Paul Watson scored his second hat-trick of the season as Brighton maintained their 100 per cent record in the Kent/Sussex Regional League with a 7-0 humbling of Herne Bay.

Skipper Carlo Missirian had suggested Herne Bay would give his Brighton side a stiff test but the Kent hosts were completely overrun in the second half.

The score was only 1-0 at half time, Craig Carolan scoring from a short corner while Brighton keeper Pete Ashdown was forced to make a couple of crucial saves.

Herne Bay had played with 11 men behind the ball for much of the first half but, with no substitutes, they lost a player through injury just before the interval and Brighton were able to exploit the extra space in the second period.

Carolan scored his second, Watson hit three, Simon Acott notched his first of the season and Graham Pruce was also on target. Watson's third was the pick of the goals as Carolan delivered a cross at pace and Watson connected first time to fire into the top corner.

Elsewhere, there was disappointment for the other three Sussex sides.

Robin Sims scored his first goal in 18 months for Horsham but they went down 4-1 at Folkestone.

The scoreline flattered the hosts. Sims levelled ten minutes into the second half from a short corner but Folkestone regained the advantage and then scored twice more late on as Horsham pushed for a second equaliser.

Worthing lost 3-1 at home to Sevenoaks. The visitors went 2-0 up courtesy of some slack marking but Dan Lock reduced the deficit, sweeping home a short corner for his fourth goal in five league games.

In the second half, a penalty stroke awarded for a deliberate foul was converted by Sevenoaks to make it 3-1 and despite concerted pressure Worthing could not get themselves back into the game.

Mid Sussex went down 6-0 to Maidstone, who were below them in the table at the start of play.