Super Saxons hit rivals for six

Alex Coombs’ hat-trick helped Saxons achieve their first victory anywhere since the 3-2 success at Sevenoaks II on the opening day of the South Hockey League Kent/Sussex - Regional 2 campaign.

On a glorious day at Horntye Park Sports Complex, Saxons created the better of the early chances with Harry Reece and George Eldridge going agonisingly close. Saxons soon made their pressure tell as Coombs scythed through the opposition to put his team 1-0 up.

Shortly afterwards, Saxons won a short corner and Eldridge made no mistake from 16 yards, flicking the ball hard into the bottom right corner, putting the Hastings side 2-0 up at the interval.

Coombs bagged two more goals within 10 minutes of the restart. His second came from some terrific link-up play with Eldridge, while his hat-trick goal and Saxons’ fourth was a cool finish low to the goalkeeper’s right at the end of another mazy run.

Cliftonville finally put one past man of the match Stew Feakes in the Saxons goal, but James Bunday tapped home Saxons’ fifth from close range to round-off a good move and Tudor Stainsby fired number six following a fantastic “dummy” from Rob Whitehouse. The visitors grabbed a late consolation.

Standings (played 10 matches unless stated): 1 Blackheath & OE 25pts, 2 King’s & Alleyn’s 23, 3 Brighton & Hove II 19, 4 Crawley 19, 5 Lewes II 16, 6 Sevenoaks II 13, 7 Sutton Valence II (9) 12, 8 Mid-Sussex 10, 9 SOUTH SAXONS 9, 10 Cliftonville (9) 6, 11 Canterbury III 4.