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Sat 21 Jan 2017 ·  Division 4
Men's 4Crawley Mens 4's
4
3
Working up a sweat in freezing cold conditions
sol Buckner23 Jan 2017 - 19:27
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The temperature was near freezing on Saturday but Saxons were made to work up a sweat to come out on the right side of an action-packed, seven goal thriller at Horntye Park.
Sol Buckner's battle-hardened side eventually triumphed in this gripping Sussex Division Four arm wrestle where both sides fought valiantly to the end in the bitter cold on a fast hardening pitch.
And it was the visitors who adapted the quickest to the conditions opening the scoring in the seventh minute.
An unfortunate defensive mix up left Crawley a simple tap past keeper Richard Heath.
Once Saxons finally warmed up, they hit Crawley on the break on 12 minutes with in-form Joe Woodford firing home from seven yards.
But Crawley struck back minutes later scoring following a short corner to make it 1-2.
Saxons continued their momentum and levelled on 26 minutes when substitute Tony Wright fired in Buckner's pass with his first touch of the ball.
After the break Crawley's busy midfield continued to cause problems for Saxons and on 42 minutes took the lead during another quick break.
The blue shirts refused to buckle and continued to take the game to the visitors. On 58 minutes they won a series of short corners. Buckner stepped up and dispatched the last of them to level for the third time to make it 3-3.
And it proved the catalyst for Saxons to win the game as they then laid siege on Crawley's goal. With five minutes remaining, Woodford grabbed the winner slotting home again from close range to secure the points.
Buckner said: "Respect to Crawley because they came and made things very hard for us.
"They started much better and never gave up right to the end. It was freezing out there but we were really made to sweat for the points. "It was another wonderful advertisement for the game.
"And I must give special thanks to the umpires who worked in the coldest conditions I've ever played hockey in."
Saxons have a free Saturday tomorrow as scheduled opponents Eastbourne Eaglets pulled out of the league. They are next in action on February 4 when leaders Lewes V visit to Horntye for a 3pm push back.
Team: Heath, Cornish, Whitehead, Acott, Cole, Patel, Tryphonos, Whitmore, Klein, Cornelius, Buckner (c) Woodford, Wright
Man-of-match: Les Cornish
And it was the visitors who adapted the quickest to the conditions opening the scoring in the seventh minute.
An unfortunate defensive mix up left Crawley a simple tap past keeper Richard Heath.
Once Saxons finally warmed up, they hit Crawley on the break on 12 minutes with in-form Joe Woodford firing home from seven yards.
But Crawley struck back minutes later scoring following a short corner to make it 1-2.
Saxons continued their momentum and levelled on 26 minutes when substitute Tony Wright fired in Buckner's pass with his first touch of the ball.
After the break Crawley's busy midfield continued to cause problems for Saxons and on 42 minutes took the lead during another quick break.
The blue shirts refused to buckle and continued to take the game to the visitors. On 58 minutes they won a series of short corners. Buckner stepped up and dispatched the last of them to level for the third time to make it 3-3.
And it proved the catalyst for Saxons to win the game as they then laid siege on Crawley's goal. With five minutes remaining, Woodford grabbed the winner slotting home again from close range to secure the points.
Buckner said: "Respect to Crawley because they came and made things very hard for us.
"They started much better and never gave up right to the end. It was freezing out there but we were really made to sweat for the points. "It was another wonderful advertisement for the game.
"And I must give special thanks to the umpires who worked in the coldest conditions I've ever played hockey in."
Saxons have a free Saturday tomorrow as scheduled opponents Eastbourne Eaglets pulled out of the league. They are next in action on February 4 when leaders Lewes V visit to Horntye for a 3pm push back.
Team: Heath, Cornish, Whitehead, Acott, Cole, Patel, Tryphonos, Whitmore, Klein, Cornelius, Buckner (c) Woodford, Wright
Man-of-match: Les Cornish
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