Brighton and Hove took derby honours in a match which saw five Lewes players sin-binned.

Victory moved Brighton out of the bottom three in South Premier Hockey League division one for the first time this season but Lewes coach Chris Marchant was seething.

Rory Jervis (twice), Will Champness, Pete Thomas and Mike Newman were all yellow carded in the second half, reducing Lewes to eight players at one stage.

Marchant said: "Unfortunately people will look at the fact that Lewes had five players sin-binned and think it was a dirty game but the game was far from it.

"Both sets of players played passionately and I don't think the umpires used any common sense - there was certainly a lack consistency.

"Unfortunately for us we played right into the hands of poor decision making and paid the hefty penalty which resulted in us gaining no points from a game that we certainly should have.

"It would be easy for us to say that the umpires cost us the game but the simple reality was that we didn't put the ball in the back of net, especially in the first half when we really should have."

Chris Hann put Brighton ahead only for Newman to level with a penalty stroke before half-time. Hugh Salter and Gareth Lendrum scored for Brighton in the second half when Lewes were short on numbers although a late reply from Alistair Boyse made it a tense finish.

Brighton vice-captain Richard Baker said: "We are chuffed to win and move away from the bottom.

"This year is all about building and it is starting to come together. There is a belief in the side and results are starting to show it."

Will Blockley scored twice for Chichester as they maintained top spot with a 4-3 win away to Maidstone.

Freddie Coppin and Sam Beere were also on target for Chi, who were missing player-coach Ben Barnes. They led 4-1 with ten minutes to go but Maidstone scored twice in as many minutes to leave the visitors holding on.

Captain Jon Weait said: "It was a bit close in the end as we were hanging on. But it is a good result and one that a couple of years ago we wouldn't have achieved."

In the Kent/Sussex Regional League, Worthing made it 17 goals in two weeks with a 9-1 trouncing of Eastbourne.

The normally prolific Bryan Lock, who had just one goal this season before Saturday, led the way with five while top scorer Alex Warner chipped in with a brace. Dan Ginnaw and Mark Duncan were also on target.

Manager Rob Warner said: "Last season we lost twice in the league to Eastbourne and they have only lost one player since so we are obviously doing well."

Glen Wilkinson-Tuff hit the lone reply for home side Eastbourne.

Horsham added to the town's celebrations on Saturday with an impressive 5-2 win.

While Horsham's football team were progressing to the second round of the FA Cup, the hockey players were humbling third-placed Old Bordenians. Darren James opened his account for the season with a hat-trick while Mark Ansell and John Burroughs added one apiece.

In division one, South Saxons returned to the top with a 3-1 defeat of title rivals Crawley.

Jamie Busbridge (two) and Alex Feakes, with his first ever goal for the club, were the scorers for Saxons while Danny Evans replied for the visitors.

Upbeat Crawley captain Ian Watkins said: "We haven't played better than that for a couple of years but we just couldn't score."

Mid Sussex returned to winning ways with a 4-2 success away to Old Williamsonians, who are one of five clubs at the top separated by five points.

Tom Wylie scored twice and made another for a Mids side missing three key players. Wylie scored the first, which was cancelled out before half-time, then set up the second for Lyle James. Jakob Pohlman added the third, following up Marc Livesley's saved shot, before Wylie wrapped up victory. Both sides had two players yellow carded in the closing stages.

Southwick eased to a 5-1 win against bottom side Newhaven with goals from Jamie Bird, Chris Harris, Nick Salter, James Kifford and Scott Richardson. Tim Clay hit the lone reply.

EAST Grinstead avenged an early season league defeat as they triumphed 6-4 away to Surbiton in the national premier division.

Surbiton won 3-0 at Saint Hill earlier in the season so a victory was vital for Grinstead to keep them in the shake-up for a European place.

They raced into a three-goal lead inside ten minutes thanks to Richard Payne's early penalty flick and a Danny Hall brace.

Surbiton pulled two goals back before half-time but a rejuvenated Grinstead restored their three-goal advantage in the second half thanks to Darren Cheesman and Mark Pearn.

The hosts scored two more to make it 5-4 before Payne's second penalty stroke of the afternoon wrapped up victory.

Manager Matt Jones was pleased with the victory but disappointed to concede four goals.

He said: "We played some fantastic hockey in good spells throughout the game and we created lots of opportunities, putting a good proportion of them away.

"But we need to address our defensive performance, not just the backline. We can't rely on (goalkeeper) George Harris as much as we do.

"I am immensely pleased with our attacking capabilities. We are the top scorers in the division with 36 and I believe we have the most frightening midfield and forwards in the league.

"Our goal difference is not as good as it should be but we are working on that.

"After losing to Surbiton in the second game of the season we have beaten them in the cup, then at their place and we are above them in the league."

Horsham ladies went down 2-1 at Bournemouth in the Women's National South Division.

Steph Dent scored for Horsham from a short corner five minutes from time but by then they were already trailing 2-0.