Coombs hits four as Saxons win again

South Saxons Hockey Club’s men’s first team made it two league wins out of two with a 4-2 victory away to Middleton on Saturday.
Alex Coombs scored all four goals in South Saxons' 4-2 victory away to Middleton on SaturdayAlex Coombs scored all four goals in South Saxons' 4-2 victory away to Middleton on Saturday
Alex Coombs scored all four goals in South Saxons' 4-2 victory away to Middleton on Saturday

Four goals from man of the match Alex Coombs, including a hat-trick of second half penalty flicks, saw off a strong Middleton side in Sussex Open Hockey League Division One.

Saxons started well in warm conditions, dominating possession and controlling the game. The breakthrough came after Andrew Orr showed his skills to win a short corner, from which a Jon Meredith shot rebounded straight to Coombs, who guided it home.

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Middleton got back on level terms during a tight period in the first half with a goal at the end of a good counter-attacking move which Mike Sutton was unable to keep out.

Saxons looked tired against a 15-man Middleton squad early in the second half, yet managed to take the lead for a second time. Jamie Busbridge’s shot was saved on the line by a defender’s foot and Coombs dispatched the resulting penalty flick into the bottom corner.

Middleton again conjured up an equaliser and may even have gone ahead had it not been for good work from Toby Reed and Paddy Cornish at the back.

Strong work from James Riley on the left and Chris Meredith on the right, plus some classic Dan Burnett forward runs helped Saxons push on. Busbridge came close on several occasions before winning two more penalty flicks, which Coombs again converted to make sure of the points.

Saxons will host still pointless Worthing II this coming Saturday, push-back 1.30pm.

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