Brighton and Hove Starlings finally got to play a Sussex Girls Development League match on Saturday, having had three of their first five cancelled, and it was a tight affair with Horsham Hotstars which ended 2-2.

"We put out a side ranging in age from 11 to 15, with many playing in their first match for the Starlings and some in their first match for BHHC," reports coach/manager Amy Macmillan.

"It took a while for the girls to find their feet as a team and this resulted in a number of quick attacks from Horsham, but young Under-12 Ayla in goal kept calm and kept the ball out for a good 10 to 15 minutes. At which point, Horsham broke through our defences off a well worked PC to open the scoring.

"As the half went on, the Starlings grew in confidence and started to play some lovely hockey. There was some particularly good link up play between the mids and the forwards, with new player Eliza Jones taking charge in centre mid and young forwards Isolda Rees and Lara Clark working well together upfront. We struggled to finish though and went in 0-1 at half time.

"After guidance at half time on marking, posting up and finishing, the girls continued to grow and made a number of good attacks, whilst the defence consistently frustrated Horsham. Ayla made further good saves and Emily Cook as sweeper had an outstanding match, consistently reading the play and making important challenges and interceptions and then linking up with the mids to turn defence into attack. The girls' perseverance paid off, when Eliza deflected home an equaliser off a well worked PC midway through the half.

"Horsham came straight back at us though and re-took the lead within about five minutes. With time ticking on, the girls did not give up though. Emily and Ayla remained strong at the back, assisted fantastically by Jess Hunt, helping out as a junior facilitator, and they were unable to be beaten for the remainder of the match. Meanwhile the mids and forwards came close on a number of occasions before Isolda calmly turned on a sixpence and placed a low hard drag out of the keeper's reach in the bottom corner with five minutes to go.

"We traded blows equally in the last five minutes, but neither defence was breached. 2-2 it finished, a fair result all round we felt and a lovely game. Thank you to our umpires Hayley and Tiffany from the 7s, neither of whom had umpired before. They both did fantastically well and the kids, parents and coaches greatly appreciated those who come and umpire for us."

The Gulls drew 2-2 with Crowborough Blackbirds and sit two points behind their clubmates.

In the Sussex Boys Development League, the Flippers made it six wins out of six, 3-1 against Crawley Hawks, and sit second in the league table on goal difference behind East Grinstead Badgers.

Nick Bennett reports: "This week's match was a true game of two halves. A mediocre first half ended 0-0 but the second half saw a more vocal Brighton team move the ball around faster and take easy options.

"Curtis scored twice from short corners early in the half. Crawley fought back with a goal but Jacob sealed the game with 10 minutes to go."