Cornish: Saxons the team to beat

Saxons hit the front in South Hockey League Sussex Area - Division One on the back of a single goal victory at home to previous pacesetters Horsham II last weekend.

Cornish said: “I definitely think we’re the team to beat. We’re grinding out results and it’s starting to open up, but I still think there will be a few teams in and around us at the end of the season.”

With 13 points from a possible 15, Saxons are one clear of second-placed Horsham - who had won all of their previous four league matches - and four ahead of a quartet of teams level on points in third.

“They (Horsham) were playing in the right frame of mind and trying to do the right things,” continued Cornish. “If we had played any other team (in the division), it would’ve been easily eight or nine goals on Saturday.”

Saxons will need to be in similarly good form tomorrow (Saturday) when they travel to a Southwick side which has risen to fourth courtesy of three consecutive victories featuring 16 goals.

“It’s always a tough game down there, but if we play like we did this week, we shouldn’t have any issues at all against them,” added Cornish, whose team is the leading scorers in the division.

Jamie Busbridge is expected to return after pulling out of the Horsham game with a chest infection, but Toby Reed is battling for fitness having pulled a quad muscle last weekend.