A failure to capitalise on an early goal and half a dozen short corners cost Brighton and Hove in the Men's Hockey League on Sunday as they lost by the odd goal in seven to Canterbury at Blatchington Mill School.

Nathan Tyler put Brighton in front in the opening minute and Canterbury had to clear the ball off their line to avoid falling further behind as the home side started strongly. Adam Lee-Browne and Thomas Degiovanni put the visitors in front before half time but Tyler - with his third goal in two games - fired Brighton level with 20 minutes to play.

A Tom Bean penalty stroke and a second goal from Lee-Browne clinched the points for Canterbury but captain Luke Owen grabbed a third for Brighton late on as it finished 4-3.

Coach Jon Royce sees his side struggling to deal this season with the expectation of winning against the lower sides while playing better against those higher up the table. He said his side had "sat back a bit" after Canterbury's early equaliser, which had knocked their confidence, and also pointed to the failure to convert any of six penalty corners when the previous week they had been 100 per cent successful with three against Teddington.

He was pleased with the contribution of Tyler, who he said had "really stepped up".

Royce is hoping to select a full strength side for this Sunday's game with bottom of the table Fareham at Blatchington Mill (1pm) with injury doubts over Sam Rose and Felix Mathes having cleared up. Steve Perry, an attacking midfielder who has moved from Eastbourne, is making a good impression after a late start to the season because of injury and the side is further bolstered by the arrival of young Spanish player Alex Broto.

"Since I have been at Brighton and Hove I have not been able to put the same team out each week and that really hurts," said Royce. He will be hoping his side can reverse the 4-2 defeat at Fareham in October in the return fixture.

The changes at the top of Division One South continue with Oxted taking over as leaders after beating Bath Buccaneers 3-2 while Sevenoaks moved into second above Southgate by beating them 4-1. Canterbury's win moved them level on points with Brighton while the two other matches were drawn.

Gore Court 1s 10
BHHC 2s 1

Free-scoring Gore Court showed just why they are second in the Kent/Sussex Regional League with a ten-goal demolition of the 2s on Saturday.

"What a difference seven days makes," reports Andrew Bromley. "Last week we were comfortable 5-0 winners against South Saxons; this week (with almost exactly the same team!) we were on the receiving end of 10 goals!
 
"If we're honest, it's not a fixture that we'd expected to take points from but 10-1 certainly wasn't on the cards. Gore Court were very good around our goal, despite the heroics of GK Stevie Doolan. 

"What makes the result harder to comprehend is that we won a stroke after just 45 seconds and could (should) have been 1-0 up. Sadly the stroke was saved. The consolation goal was scored by Jago Hussain after his initial deflection was saved by their GK's helmet. 

"Rubbing salt in to the wound, Gore Court had no before or after changing facilities and had provided teas that would have not looked out of place at HMP Slade. Huge game against Marden Russets this Saturday."

BHHC 3s 4
Middleton 1s 0

Three points clear at the top of Sussex League division one after another emphatic victory, the unbeaten 3s are ready to tackle their closest challengers this coming Saturday in fine form.

"Another sterling performance from the guys as we took an easy victory at home against Middleton 1s," reports Andy Wheeler. "Watching from the side it was evident that the team are enjoying themselves and beginning to embrace the style of hockey that Dan Hore is coaching.

"When we linked and moved the ball Middleton couldn’t touch us; so much so that Andy Hehir in goal may as well have stayed in bed as he wasn’t required to touch the ball once. Alex Smith, Alex Bull and Mike Williams were all on the scoresheet and we could have had a few more.

"Currently clear at the top we have a tough fixture this Saturday against current second place team Worthing 2s. They have a game in hand and this test will determine who takes the lead going into the new year."

Worthing 3s 2
BHHC 4s 3

Two goals from Jon Easingwood and one from Sam Nicholls gave the 4s their first win of the season at the eighth time of asking in division one - but they did it the hard way.

"Brighton 4s win!" reports exuberant captain Ramzy Omran. "Brighton went to Worthing knowing they needed to return with a win.  After 10 minutes this looked unlikely as they were 2-0 down, heated debate in defence ensued with elder statesmen Jamie and Ramzy trying to explain man marking to the younger contingent.

"The 4s continued to be under the cosh and against the run of play we pulled one back, the ever reliable Jonno finding an angle and shooting into goal. 

"At half time a spirited team talk from Dr Kylie and tactical switch to put Kylie at left half seemed to pay dividends as Brighton had attack after attack and equalised after 10 minutes as Sam tapped one in from short range.

"Tyler had to go off with a head injury which saw Hidi into the left back role until Sim returned from an extended break. Evan then got our first card of the season with a clumsy tackle as we pressed for a winner which was not coming. Worthing were as attacking on the break with Psycho making a couple of fine saves to keep the scores level.

"Then at the death we got a short corner, which we wasted; however we got a second chance as Worthing broke early. Jonno made sure this time round, slapping the ball against the backboard. 3-2. Could we hold on 10 seconds for the win ... of course we could! We may have only led for 10 seconds but they were the most important 10 seconds."

BHHC Rocks 20
Eastbourne 5s 0

The performance of the weekend was undoubtedly Richard 'Doc' Cook's remarkable 10 goals against Eastbourne as the division two leaders put their visitors to the sword in a 20-goal rout.

"A sublime performance from our team," reports skipper Carlo Missirian. "Eastbourne came with only 11 and deserve a great deal of credit and never gave up but were faced with 70 minutes of relentless hockey.

"It really is as good as we have played in terms of discipline, fast transfer and accurate and decisive passing in all areas of the pitch. The goals were shared evenly, 10 for Doc and the rest for the mere mortals - Dave (2), Davros (2), Paddy (2), Dermot, Paul, Gaz and Carlo. The weather was appalling but the hockey was exotic.

"Dick of the day was Dermot for his excuse to leave at half time! Man of the match ... Doc, I think. One of those days where everything went right in every way!"

The veterans under Carlo have been drawn away to Canterbury in the next round of the Tier One National Masters Over-40s championship on December 8.

Southwick 2s 4
BHHC 6s 0

The 6s lost a mid-table clash in division three, which allowed Southwick 2s to jump above them, scoring four without reply.

BHHC 7s 3
Eastbourne 5s 0

In division four the 7s are leading the chase of leaders East Grinstead  after a third straight victory.

"After a good win last week, we were faced with a number of changes due to illness and unavailability, but despite this we still had a strong squad," reports Gary Revel-Chion.

"Eastbourne started strongly and we took a while to find our feet. We survived the slow start and after a period of pressure we put together a slick move which was finished off by Matt Brown. An individual effort by Ryan Elliott then put us 2-0 up by half time.

"We came under more pressure in the second half but our miserly defence held firm until a second goal from Matt put us three goals clear. A third win in a row and a third clean sheet consolidated our place second in the league."

St Francis 3s 1
BHHC 8s 1

The mens 8’s had the pleasure of an early yet short excursion up the A23 to face Saint Francis 3s. As ever, this would be a tight encounter for two evenly matched sides, reports Shaun Pimley.

"With Saint Francis 3s having a bare 11, we fancied our chances having taken the game to EG only a week ago. We were maybe a little too confident, and started the game off as though we had been on a bender the night before. This would become a familiar tale throughout the match were much of our play felt laboured.

"After a feisty start to the match, which saw plenty of green card threats from both umpires, we found ourselves one up through James Schmit, who expertly found the net from a well worked short corner. The goal however came with its own controversy, with the umpire chalking the goal off and calling a long corner. Apparently, if it goes in off the keeper's bonce, the goal cannot stand. Thankfully, after the opposite umpire successfully undermined his counterpart, we were one goal to the good again.

"Shortly before halftime though, one of the umpires lost the will to live and awarded Chris Allen a yellow card for a hearty shoulder barge and we were down to ten.

"The recurring theme of this match was Saint Francis’ adoration for the long ball and reluctance to play any silky hockey. To our sadness, their anti-hockey tactic worked a treat, and we never really found our flow in the game. Every Saint Francis play usually ended with the pitch resembling a pinball machine.

"Half time, and a barely deserved 1-0 lead, we spent some time trying to awaken ourselves to the prospect of keeping pace with league leaders East Grinstead. However, within moments of the restart, Saint Francis found themselves level.

"For the next 30 minutes, Saint Francis continued to act like a malfunctioning pinball machine, pinging the ball up to their lone striker, and for much of the time it came to nothing. From this, we failed to create chances and after a spot of squeaky bum time at the end of the match in which Saint Francis were awarded a short corner, we hung on for a draw. In the end, it really did feel like a point gained.

"The 8s now head into a short break, hoping to re-emerge reinvigorated and with a burning sensation in our bellies."