LEWES are still flying high at the top of hockey's National League division one following a 5-2 victory at Chelmsford.

On a good day for Sussex clubs, Lewes ultimately proved too strong for their hosts, while East Grinstead also registered their first league win of the campaign.

Lewes did things the hard way, falling behind after only two minutes.

They had to wait until the 29th minute before equalising when defender Phil Walker powered home a rebound after Jeremy Boyse's flick from a short corner was saved.

Two minutes before the interval Walker scored again, this time touching home a goalbound shot from Alistair Boyse for his fifth goal of the season.

Chelmsford levelled 15 minutes into the second half and the omens did not look good for Lewes when they failed to score from five short corners in the space of two minutes.

But Jeremy Boyse finally restored the lead from a short corner 11 minutes from time and then added his second three minutes later, again from a short corner which had been won by Ben Hawes.

The goal of the game came two minutes from time when an aerial ball out of defence was taken down by Alistair Boyse, who switched play left to Luke Hurle. He advanced towards goal before slipping a pass beyond the advancing goalkeeper for Ed Cabay to fire home.

LEWES: Dale; Hill, Heslop, J. Boyse, Walker; Hawes, Owen, Poulson; Hurle, A. Boyse, Cabay. Sub: Dupont. Man-of-the-match: Alistair Boyse.

EAST GRINSTEAD manager Barrie Sullivan is hoping his side can start moving up the table following their first win of the season, beating Indian Gymkhana

3-2.

The victory was more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests as Grinstead raced into a 3-0 lead by the 57th minute and the hosts' second goal came with only seconds remaining.

Sullivan said: "I am delighted. It was a very important game for us and hopefully it will kick off our season.

"We had won in the cup against Chichester the week before and that helped us. But the real difference is that Richard Leman is playing for us again and he is such an influential figure."

Grinstead went ahead from a penalty corner when Julian Mills finished off a move involving Leman and Mahmood Bhatti.

Play fluctuated from end to end, but it was the visitors who extended their lead when Bhatti rifled the ball into the top of the net.

After the interval, Gymkhana began to exert more pressure, but the issue was effectively decided when the elusive Bhatti converted a good pass from Ben Payne to make it 3-0.

Jashpa Jutla quickly reduced the deficit, but Gymkhana's second goal from Gursharanjit Soor late on was no more than a consolation.

GRINSTEAD: Spight, Leman, Ogden, Lacey, Baker, King, R. Payne, Sears, Mills, B. Payne, Bhatti. Subs: Holland, Male, Thomas, Main. Man-of-the-match: Richard Leman.

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