Saxons sign off with another home win

South Saxons Hockey Club’s men’s first team ended its league campaign with another home victory.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Mar 2015, 15:04 BST
Action from South Saxons' 4-1 victory at home to East Grinstead III on Saturday. Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-150328-233422002)Action from South Saxons' 4-1 victory at home to East Grinstead III on Saturday. Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-150328-233422002)
Action from South Saxons' 4-1 victory at home to East Grinstead III on Saturday. Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-150328-233422002)

Saxons made it nine Sussex Open Hockey League Division One wins out of 11 at Horntye Park by coming from behind to see off eighth-placed East Grinstead III 4-1 on Saturday.

Grinstead started the brighter with some excellent possession hockey. They dominated the first quarter of the game and took a deserved lead when a well-worked move down the left wing was rounded-off by an excellent finish from the top of the D, which gave goalkeeper Mike Sutton no chance.

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The midfield trio of Alex Coombs, Sam Bunday and Jon Meredith orchestrated some of the best hockey Saxons have played all season, while the back four, marshalled brilliantly by Paddy Cornish, snuffed out the rare attacks from EG. The equaliser came just before half time, Tudor Stainsby finding James Bunday, who made no mistake from close range.

The second half was one way traffic and the pressure soon resulted in a well-taken goal from Bunday after excellent work by Jon Meredith.

The third goal minutes later finished the game as a contest and was arguably Saxons’ goal of the season. After good work down the left by Harry Reece, Chris Meredith - who produced his second consecutive man of the match performance - struck the ball on the reverse stick into the top right-hand corner. Only his celebrations eclipsed what was a great strike.

Several chances went begging before some great work between Reece and Andrew Orr resulted in Orr scoring his first goal for the front side.

Fourth-placed Saxons are two points ahead of Southwick and Hailsham, both of whom have one game left. Saxons will travel to Southwick for a Sussex Plate semi-final on Saturday April 18.