Saxons who are still looking for their first league win this season drafted in some youngsters to cover injuries and absences. Saxons played some inspired passing hockey during their first half encounter putting St Francis under pressure. Accurate ball distribution from midfielders Edward Bowles and Olli Beal led to forwards JJ Choron and Tom Waters creating panic and confusion among the St Francis defence. Waters failing to convert an opportunity when he put a slap shot wide of the post just before half time.

Saxons piled on the pressure early in the second half when on 47 minutes man of the match Jonathan Lowe carried the ball up from the back, laid it off to Olli Beal, who side stepped a defender and slipped a pass through for Choron to slot home. Saxons aspirations of a first win were dashed when on 54 minutes, when St Frances responded to an untidy clearance, with a clean hit into the bottom right corner of Saxons goal. A determined Saxons continued to battle to bring home a win, only to be rebuked by a revitalised St Francis defence. Saxons onslaught continued with efforts from Daryl Tulk, Edward Bowles, Paul Merison and Olli Beal unable to get that final pass through to put Saxons forwards on goal. On 68 minutes a low drag flick from a St Frances penalty corner, initially saved by goalkeeper Graham Deaves, was met by a quick thinking attacker whose hurried hit took a deflection off Deaves’ pads, clipped the underside of the crossbar and found the back of the net. The full time score 2-1 to St Francis.

Vice Captain Paul Merison said “The team turned out their best performance so far this season. It was a close game and the St Francis winning goal was a lucky one. Unfortunately luck was not on our side today.”
Saxons 4th XI captain Sol Buckner returns next week for a friendly away to Sevenoaks