Simon Owen and Steve Edmonds scored two apiece as Lewes claimed an excellent 4-2 victory over Barford Tigers in National Hockey League division one on Sunday.

Some people had been fearing the worst for Lewes after they opened their campaign with a heavy defeat at Doncaster the week before, having lost a vast percentage of their squad in the summer.

However, this result proved there is life in the club and manager Peter Boyse had special praise for young forward Edmonds, an acquisition from Brighton.

Boyse said: "Steve Edmonds and Barnaby Stubbs are really showing up well. For Steve to get a couple of goals like that was quite excellent. The lads played really well. They have learned fast and played some super hockey.

"It was our sponsors' day so it was particularly pleasing. People who had seen the result the previous week must have wondered what was happening but they were pleasantly surprised."

Welsh international Owen gave Lewes an 11th minute lead from a penalty stroke after Luke Hurle had been sent crashing.

Barford levelled ten minutes later through Jimmy Singh and then took the lead just before half time when Dharminder Singh netted.

Coach Paul Degg had strong words at half time and Lewes regained control in the second half.

Owen failed to convert a second penalty stroke but was involved in Edmonds' equaliser with a first time strike from Joe Hill's cross.

A third penalty stroke was converted by Owen to give Lewes the lead and Edmonds wrapped up victory five minutes from the end after swapping passes with Tim Garner.

Lewes are without a game this week but return with a double header the following weekend which includes their HA Cup tie at home to Surbiton.

Lewes: Speight; McConachie, Champness, Ibbotson, Hooker; Hill, Owen, Poulsen; Edmonds, Hurle, Stubbs. Subs: Garner, Hutchinson, Bettesworth.

East Grinstead went second in division two after a hard-fought 3-0 win away to newly promoted Blueharts.

It was Grinstead's third victory from their first three games.

Captain Jon Perriss said: "This was a great win for us. They were a good side but the work we had done since last week on our defensive shape paid dividends and we always looked dangerous going forward."

Perriss put Grinstead ahead from a short corner but despite good work by Paul Turk and Mike Holland at the back, Grinstead keeper Giles Dakin still had to make several sharp saves.

Grinstead secured the points as Kevin King dived in at the far post to make it 2-0 after defence splitting passes by Ben Payne and Duncan Howarth.

To add to Bluehart's misery Richard Payne added a third in the final minute .

Grinstead: Dakin, Turk, Holland, Thomas, Perriss, Howarth, Male, B. Payne, Pattison, R. Payne, King. Subs: Medcalf, Pearce, Harmes.