Saxons pull through derby tussle

South Saxons put in an exceptional team performance to come through a tight local derby.

The Hastings club came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Eastbourne II thanks to goals by man of the match Gavin Cload and Jamie Busbridge at Horntye Park Sports Complex.

Saxons captain Paddy Cornish said: “I was very impressed with everyone really. We had to fight from a goal down and everyone’s attitude was pretty good; I couldn’t really knock anyone.

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“Probably the Crawley game (Saxons drew 2-2 away to Crawley II the previous weekend) we played the best hockey we’ve done in a while, but the Eastbourne one we played for the full 70 minutes.”

Facing an Eastbourne side containing a mixture of experience and youth in tricky weather conditions, the home side started the game well with good play from Will Orr resulting in some early chances.

It was the away team who scored first, though, after an unlucky deflection resulted in an own goal. But Saxons quickly equalised as Cload stole the ball from the last defender and slid a low shot past the goalkeeper.

The second half continued in a similar fashion to the first as Saxons dominated possession and chances with the Eastbourne goalkeeper making some fine saves to keep his team in the game.

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The tireless workrate and energy of the home team eventually paid off when Busbridge deflected the ball home after a slick pass from Cornish.

Saxons: Deaves, Ford, Reed, Cornish, Cload, Stainsby, Coombs, Eldridge, Burnett, Busbridge, Buss, Orr.

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