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Sat 10 Dec 2016 ·  Division 4
Men's 4Crowborough Men's 4
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First home game in six weeks is well worth the wait
sol Buckner13 Dec 2016 - 18:28
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A solid performance at Horntye Park saw Saxons fourth team sweep aside Crowborough.
A first home league game since October 29 saw Sol Buckner's side overpower their visitors to record a comfortable 4-1 victory.
A walkover and a re-arrangement in fixtures meant Buckner's troops were kept on the road throughout November.
But they returned home in triumph on Saturday and kept a firm grip on a top three spot in Sussex Hockey Division Four.
Veteran striker Joe Woodford rifled home his fifth of the season on 5" after midfield dynamo Oliver Cornelius burst through the visitors defence and laid on the perfect pass.
A stalemate then ensued as both teams pushed for an opening.
Ironically it was when Buckner was off the field, having been yellow carded for encroachment, that Saxons made their pressure pay off.
Just before the half-time whistle, Peter Klein latched onto a through ball and watched in awe as his shot cannoned off both posts before spinning back across the line to make it 2-0.
Crowborough burst out of the starting blocks straight after the break and caught Saxons napping.
A quick break saw their captain Grant Edwards burst into the D and fired a smart shot past Alex Jenner in goal.
Saxons then upped their game and pushed hard for a third with Rak Patel and man-of-the-match Cornelius dominating in midfield.
The visitor's keeper was in fine form making a series of saves to keep his side in the game.
Saxons won a series of short corners and just before the hour mark Buckner made his pay off with a stinging effort that a defender bravely tried to keep out before it cannoned off his stick across the line.
Minutes later, Julian Hooton cracked home the fourth from close range after superb play by Klein on the right hand side.
Buckner said: "It was nice to have a home game at long last and the boys really made the most of it.
"Crowborough put up a great fight and their keeper was in inspired form making it really hard for us to find a way through.
"It was another wonderful advert for our league and sport as it was played in a great spirit with everyone on the pitch giving 100 per cent. I must give special thanks to Rak Patel, Oliver Cornelius and Johnny Orr who travelled back to Horntye Park from Worthing after the Warriors match finished to play for us.
"This is the best fourth team I have played in as captain and to have 25 points in the bag by Christmas is a great achievement. The spirit and commitment among the players is fantastic."
Saxons welcome Worthing V to Horntye Park on Saturday, December 17 for a 1.30pm push back.
Team: Jenner, Cornish, Bunday, Acott, Whitehead, Patel, Cornelius, Hooton, Orr, Buckner, Woodford, Klein
Top goal scorers as of 10/12/16:
Whitehead 5
Buckner 5
Woodford 5
A walkover and a re-arrangement in fixtures meant Buckner's troops were kept on the road throughout November.
But they returned home in triumph on Saturday and kept a firm grip on a top three spot in Sussex Hockey Division Four.
Veteran striker Joe Woodford rifled home his fifth of the season on 5" after midfield dynamo Oliver Cornelius burst through the visitors defence and laid on the perfect pass.
A stalemate then ensued as both teams pushed for an opening.
Ironically it was when Buckner was off the field, having been yellow carded for encroachment, that Saxons made their pressure pay off.
Just before the half-time whistle, Peter Klein latched onto a through ball and watched in awe as his shot cannoned off both posts before spinning back across the line to make it 2-0.
Crowborough burst out of the starting blocks straight after the break and caught Saxons napping.
A quick break saw their captain Grant Edwards burst into the D and fired a smart shot past Alex Jenner in goal.
Saxons then upped their game and pushed hard for a third with Rak Patel and man-of-the-match Cornelius dominating in midfield.
The visitor's keeper was in fine form making a series of saves to keep his side in the game.
Saxons won a series of short corners and just before the hour mark Buckner made his pay off with a stinging effort that a defender bravely tried to keep out before it cannoned off his stick across the line.
Minutes later, Julian Hooton cracked home the fourth from close range after superb play by Klein on the right hand side.
Buckner said: "It was nice to have a home game at long last and the boys really made the most of it.
"Crowborough put up a great fight and their keeper was in inspired form making it really hard for us to find a way through.
"It was another wonderful advert for our league and sport as it was played in a great spirit with everyone on the pitch giving 100 per cent. I must give special thanks to Rak Patel, Oliver Cornelius and Johnny Orr who travelled back to Horntye Park from Worthing after the Warriors match finished to play for us.
"This is the best fourth team I have played in as captain and to have 25 points in the bag by Christmas is a great achievement. The spirit and commitment among the players is fantastic."
Saxons welcome Worthing V to Horntye Park on Saturday, December 17 for a 1.30pm push back.
Team: Jenner, Cornish, Bunday, Acott, Whitehead, Patel, Cornelius, Hooton, Orr, Buckner, Woodford, Klein
Top goal scorers as of 10/12/16:
Whitehead 5
Buckner 5
Woodford 5
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