Saxons travelled to Horsham this week still reeling from last week’s costly collapse at home to league leaders Brighton Rocks. Determined to put things right, Saxons got off to the worst possible start when the Horsham centre-forward brilliantly spun past Dom Ford before despatching the ball past a despairing dive from Mike Sutton in goal, with just 3 minutes on the clock.

Things didn’t get any better for Saxons as they were 2-0 after 10 minutes when a terrific solo run from the same player saw him leave Ford & Matt Stevens trailing in his wake before firing a terrific strike into the top corner, and he had completed his hat-trick 10 minutes later when a freak touch saw him send the ball looping over a helpless Sutton from the edge of the circle – one of the strangest goals you’ll see. Horsham led 3-0 with 20 minutes on the clock.

Despite the one-sided score line, Saxons were very much in the game. The midfield trio of James Wilson, Andrew Orr & Aston Spinks were creating chances and James MacIntyre, playing for the first time this season, was providing good impetus down the left. Nothing would stick for the forwards though and Saxons were unable to affect the score before half time.

During the break a rousing team talk and a call for a greatly improved display was well received by the travelling side. The second half started in much brighter fashion, and the improved display was quickly rewarded when captain Bunday despatched a penalty stroke after the Horsham keeper had fouled Tom James as the last man, but surprisingly was not dismissed.

Saxons halved the deficit shortly after when the impressive Orr burst into the circle and fired home, low to the keeper’s right to make the score 3-2 to the hosts. Saxons were back in the game and were on the hunt for an equaliser, but were dealt a sucker punch when Horsham converted a penalty corner to restore the two-goal lead.

With 15 minutes to play, Saxons were back to just a goal behind. Ford converting a penalty corner after Ed Hooton had been unceremoniously hacked down in the 25 – again, surprisingly no card was issued to the Horsham offender for a foul deemed bad enough to upgrade straight to a penalty corner, even more frustrating given Saxons were down to 10 men with Orr on the side for 2 minutes having played the ball after the whistle.

Saxons set about hunting down an all-important equaliser in the last 15 minutes, but their hopes weren’t helped when Bailey Wright was given a very controversial 10-minute sinbin for what the umpire claimed was “intentional violence” after being shoulder-barged by a Horsham defender, no card for the home player.

Despite the disadvantage, Saxons continued to pour forward and turn the screw but Horsham stood firm in their resistance, Saxons subbed keeper Sutton for an extra forward as they tried in vain to get an equaliser but were unable to make the pressure count having ultimately given themselves too much to do with their poor start to the game. Final score 4-3.

Skipper Bunday said after the game; “the last two games have been a disappointing way to finish a great first half of the season. I felt once we’d woken up we bossed it today, but we gave ourselves too much to do this time.
I thought Bailey’s card was ridiculous, the umpire certainly showed them a lot more leniency with regards to cards than he did us – if we’d been able to attack with a full 11 then I think we may have got a point at the end there.
We’re only 2 points off second despite today so we’ll regroup over Christmas and hopefully get back to winning ways at Southwick on the 14th Jan.”