South Saxons Men’s III’s 9—v—0 Horsham Men’s V’s

Saxons had Horsham under pressure from the off. Stroud throwing an aerial ball that found Simmons out wide, who had no trouble in rounding the unprepared Horsham defence to set up Kemsley who fired home.

Saxons dispossessed Horsham shortly after the restart. A string of well executed passes found an opponents foot in the D. A succession of penalty corners followed, leading to Buss thumping a ball against the backboard to make it 2-0.

Saxons took a while to settle after a couple of substitutions, the respite allowed Horsham to fight back to win a penalty corner. Keeper Sutton marshaled his defence and the Horsham attack was repelled. Saxons pushed forward again and pressed high up the field to keep play in Horshams half.

Saxons returned fresh legged with a second wave of substitutions, and Buss picked up a pass in the D, going one–on-one with the keeper who blocked the first shot only for Buss to pick up the rebound and slot home. Unfortunately the goal was disallowed and a penalty corner was awarded for a dangerous ball caused by the keepers initial save. Despite Saxons frustration the corner was coolly converted by Buss bringing the score to 3-0.

As Saxons approached the break they continued to pressure Horsham and it was Dyas who picked the ball up in open play to break into the D and score again for Saxons.

An encouraging half time talk from Buss reinforced the need to continue executing the training ground routines the team had been working on. Players returned to the pitch with orders for ‘more of the same’.

Saxons started the second half winning a number of penalty corners. Buss slipped the ball to Merison who fired the ball toward the back post for Simmons to deflect into the net.

The pressure continued with Saxons pressing Horsham to force errors. After another attack a goalmouth melee ensued. Subsequently, a poor clearance from the Horsham goalkeeper was met by Merison who calmly flicked the ball into the net.

Saxons keeper Sutton was mostly left looking on from the Saxons goal line as his defence continued to hold Horsham high up the field. The occasional counter attack rarely troubled the solid Coleman, Bantoft and Davies. The workhorse Davies making several interceptions and forays of his own into the attacking half.

Saxons continued to demonstrate their superiority as they switched the ball around the back with the skillful Simmons picking up his second goal, closely followed with another by Captain Buss for his hat-trick.

Saxons continued their attacks throughout the dying minutes of the game when Tony Wright picked up the ball in the D and slotted home to make the final score 9-0.

Saxons face St Francis 2nd XI away this coming weekend.

Team: Mike Sutton, Dan Bantoft, Roger Coleman, Trevor Davies, Paul Merison, Richard Pertwee, Ed Stroud, Ed Chapman, Ben Kemsley, Ben Simmons, Julian Buss, Harry Dyas, Tony Wright.

MoM . Trevor Davies