HOCKEY: Round-up (April 1)

In a tight game, which was locked at 0-0 at half-time, second-half goals from Andrea Catlow and Shelley Formstone put Worthing two up, before they weathered an Oxted storm, after they had made it 2-1 10 minutes from time.

Worthing did have more of the chances after the break and dominated for 20 minutes. Catlow netted the first with a penalty flick on 43 minutes, after Formstone was fouled when through on goal.

Formstone herself was then on target, when she netted from open play.

Oxted then started to fight back and forced a number of short corners before they pulled a goal back.

But Worthing survived a late onslaught from Oxted, who are top of Surrey Division 1 and had lost just one game all season.

Worthing will now be looking to get revenge over holders East Grinstead, who completed the double over Worthing in the league. The final is on April 17.

Grinstead beat fellow Sussex League side Lewes in the other semi-final, to make it an all-Sussex final for the second year running.

On Saturday, Worthing took the opportunity to rest a few players as their chances of promotion and winning the Sussex Ladies League were over and they went down 5-4 to Lewes.

Worthing's men's 1st team also lost by the same scoreline to Lewes in the kent/Sussex Regional League, ending their dreams of promotion for another year.

They slipped to fourth and are now unable to catch Holcombe 2nd, who sit in the play-off spot.

They were denied a point late on as they had a Rob Lowe effort ruled out right at the death.

Cirdec Atkinson, Dan Ginnaw, Craig Paterson and Lowe netted Worthing's goals.

Worthing 2nd all but sealed the Sussex Area Division 1 title with a 4-1 win at Lewes 3rd. They sit three points clear at the top with one game left to play but they have a 19-goal superior difference over second-placed South Saxons.

Goals from Luke Helmer, Simon Saward (two) and Charles McCall, with his first for the second team, sealed the win for a young Worthing side.

There were second team debuts for Alex Minchell and Sam Gill, who were introduced at the start of the second half with the score 2-0. They immediately helped the side grab the all-important next goal, through a fantastic Saward strike.

Chris Marr also claimed two assists in his final game for the club. Tim Barter, Jack Symons and Ben Chipperfield were outstanding at the back and did not concede one short corner, despite significant Lewes pressure.

Chris Wheeldon was typically solid in goal, and was out quickly on several occasions to deny the Lewes attackers.

In the same division, Worthing 3rd beat Horsham 2nd 4-2, Penguin drew with Brighton & Hove 2-2 and Southwick thrashed South Saxons 2nd 11-1.

Division 3 champions Worthing 5th were awarded a 5-0 walk-over victory over Lewes, after Lewes decided to forfeit the game 10 minutes into the second half.

Goals from Chris Lee and Jon Humphreys put Worthing four up at half-time.

Aaron Chapman netted the fifth after the break, before Lewes picked up their second green card of the game.

Two minutes later, Worthing scored again and Lewes forfeited the match.

Worthing captain Dan French said: "I would like to say well done to all the 5th XI this year and congratulations for winning the league and winning 18 out of 20 games."

Champions Littlehampton finished their outstanding Sussex Open League Division 1 season in style on Saturday with a 8-1 win over Crawley 3rd.

Littlehampton had secured the title the previous week with a 3-2 win over St Francis 2nd and Saturday's victory was their 18th from their 22 league games.

They also passed 100 goals for the season with their second goal on Saturday.

Top-scorer Jon Miles added another hat-trick to take his tally for the season to 42 goals. Tony Thompson, with two, David Macdonald, Simon Judd and Phil Akrill got the other goals.

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