A hat-trick from Toby Walker secured all 3 points for a rampant Saxons M4s against a Mid Sussex M4s team containing a dangerous mix of youth and experience.

Walker’s masterclass in attacking play was backed up by 5 star performances from every one of his team mates, who passed the ball around the Horntye astro with mesmeric efficiency.

After 4 minutes Walker latched on to a through ball and found himself one on one with the Mid Sussex keeper, slotting the ball past him into the net with a classy finish.

Five minutes later he was put through once again, and his electric pace took him clear of the Mid Sussex defenders to steer the ball past the keeper for his second of the game.

After that the Mid Sussex team started to come back into the game, but came up against resolute defending from Phil Carrington, Russ Cole and skipper Garry Cooper. Murphy Reed in the Saxons goal wasn’t called in to action too many times but, when called upon, was alert to the danger and snuffed out anything that got past the back 3.

Saxons played out well from the back and the screening midfielders, vice captain Ben Kemsley and Paul Merison were quick to take advantage of the loose ball and spring Saxons back into the attack with some well worked play.

The attacking midfield 3, comprising Rob Mercer and Matt Bate on their first outings of the season, and Dom Whittaker were looking like they’d played 20+ games together already this season by the way that they were connecting passes flawlessly, and Charlie Ogilvie showed his experience at a good level by dropping short and picking up the balls into the hole, behind the impressive Walker, as an outlet for the midfielders, and charging forward at every opportunity.

On 21 minutes teenager Walker scored the goal of the game when he was put through by a sublime pass from Bate and, with his back to goal, improvised superbly to grab his hat trick.

3-0 at half time and Saxons apparently cruising to victory.

Not to be outdone by what was, up to that point, the pass of the game, Mercer upped the anti with a Pirlo-esque ball from in to out, early in the second half, to just about take the pass of the match title away from Bate but, in reality, there were many contenders for that accolade.

Mid Sussex did claw back a consolation goal midway through the half, but Saxons never looked like they would be further troubled and maintained control of the game to run out convincing winners.

Thanks go to Julian Hooten and Pete Klein (who must have been itching to get in to the action) for umpiring.

Despite Walker’s memorable hat trick, Man Of the Match was awarded to the impressive Matt Bate.

Our Fantastic Fours face of against Hailsham Men's 2's away at Hailsham Community College next weekend.