Eastbourne IV 4 South Saxons III 3 - By Sol Buckner

Ed Chapman's new look side flew out the starting blocks and dominated the opening stages.

And they were rewarded within minutes of the start when Dominic Whitaker swept in from close range after great build up play.

Midfield linch-pin Rob Mercer took an early rest along with an Eastbourne player when they were both green carded and sin binned for two minutes under the new rules.

But it didn't stop Saxons from pouring forward and in-form striker James Bunday fired home on 15 minutes to stun the hosts after

However Eastbourne pulled one back just before the break through a well-taken short corner.

An action-packed second half saw the hosts in the ascendancy and they equalised soon after the re-start on the break.

And then on 48 minutes they edged ahead through a rocket of a drag flick during another well-executed short corner.

Saxons refused to lie down and equalised through a bullet of a shot from Bunday on 55 minutes from the tightest of angles almost 15 yards out.

Minutes later 14-year-old keeper Nathaniel Webster pulled off a stunning fingertip save from close range to deny the hosts a fourth.

Saxons then missed several chances to take the lead again and paid the price when the hosts broke through the middle and scored in open play on the hour to seal the narrowest of victories.

FT 4-3

Man of the match: Sol Buckner