a Mid Sussex side comprising old heads and youthful legs.

Our first half performance was top tier mediocre as we sweated though the Christmas excesses. Side line aerials were sent into the netball court next door, tackles missed and marking was erratic.

So it was not against the run of play that we conceded the game’s opening goal when a poor clearance from our D went straight to one of their more skilful youth players who slotted home.

Just before half time, we managed to work the ball into their D and Liam hit a powerful low shot to equalise. 1-1 at half time flattered us – Pete had been the busier goalkeeper.

Steve Rigg’s half time chat led to a restructure in the midfield and the second half saw some improvement as we played higher up the pitch and neutralised the impact of their midfield play makers.

We converted our pressure into goals: a second for Liam followed by two goals from Rob Chilvers, who keeps his season’s tally ticking over. We remain a point clear at the top of the table but we can’t be drinking from the mediocrity cup again.

MoM - Liam Coleman two goals and an assist.
DoD - Alan Teal left his shirt in the car and played in his body armour - a lucrative sponsorship deal is in the post.”

BHHC 8s 11
Crawley 4s 0

Steve Leonard reports: “Start of the second half of the season saw the Pebbles at home to Crawley 4s. From pushback it was clear the game was going to be dominated by the Pebbles, who were ready to carry through their impressive form from 2021.

After a steady start to the match the first goal came from a short corner converted by Theo Isachsen after 10 minutes. After a good move, Patrick Ford was supplier for the second on 20 minutes, Theo scoring again. He then ran on to secure his hattrick on 22 minutes.

The half concluded with a good run from Aaron Patel passing to Rudy Maxwell for a great finish on 30 minutes. 4-0 at half time.

The second half started well again for the Pebbles with Toby Leonard making a good tackle in midfield and then running through to the box for Louis Patel to finish on 52 minutes.

Another short corner on 61 minutes saw Patrick scoop high and accurately into the net for 6-0 followed shortly after with George Hodgson scrambling an attempt over the line. At 7-0 the 8s weren’t prepared to stop the onslaught and Peter Rourke converted from an acute angle after a good solo run on 65 minutes (claiming it was a deliberate shot although his team mates were not so sure!).

Aaron got his brace after a good move on 67 minutes with Louis doing the same on 68 minutes. A final Pebbles goal from Patrick finished off events in the last minute to make it 11 without reply, the Crawley team utterly shellshocked by Brighton.”

Other results
BHHC 4s 2 Mid Sussex 1s 6
BHHC 9s 0 BHHC 7s 2