Report By Sol Buckner

Sol Buckner’s side was forced to start with nine players at St Paul’s College after one was delayed in traffic on the A23 and the other sent to the wrong address by his satellite navigation system.

However Saxons made a promising start against their future league opponents and should have taken the lead on eight minutes. Buckner skipped past three players to power into the D and set up Joe Woodford only to see his shot well saved.

Minutes later Buckner’s goalbound flick was again pushed away by the host’s keeper who kept his team in the game.

Keeper Ben Bosden was one of three former Warriors stepping up to the adult league for the first time and pulled off two close range saves to thwart the hosts.

Matthew Stevens and Ethan Waller, both 14, also showed their promise putting in sterling performances to earn them joint man-of-the-match awards.

A second half re-shuffle saw Buckner drop to centre back after suffering severe cramp in both legs and without any substitutes faced 30 minutes of a mind of matter challenge.

Saxons then piled on the pressure and should have taken the lead on the hour when veteran John Bennett crashed a shot against the near post.

But neither side could break the deadlock and the final whistle could not come soon enough.

Buckner said: “We had enough chances to win even though we faced a lot of challenges on and off the pitch.

“Ben, Matthew and Ethan all stepped up to the plate and we’re an absolute credit to the Warriors training programme."

Team: Bosden (GK), Roberts, Stevens, Pickard, Carrington, Buckner (C), Bennett, Merison, Waller, Woodford, Waters

Report By Sol Buckner