We are top of the league, we are top of the league!

The sun rose on a glorious Saturday morning and the whole team was ready and raring to go for a top of the table clash against fierce rivals Brighton. And when we say we were ready, that's those of us who were not drinking the devils juice the night before! Saxons were pleased to welcome back Adam and ex-captain Russ for their first league games of the season and eager to see debutant Tristan in action.

The warmup started with Saxons in good spirits but confused due to the lack of an opponent??? Big thanks to East Sussex superb traffic control for that one! Eventually the game got underway with Brighton fielding 10 men for the start of the match whilst awaiting their remaining players to arrive.

The first quarter of the game played out much to be expected for 2 teams battling it out at the top of the table with possession tipping just in favour of Saxons. Both teams were solid at the back preventing any meaningful attacks on goal and it appeared as though the game would be heading for a bore draw much to the disappointment of a surprisingly large amount of supporters watching the match. That was until Saxons with a lovely press into the D resulted in a short corner being awarded. Up steps stopper Will and James for the strike. PK with the injection, Will stops it but James doesn’t strike? Will takes it into is own hands and drills the ball towards the left corner to be deflected by a Brighton defender into the back of the goal!!! 1-0!! The rest of the first half continued much in the same manner as it began ending with a string of 3 short corners to Brighton defended superbly each time until the whistle blew for half time. 1-0. Not out of the woods yet.

An inspiring half time talk from captain Paul and some positioning advice for the forwards from Keeper Billy and Saxons were ready for round 2. Brighton came out of the blocks running, eager to draw even and push for a win themselves with several attacks in the Saxons half lead by some talented youngsters coming through Brighton's ranks. However the defence stood strong and Billy was rarely called into action although when needed produced some fine saves. The play then started to swing back in the favour of the home team when a rare mistake out of nowhere from the Brighton defence allowed Will to take control of the ball at the top of the D. With some silky skill and a mazy run inside the D he unleashed a venomous strike into the bottom left corner. 2-0 and a deserved celebration from the goalscorer! Saxons now feeling less pressure played with more freedom unlocking something from within. Shortly after the second goal James found himself in possession of the ball and he had one thing in mind. Control of the ball and the determination to put more breathing space between the teams he dribbled it into the D. With a classic James Heafield move on the reverse flick, the ball evades all defenders and finds the backboard! The Brighton keeper would have been devastated to have conceded that one, 3-0!!! Confidence was high throughout the team and attacks were coming thick and fast, so it was a surprise to see none other than Saxons own ex captain Russ lose his cool! The Brighton defender of older age pulled off a sliding tackle a young spritely footballer would be proud of. But this isn’t football! Russ took this personally and a few choice words were exchanged and an unnecessary shoulder barge from the Brighton player. Lucky to escape unpunished! Next to come was entirely unexpected and probably the strongest attack on the Saxons team in the game. The heavens opened and we all got thoroughly drenched in what can only be described as god feeling bad for the now 2nd place team. They clearly needed some help and divine intervention was not enough for them to come back into this match! The match was coming to a close but the story was not yet over. One final nail in the coffin. Another attack from 2 of the Saxons forwards. Some great build up play and the ball ends up with James in the D. His back to the goal and hoping for the best he plays the ball blindly across the goal hoping a Saxons player can get onto the end of it. In steps yours truly with clean contact on the ball to slot it past the keeper. 4-0 and a devastating defeat for the away team!

The final whistle blew and rapturous celebration rung out across the pitch. Clear front runners in the league with a goal difference the other teams can only be jealous of. An absolutely fantastic performance from each and every player on the pitch. All deserving of a man of the match award. The accolade went to Adam for a beautiful game and confident defending despite being ushered into the game at short notice having only just returned from long term injury!

Roll on November 4th for Mid Sussex and hopefully another victory to follow.

By Dan Chamberlain