Brighton's 2001 promotion push got underway amid a flurry of goals against Horsham on Saturday.

As the Kent and Sussex Regional League campaign resumed after its winter break, Brighton were placed third, six points behind leaders Holcombe and three behind Tulse Hill.

That situation did not change with the top three winning at the weekend and a 6-4 victory for Brighton leaves them in buoyant mood for the second half of the season.

Brighton have still got to play both Holcombe and Tulse Hill, and their situation will be helped after a meeting of the top two later this month.

Skipper Carlo Missirian said: "It was not as close as it looks in the end, although Horsham are a good side. It was a fantastic team performance by us.

"We have got to play Tulse Hill and Holcombe and it could easily go down to goal difference."

Against Horsham it was a second half purple patch which proved decisive.

John Burroughs gave Horsham the lead but Richard Love levelled from a short corner before the interval.

After half time the goals began to fly in with Love scoring three more and Terry-Alan Toohey adding two. Horsham produced a late rally with goals from Burroughs, Mark Ansell and Ian Brown.

Their skipper, Neil Burlinson, said: "We came back well at the end but once again we let in too many goals."

Another plus for Brighton was the performance of teenager Barney Stubbs, who got his his chance as Brighton College friend Steve Edmonds was away at an England under-18 training camp.

There were goals aplenty too as Crawley came from behind four times to beat Middleton and Bognor 6-5.

Brian Lock scored four times for Middleton and Mark Pacey also netted but home side Crawley showed great character and grabbed a winner a minute from time when Phil Butcher converted a Terry Higgs cross.

It was Butcher's second of the game as Higgs (two), Adrian Bettesworth and Alex Keen also scored.

Mid Sussex also had the goal touch as they romped to a 6-3 success away to BBHC.

Mids welcomed back Luke Hurle, a former junior at the club who signed on over Christmas from National League division one side Lewes.

Hurle, a regular in the Lewes first team, feels he needs a break from the National League but may return to Lewes next season.

Andy Green (two), Phil Middleton (two), Hurle and Mike Jourdain got the goals.