Crawley Men’s IV's 1--v--4 South Saxons Men’s IV's
REPORT BY: SOL BUCKNER. Promotion chasing South Saxons dusted off the cobwebs to keep their Sussex Open Hockey campaign on track.
Saxons couldn't have got off to a worse start when the host's broke up their left wing and a striker slotted past stranded young keeper Nathaniel Webster. Defender Maurice Pickard who picked up a knee injury during the process and had to leave the pitch, was replaced by Sol Buckner.
Saxons struggled to get their passing game going and it was the hosts who looked the more likely to score in the first quarter.
And despite a series of short corners Phil Carrington's troops couldn't find a break through.
It was substitute Tom Waters who finally sparked Saxons to life finishing off a shot from close range after the keeper had saved a shot from Julian Buss on 33 minutes.
The second half saw Saxons return to form with their more free flowing pass and move hockey. And within five minutes of the re-start took the lead when Buss set up Paul Merison to fire home after another short corner.
But the hosts still posed a threat and Webster pulled off a superb point blank save when the ball somehow squeezed through to striker who deflected the ball goalward.
Livewire Waters gave Saxons some breathing space on 52 minutes when he tapped in after latching on to a pass from Buss.
The points were wrapped up on 63 minutes when Matt O'Brien hammered home from 10 yards after collecting Julian Hooten's pass.
Saxons next travel to Burgess Hill on January 23 to face St Francis III for a 3pm push back
MOM: Julian Buss
