Regional League: Samak attack

International pair Mohamed Samak and Mohamed Nagey shared half the goals as Brighton romped to an 8-2 success over their Sussex rivals.

The pair were approached during the summer while competing in World Cup qualifiers in Scotland.

Brighton captain Carlo Missirian had kept their arrival under wraps so as not to create interest from clubs at a higher level, but he failed to keep the pair quiet at Crawley on Saturday.

Leading 2-1 at half time, Brighton ran away with the game after the break thanks to some splendid hockey.

Missirian said: "We have had a lot of changes and in the first half we didn't dominate at all. Once we got into gear we played really well, everything went in."

Paul Daniels (two), Richard Love and Dave Delea, who has returned to the club from Lewes, were also on target but Missirian is refusing to get carried away by the result.

He said: "I think the next two games are critical for us. We have Herne Bay and Holcombe and by the end of those two games we will know realistically whether we have a chance of winning this league or not."

On target for a much changed Crawley side were Chris Peach and new player-coach Terry Higgs, who scored from a penalty corner.

Higgs said: "This was a learning experience for our youngsters, who will learn from this and will improve. We competed or outplayed Brighton at times, so considering they are one of the favourites for the league title we have shown that we can do it."

Horsham's new captain Mark Ansell was on the score sheet at his side opened with a 4-3 victory away to Ashford.

Ansell was not expected to play due to an ankle ligament problem but he came on as a replacement and put his side into a 3-1 lead from where they never look back.

Having fallen behind, Horsham levelled with a cracking strike from Ian Brown, who had been set up by Richard Blakeley. In the second half, Brown made it 2-1 from a short corner before Ansell netted.

Ashford reduced the deficit further before Alistair Billington made it 4-2, touching home a deflection from a short corner. Ashford netted again on the final whistle but it was not enough.

Ansell said: "We didn't play as well as we can but I am quite pleased that we have got more to come. We don't want to peak too early."

Worthing and Mid Sussex both conceded later winners. Promoted Worthing lost 2-1 at home to Gillingham Anchorians, who had been relegated last year.

In an eventful first half, Worthing failed to convert a number of good chances and they were also grateful for a penalty save from defender Rex Fuller, who went into goal after Daniel Godsmark was sent off.

Skipper Simon Holloway finally put Worthing in front in the second half, firing home from the top of the D after latching on to David Edmondson's through ball.

Gillingham levelled and then came a major talking point as what looked like a perfectly good goal from Worthing's John Massie was ruled out. It got worse for Worthing with two minutes remaining when the visitors snatched a winner from a short corner.

Holloway said: "The positive points were that we certainly competed with them and should have won.

"We have four one-on-ones with the keeper in the first half but failed to convert them. it wasn't really the result we were looking for to start things off but it will come."

Mid Sussex fought back from 2-0 down to level matters away to Old Williamsonians but the hosts then grabbed a last minute winner.

Two goals behind at half time, Andy Crossley pulled one back from open play from Simon Hobden's cross and Andy Green then followed up a short corner to make it 2-2. However, Mids were denied the point they deserved in the final seconds.

In Kent/Sussex division one, there were defeats for all three Sussex sides.

Eastbourne lost 3-0 at home to Burnt Ash and new captain Tony Hayes had no complaints with the result.

Hayes said: "They were a good, hard-working side. We had our chances. We had two cleared off the line, hit the crossbar and hit the keeper. If you don't put chances away, you don't win games."

Middleton and Bognor went down 2-1 at home to Marden Russets with all the goals coming in the first half. Having fallen behind, Gary Cotton finished off a smart move to put M&B level but the visitors scored what proved to be the winner on the stroke of half time.

M&B's Neil Pacey said: "Both sides had chances in the second half but couldn't find the back of the net."

Crowborough, promoted from the Sussex Open League, were left to rue naive defending as they began with a 4-1 defeat away to Old Bordenians.

Borough were always competitive but individual errors saw them fall 4-0 behind before Darren Pulman gained a late consolation from a penalty corner.