Old Loughtonians picked up their third consecutive win in the NOW: Pensions Conference East on Saturday, beating Brighton & Hove 2-1 to move into seventh place.

Buoyed by their recent wins over Cambridge City and Chichester Priory, Loughts took the lead after just 11 minutes when Andrew MacGregor latched onto a ball into the ‘D’ to score his first of the season.

Only fine goalkeeping from Loughts’ Alex Hardwick, who pulled off a fine double save from a penalty corner, sent Loughts in 1-0 up at the break.

Hardwick was called into action again after the restart, diving full-length to keep out another Brighton effort.

Loughts’ second goal arrived when a short corner was dispatched by James Jewell. From that point on, hosts Brighton threw everything at their visitors, who were indebted to Stuart Hardy following a block on the line.

Brighton’s relentless pressure finally told when Mike Burney got a goal back from a penalty corner. Conor Caplan could have added a third for Loughts but was hacked from behind by a desperate Brighton defence.

Loughts’ ladies are up to fourth in the East Women’s League Premier after a resounding 5-1 victory away at Ipswich in the East Premier League.

In the men’s and ladies’ Seconds England Hockey Cup matches played at Luxborough Lane on Sunday, the men advanced into the next round of the competition with a 4-1 win over visitors Holcombe.

Unfortunately, the ladies suffered the agony of a penalty shoot-out defeat, losing out 4-3 from the spot at the hands of St Albans. The game had finished 2-2 at the end of regulation time.