Ben Hoggan reports: "Having entered into a game between the bottom two teams in the league on Saturday evening, Brighton & Hove left West Herts above the relegation zone with their second win in as many weeks.

With a win crucial for both sides in the context of the league the game began with a rapid exchange of chances. The home side charged into several dangerous attacks as Brighton’s defence was stretched, forwards were left unmarked and Chris Borsoi (and both the left and right posts) had to be called upon to keep the scoresheet unmarked.

Brighton, keen to find a reply to the reverse fixture earlier in the season in which West Herts came out 2-1 victors, attacked in numbers, further leaving themselves vulnerable to the home side’s counter-attack. As the game settled slightly, Brighton began to find success in pressing West Herts aggressively, Juan Sosa winning the ball in the centre of the pitch more than once and inciting good attacking opportunities thereafter.

Nathan Tyler’s deflection struck the West Herts post as the game continued to produce big chances to score. The first quarter ended, despite an abundance of openings, and the two sides remained level.

The game began to slip into the control of the away side, who were building on the momentum gained from their win the week before. Looking to play the ball around the West Herts defence more and accessing the wide areas of the circle, offered Brighton longer stretches of more secure possession.

Ten minutes into the second quarter, an Adam Flett slider pass found its way to the side of the circle and, after the ball bounced between sticks, Tyler slipped the ball backwards through his legs to Juan Sosa, who wrapped a shot around West Herts goalkeeper, Ollie Foot.

A significant goal was followed by significant celebrations and Brighton had a vital lead. Brighton moved through the gears, stunting any possession that the home side attempted to build and regularly mounting their own dangerous chances. A penalty corner was closely followed by a period of high possession, before Paddy Smith was found in cavernous space near the top of the circle. A strong ball into the circle was deflected in by Tyler, who again was unmarked and again opted to play the ball through his own legs. Brighton came out of a dominant 20 minutes with a 2-0 lead, their second coming just four minutes after their first.

Into the second half, Brighton further looked to exercise their control. The ball spent much of the time in the opposition half, with circle entries regular but positive outcomes limited. West Herts made an effective block of bodies but also rode their luck at times (as Brighton had done in the early moments of the game). The ball was played to Luke Owen, who, just before the halfway line, dug the ball from under his feet to play an overhead pass to Sam Rose on the right.

Rose dived to slap across goal, where James Rayward also dived to deflect, only to find the fast-reacting glove of Foot in the West Herts goal. Rio Tuson was also fed the ball close to the goal but just failed to convert the chance that would have confirmed three points for Brighton. Further looking for that game-sealing goal in the 63rd minute, Juan Sosa attempted to launch a counter-attack, carrying forward from deep defence. A good West Herts tackle dispossessed him in the Brighton half, before the ball was played into the circle and, before the Brighton defence could scramble into organisation, Kaveer Mehta tapped in from an open position. The score was 2-1 and a West Herts side that had been becoming increasingly dejected were revitalised and back in the game.

The final seven minutes were unsure for Brighton and promising for West Herts. The home side substituted their goalkeeper in favour of 11 outfield players and utilised the advantage well. Struggling to manage the game, Brighton conceded several opportunities for West Herts to level. After conceding an untidy penalty corner, the final whistle was blown. The long period of deep defence was over for Brighton but West Herts were provided with a game-levelling, season-defining chance.

The Brighton corner defence team braced for impact and the ball was injected to the expectant flickers at the top of the circle. Before it could reach them, however, the ball evaded the full face of the stopper’s stick and deflected up into his foot. The final whistle went again, West Herts damning loss was cemented and Brighton continued their essential perfect start to 2025.

Owing to other results, Brighton rose above Tunbridge Wells in the league standings and now find themselves eighth - a point above relegation and level with Old Cranleighans with 14 points. After a break in fixtures this weekend, Brighton travel to Old Cranleighan with a chance to grab a higher rung on the ladder and move a more promising distance from the bottom two. Continuing their perfect 2025 in south west London will be monumental in maintaining National League status, so any support on February 22 at 5:30pm will be vital towards their survival."

Conference East Week 12 results: Spencer 5 London Wayfarers 2, Bromley & Beckenham 7 Tunbridge Wells 5, Surbiton 1 Wimbledon 2, Hampstead & Westminster1 Old Cranleighan 1, West Herts 1 Brighton & Hove 2.

BHHC 10s 2
Lewes 6s 0

Crawley 4s 0
BHHC 10s 5

Simon Smith reports: "In a dazzling display of sporting prowess the men’s 10s have once again returned to the pantheon of greatness. Following a couple of disappointing defeats, to the 8s and 9s, the Xs latest two performances in the Martlets League 4 saga of conquest were nothing short of a symphony of stick-and-ball brilliance.

With two consecutive victories under their belts BHHC’s finest have delivered performances so scintillating that the gods of sport themselves must be paying attention to the mid-season, mid-table turnabout.

The Tens, a hubbub of hubris. Their midfield Wappy, Josh, Shorrocks, and even on occasionThompo seemed possessed by some supernatural force, caressing the ball with unerring precision. Upfront each and every goal was a masterpiece, with Ed, Louis, Dylan and others, too far away for your correspondent to see properly, were let loose against defences that had been undone like a courtesan’s basque by the width of Doc and Dreads. Two goals last week, five this, each a tapestry of athletic brilliance woven before the awe-struck fan.

The defence? Impenetrable. Sale, College, Jenner and GK Smith enjoying the cleanest sheets.

Despite these two consecutive wins the 10s remain mid-table. Were it not for better sides than us in the league we’d definitely be higher up the league. No doubt. Nevertheless, this is a team that refuses to be denied. Their recent success is not merely a streak; it is another prophecy unfolding. The Men’s 10s hockey team is unstoppable. Their legend grows,"

Other results

Sunbury & Walton Hawks 1s 8 BHHC 2s 4
BHHC 3s 3 Southwick 1s 4
Eastbourne 3s 2 BHHC 4s 3
BHHC 5s 4 Crawley 2s 3
South Saxons 3s 1 BHHC 6s 2
Hailsham 2s 2 BHHC 7s 0
Lewes 6s 0 BHHC 9s 9