HOCKEY: Worthing make it two wins from two

Speaking after his return to first-team action, captain Matt Ansell said: "It was a good first home team performance and I'm very pleased with the movement and fitness of the team.

"Also, the fact that we have scored 10 goals in two games, is a good sign."

Worthing started strongly and early pressure led to Rob Lowe winning a short corner, which was clinically executed by Alex Warner.

With Chris Binns returning to the Worthing goal, the defence looked assured and dealt with some early Blackheath pressure.

Binns was called into making an early save from a short corner before a lapse in the defence and a mistake from James Godber led to an equaliser.

Worthing quickly went back into attack and after good play from Chris Sciandro and Ansell, another short corner was won which once again Warner buried with a well-placed drag flick.

Warner then grabbed his hat-trick with his third powerful drag from another short corner.

A 10-minute wobble from Worthing allowed Blackheath back into the match and they drew level at 3-3.

However, the dominance and fitness of the home side paid dividends with three late goals.

Grant Sawyer scored two fantastic goals, both made by Lowe, and the sixth was a fine team goal.

Mike Gubbins powerfully ran at the defence before Sciandro squared the ball to Chris Marr. His reverse-stick shot was saved but Warner pounced to drive home his fourth.

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

Penguin also made it two wins from two games in Sussex Area Division 1 as they overcame Horsham 2nd on Saturday with a 5-1 away win.

Moaz Hamid and Rupert Ireland got Penguin's first two goals before Dave Matthews hit a hat-trick.

Penguin lost a number of senior players last year, and have promoted a number of under-21s to their side for the new season.

Manager Robin Melvin said: "It's great to be able to get these players up through the ranks and see them improve so quickly.

"We will get tougher games this season but we are off to a flying start, which is great for the confidence of the younger players."

In the same division, Worthing 2nd continued their fine start with a 7-4 win away at Eastbourne 3rd.

Bryan Lock netted four times, while Mark Minchell, Tim Barter and Stuart Barter were also all on target.

Worthing 3rd, however, failed to pick up a win as they lost 6-3 to Southwick.

Worthing Ladies went down to their first defeat of the season in the Sussex League Premier Division with a 3-1 reverse at Eastbourne 2nd.

Littlehampton Hockey Club top the Sussex Open League Division 1 after a 7-4 win at Hailsham 2nd on Saturday.

Jon Miles netted four times, Stuart Sexton hit two, while Colin Warner was also on target in a comfortable win.

Miles opened the scoring early on with a close-range finish from Warner's cross after a good run.

Ian Johnson levelled things up for the home side before Miles put Littlehampton in front again.

However, Hailsham again struck back as Martin Headley found the top corner to level things.

Miles then put Colin Warner through and he took a touch before coolly finishing past the advancing goalkeeper.

Sexton's fine finish then put Littlehampton in charge with a two-goal lead at the break.

Hailsham started brightly in the second half as John Gardner and David Macdonald combined to clear Johnson's short corner off the line.

Andrew Fuller then saved a penalty stroke after Gardner had been adjudged to clear with a foot.

However, Littlehampton stood strong and Miles completed his hat-trick on 55 minutes.

Steve Jenkins then cleverly side-stepped the goalkeeper to find Miles, whose blocked effort fell to Sexton and he dispatched the sixth goal.

Miles completed the scoring soon afterwards with his fourth of the game, before he also hit the post with the last touch of the match.

Southwick Hockey Club picked up a 6-3 win at Worthing 3rd on Saturday in Sussex Area Division 1.

Wickers are one of six teams in the league who have won their opening two matches.

In the same division, Penguin won 5-1 at Horsham 2nd with a hat-trick from Dave Matthews and goals from Moaz Hamid and Rupert Ireland.

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