And the 50-year-old veteran showed no sign of too much apres-ski as he fired in Paul Merison's pass from 10 yards out with 10 minutes remaining.

The visitors took the lead at sun-drenched Horntye Park on the break on 17 minutes but were kept at bay for the rest of the half.

Man-of-the-match Daryl Tulk marshalled the defence superbly at centre-back.

Sol Buckner dropped back into midfield for the second half and then stepped up on 45 minutes to calmly convert a penalty flick after Woodford's goalbound shot was stopped by a defender's foot.

Woodford then grabbed the winner to move Saxons up to a respectable fourth in Sussex Open Hockey Division Five.

Jubilant skipper Buckner said: "This was by far our best result at the club in the two seasons I have been here."

Report by Sol Buckner