Simon Turner has urged Brighton and Hove to put their cup disappointment behind them by making a push for league honours.

Brighton went close to causing an almighty upset in the last 16 of the EH Cup before going out 2-1 on a golden goal to national league premier division side Hampstead and Westminster.

In front of a big crowd Brighton led 1-0 until the closing stages when Hampstead snatched an equaliser through David Eakins to force extra-time.

The South Premier division one side continued to prove a match for their more illustrious visitors before conceding again to another short corner striker from Eakins three minutes from the end of extra-time.

Skipper Turner said: “It was a bit disappointing in the end because we had a great chance to cause an upset.

“They are a good side but we played really well. We conceded a series of short corners in the last five minutes and they managed to put one of them away.

“We had other chances before then and it was a great performance. It showed how far we have come.

“To hold a national premier side to a draw over 70 minutes was a tremendous achievement.

“Hopefully now we can continue this form into the league.”

Greg Davis scored Brighton's goal on Sunday while Anthony Falkus netted on Saturday in a 1-1 draw at Oxford University which kept Brighton fourth in the table.

Brighton have struggled in South Premier for the last two seasons but have turned things around this year both in the league and the cup, where they had beaten two other national league sides on the way to the last 16.

Turner believes the next couple of games could be crucial to their hopes for the rest of the season.

He said: “Our next two games will be season defining because we play the top two, Spencer and Staines. If we win we will go top, if we don't we will drop to mid-table.”

MORE HOCKEY IN TODAY'S ARGUS