A nervous twang could be felt pitch side as both South Saxons and Suttons Valence 1st/ 2nd XI teams had been promoted at the end of last season. Saxons felt the pressure immediately as the Sutton Valence attacking strategies pierced the Saxons defence and won them the first short corner of the game during which they used a drag flick routine to score first blood past Saxon’s keeper Quentin Wedmore. Saxons captain Paddy Cornish fired up the troops and soon the side from Hastings looked promising in attack with some near misses and shots that tested the Sutton Valence keeper with notable efforts from some Saxons forwards including Dan Burnett and Rob Whitehouse. However, this was to no avail and some miscommunication in defence left a skilled Valence forward to slip the ball past the Saxons keeper, leaving them 2-nil down going into the second half.
An inspired half time speech from captain Cornish showed its effects as the Saxons team looked far better drilled in the second half with great defending performances from Toby Reed and Tudor Stainsby. Unfortunately this wasn’t enough to quell the Sutton Valence offense and they managed to slip one more past the posts before the full time whistle left the score at 3-nil.
Despite the score line there were many positives to be drawn from Saturday’s game as South Saxons 1st XI look forward to more challenges this season after last season’s league promotion.