Men's 3's keep their heads, well just...

Saxons made heavy weather of their away game against Crowborough. The sand dressed pitch more like Camber Sands than an astro made the going slow.

Despite winning performances of late Saxons continued to struggle to find their rhythm. A 1-3-4-3 formation was deployed by Captain Buss that allowed the team to press Crowborough high up the pitch. The deadlock was broken when a well worked penalty corner allowed 'man of the match' Locki Whitehead to expertly deflect the ball in at the back post.

Crowborough played in the style that Saxons expected playing the long ball to a high forward who was marked out of the game by Trevor Davies. Further penalty corners ensued and broke down, with Crowborough managing a number of break away attacks using their skilful youngsters to test the experienced defence of Carrington, Davies, Bontoft and in form keeper Longley.

Latecomer Ed Chapman joined the field allowing Buss to return to the forward line. A well worked series of passes allowed Chapman to find Buss on the Crowborough 23m line to play a perfect pass through to Simmons whose strike found the net.

Shortly before the break a misplaced pass out from the Saxons defence allowed Crowborough to turn over play and find one of their forwards whose shot squeezed past keeper Longley.

Saxons went into the half time break frustrated not to have scored more, but with a 1-2 lead.

The restart saw a change of tact from Crowborough, Saxons responded and attacked strongly down their right. An infringement in the Crowborough D denied Whitehead a clear goal scoring opportunity. Simmons stepped up for the penalty flick and launched the ball past the keeper into the waiting net.

Crowborough were finding space in the middle and a formation change was ordered by Jules 'Vegas' Buss to 1-3-1-4-2 plugging the gap for Saxons and frustrating Crowborough and pinning them in their half. A dangerously raised clearance by Crowborough up the line struck Whitehead in the side of the head forcing him to leave the field for ice and recuperation.

Saxons continued to close down further sorties from the Crows forcing errors. One such error resulted in a Crowborough player blindly smashing a ball dangerously into the Saxons D. The ball narrowly missed Davies shoulder, Carrington was unable to see the oncoming danger and unable to take evasive action. Carrington took the crunching ball above his eye and hit the sand. Cries of 'medikit' ensued and after depositing a fair amount of claret on the pristine sand, Saxons assisted by Crowborough managed to patch him up.

The final whistle blew leaving Saxons battered but triumphant.

Saxons face East Grinstead 4th XI at home at 3pm this coming weekend for what could be the decider in securing a fourth place league finish for either side.

Saxons: Longley (GK), Davies, Carrington, Bontoft, Kemsley, Buss (c), Stroud, Chapman, Merison, Simmons, Dyas, Whitehead.