Men's 1
Matches
Sat 24 Sep 2016
Crow borough Men's 1's
1
4
South Saxons Hockey Club
Men's 1
Away friendly sets the tone for the season

Away friendly sets the tone for the season

Paul Merison25 Sep 2016 - 21:09
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South Saxons Mens 1s produced a sublime display of controlled, disciplined hockey to dismantle Crowborough 4-1 and secure a second successive win in preparation for their upcoming league season.

Spurred on after last weeks confidence boosting result, Saxons opened the scoring through George Eldridge, who carried on his fine form from Short Corners to power a low drag flick through the Crowborough goalkeepers flailing stick.

Andrew Acott then doubled their lead with reverse stick shot from a tight angle following a driving run and pass from the centrally operating Will Orr.

Even without the notable absence of Alex Coombs (injured), and Tudor Stainsby (unavailable), Saxons were more energetic and more aggressive than Crowborough, harrying their players and denying them any time to think, let alone pick out a searching pass forward.

After the half time break it was only a matter of time before Saxons pressure established a three-goal advantage.

Number 10 Paddy Cornish left the Crowborough defence startled with some swift interplay into the D with Acott, who rounded off the move from close range for his second goal.

The defensive display from Saxons was only dented by a solitary goal. A short corner routine which was moved to the left allowed the opposition forward an opportunity at goal, but his weakly hit shot found the net past the rarely troubled Mike Sutton.

Captain Jamie Busbridge rounded off the scoring with a low drive at the near post from the edge of the D, but really the away side should have scored more late on – Acott, Cornish, and Chris Meredith were particularly wasteful with close-range chances - but it was nevertheless an afternoon of overwhelming positives for Saxons.

It really was the contribution of all the outfield players whose work-rate provided the platform for victory, notably Andrew Orr, John Meredith, and Gavin Cload, but it was the influential Acott who took the 'man of the match' award.

Busbridge asked the team for tighter marking and verbal discipline this week, and this challenge was successful converted by the players, ironically only a Red Jaguars car boot was open more than the usually vocal Meredith clan.

Saxons open their Kent/Sussex Division 2 league campaign next week in an away fixture against Old Williamsonians.

Match details

Match date

Sat 24 Sep 2016

Kickoff

TBC
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