Champs sign off with a win

With the South Hockey League Sussex Area - Division One title already in the bag, Saxons finished four points clear at the top after winning away to fourth-placed opposition.

“If we’re honest, we didn’t really expect to win,” admitted Saxons captain Paddy Cornish. “We went with a bit of a relaxed attitude because we’ve had a bit of an intense last couple of months. We thought we’d have a bit of an enjoyable one before the (Sussex Plate) final and play a few people out of position.”

Saxons actually fell behind in the first couple of minutes, leaving Cornish wondering if it might not be as enjoyable as he hoped. But George Eldridge, playing at the back, equalised midway through the first half of an open contest in which players enjoyed more time on the ball than usual.

The visitors took command courtesy of two goals in fairly quick succession roughly midway through the second half. Cornish himself put them ahead with a bizarre goal in which his shot hit one post, spun out and struck the other upright before trickling in.

Jamie Busbridge then gave Saxons a two-goal cushion, deflecting home a cross in trademark fashion. Crowborough had a chance to pull one back late on, but Saxons goalkeeper Quentin Wedmore made a good stick save. Club chairman Jeremy Bunday had a nowadays rare outing for the front side.

Saxons: Wedmore, Cload, Ford, Eldridge, Reece, Cornish, Coombs, Stainsby, Reed, Orr, Busbridge. Subs: Whitehouse, Bunday.