HOCKEY: Local hockey round-up

Worthing three times went in front but Horsham each time struck back, with the last leveller coming with virtually the final touch of the match to level things at 3-3.

Last season, Worthing also failed to get a win against Horsham. The result after travelling up the A24 ended in a 1-1 draw, while the return fixture at St Andrew's saw a 1-0 Horsham win, which was Worthing's first defeat of the campaign.

Worthing captain Matt Ansell was unhappy with the display from his side and felt it was a game they should have won. He said: "I really think this was two points dropped, rather than one gained.

"Horsham appear to be a thorn in our side. But, credit to them, they were disciplined in defence and hit us on the break.

"Overall, I was very disappointed with the point. I had stressed to the team that we needed to ensure we made pressure count in terms of goals and, much like last season, we were unable to do this."

Craig Paterson opened the scoring from close range after good play from Grant Sawyer and Rob Lowe.

However, sloppy defending gave Horsham a rare opportunity, with a short corner. Chris Binns saved well but poor defensive reactions failed to clear off his pads and the score was levelled.

In the second half, Worthing continued to dominate, and the move of the match was finished in style by Alex Warner. Paterson hit the ball long to Lowe, who turned superbly in the D and slotted the ball to Warner, who scored from close range.

After Horsham equalised again, Paterson added a third. Fellow Kiwi Chris Marr showed great skills and a good reverse-stick shot came back off the post kindly for Paterson to grab his second.

However, as Worthing continued to press forward to kill the game off, they were caught on the break having over committed, which allowed Horsham to break and make it 3-3 with almost the last hit of the game.

WORTHING: Binns, Warner, Godber, Pease, Beales, Sciandro, Sewell, Ansell, Ginnaw, Sawyer, Paterson. Subs: Lowe, Marr, Gubbins.

A late show from Bryan Lock sealed a 5-2 victory for Worthing 2nd in a tough match at Brighton 3rd.

Three goals in the last 10 minutes gave Worthing the win. Lock netted a hat-trick, while Ahmed Ramiz and Chris Lowin were also on target, as Worthing made it six wins from six in Sussex Area Division 1.

David Edmondson set up Lock for his first before Brighton equalised from a short corner to level the scores at half-time.

Brighton took the lead in the second half, when some poor closing down at a long corner allowed them to find a spare player on the baseline, who cut in and had a free shot at goal.

Ramiz then smashed home into the roof of the net after a driving run from Adam Stephens down the right.

Lowin forced the ball home from Lock's pass to put Worthing ahead, before keeper Chris Wheeldon pulled off a top-class diving save to deny Brighton. Lock then struck a late double to seal the victory.

In the same division, Worthing 3rd picked up their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw against Lewes 3rd.

Penguin's match against Crowborough was postponed.

Penguin Juniors scored their first goal and gained their first point of the season against Mid Sussex on Saturday. Jack Kearney, aged 10, got Penguin's goal.

Littlehampton Hockey Club just held on to record their fifth win in six games in Division 1 of the Sussex Open League on Saturday, with a 5-4 win at Middleton & Bognor 2nd.

Captain Steve Jenkins put Littlehampton ahead early on, when he flicked home from their first short corner.

Stuart Sexton then set up Jon Miles for his 10th goal of the season to double the lead.

Middleton then pulled one back, but Colin Warner restored the two-goal cushion with a fierce drive, which found the net after a big deflection.

The home side again pulled a goal back before Simon Judd slotted home to give them a 4-2 advantage at half-time.

After the break, Judd's defence-splitting pass found Damien Jenkins, who was fouled by the Middleton keeper. That resulted in a penalty stroke which Steve Jenkins dispatched for his second of the match.

Littlehampton then lost John Gardner and Sexton to injury '“ Sexton required six stitches after suffering a suspected broken nose when blocking a short corner.

The home side pulled back two goals to set up a nervy finish and Michael Phillips then saved the three points for Littlehampton when he made a crucial block defending a short corner in the final moments.

LITTLEHAMPTON: Keeley, Thompson, Phillips, Clarke, D.Macdonald, Gardner, Warner, S.Jenkins, Akrill, D.Jenkins, Sexton. Subs: Miles, Judd, J.Macdonald.

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