Saxons blast nine past rivals

Jamie Busbridge opens the scoring for South Saxons during their resounding 9-1 victory at home to Crawley II on Saturday

Paddy Cornish and Jamie Busbridge both scored hat-tricks as Saxons hammered Crawley II 9-1 in their final Sussex Open Hockey League Division One home game of 2014.

On a sunny afternoon at Horntye Park, the Hastings side took the lead within the first few minutes through Busbridge himself. The second goal came via a fantastic strike from the top of the D by Toby Reed.

Cornish was sent to the sin bin when he stupidly retaliated to a push in the back from an opposing player. After he returned to the action, Cornish put Saxons three-up with a classic run across the top of the D and shot into the bottom corner.

Busbridge was on the prowl again to get his second and Cornish also grabbed his second with a similar strike to his first, making it 5-0 at half time.

It didn’t take long for Saxons to get back scoring again after the restart and it was Cornish again, firing into the corner to complete his first hat-trick in 10 years of playing first team hockey.

Busbridge soon matched Cornish’s tally with a penalty flick awarded for a foul by the last defender. Attention lapsed in the Saxons defence as Crawley got one back.

Saxons were soon on the hunt for more goals, however, and Gavin Cload pipped Busbridge to the ball before coolly slotting home from less then a foot out.

The hosts were awarded another short corner on the final whistle and after a scramble around the D, the ball dropped to Jon Meredith, who ended his goal drought with a cool finish into the corner. The Lighthouse man of the match was awarded to Cornish.

Saxons: Feakes, Buss, Ford, Reed, C. Meredith, J. Meredith, Cornish, S. Bunday, Cload, Coombs, Stainsby, Busbridge.

Fifth-placed Saxons will travel to second-bottom Brighton & Hove III tomorrow (Saturday). Saxons expect to have everyone available, including Harry Reece coming back in.

EASTBOURNE V 1

SOUTH SAXONS IV 4

A brilliant brace from newcomer Alex Bull helped secure Saxons’ seventh consecutive victory as they brushed aside their closest rivals.

Rob Whitehouse’s men burst out of the starting blocks at Saffrons Sports Ground on Saturday in this Sussex Open Hockey League Division Five top-of-the-table clash.

With just 23 seconds on the clock, livewire winger Tom Waters picked up a mislaid pass, marched into the D and buried his shot past an outstretched Eastbourne goalkeeper.

Minutes later veteran Joe Woodford rifled in a second goal from 10 yards out to give Saxons the perfect start. The hosts rallied midway through the first half and deservedly pulled a goal back after a rare lapse in Saxons’ defence.

The second half saw Saxons step up a gear and Bull, playing his first season, fired in a fierce shot minutes after the restart.

Saxons worked hard for more and were rewarded when man of the match Bull danced past four defenders before coolly slotting beyond the goalkeeper from close range to wrap up the points.

Saxons will welcome Worthing VI to Horntye Park tomorrow (Saturday) for a 4.30pm push-back.