Men's 5s win by 5 goals, Away at South Saxons

FIXTURE: Sussex Div 3
HOME TEAM: South Saxons Men's 4s. 0
AWAY TEAM: Lewes Men's 5s. 5 (Rezaaaa, Fewster 2, John Child, Daxybaby)

The Men's 5s claimed a resounding victory away at South Saxons on Saturday.

With 12 men, a long drive and an early start, things may have been expected to go differently on Saturday but the first half continued as it had finished back in September with both teams equally matched and not giving anything away. The 5s were playing some lovely passing hockey at times which eventually brought about the first goal, a pass from debutant John Child out to Luke Tilbury on the wing who put across a teasing ball that could have been finished by three of the Lewes forwards but was deservedly slotted away by Reza Azimi, his first goal for Lewes.

To the other end of the pitch Saxons won two penalty corners that we predicted would be hit hard by Sol in the scrum cap.......and they were.........hit hard and accurately but also saved brilliantly by Simon Bullmore who was having none of that!

Half-time - 1-0 up and "maybe we could play around those flat sticks instead of trying to go through them". Agreed, and what a difference it made.

The Lewes 'insides', Dax Debice and Ollie Pendered were playing triangles with John Child at CF and within 5 minutes Alan Forster hit the P spot to receive a through pass from John Child only to be brought down in front of the goalkeeper. The resulting Penalty Stroke was confidently put away by Tom Fewster to extend the lead and put to bed the 5s non-existent record of scoring from strokes.

Lewes' third was all about the new boy, a pass out of defence from Tom Fewster to Toby Rolph at Centre Half, sent upfield to John Child who then dribbled through the Saxons defence and fired in a rocket from the edge of the 'D'. Oooooh, he's quite good!!

Saxons hadn't given up though. Numerous attempts to equalise were met by the #HardToBeat 5's defence of Tim Bullen, Toby Rolph, Mark Pearson and Luke Tilbury (who had a great game in his first season playing). The occasional shot that got through was kicked or palmed away by Simon Bullmore and the Saxon's short corner routine was just too slow for Lewes No.1 runner Tim Bullen.

The next goal for the Men In Green was worth a debate......did the Lewes skipper touch it, dummy it or miss it? Answers on a postcard. From the edge of the D, Tom Fewster sent in a pacey ball to Malcolm Wain, waiting at the post, the Saxon's goalkeeper predicted the deflection.......which didn't happen and the ball crossed the line for Fewster's second.

Now getting fed up with typing his name, the Visitors fifth and final goal came from Tom Fewster's fierce shot at goal deflected skywards off the keeper's pads and lovingly touched down by Alan Forster to where the Lewes Skipper was waiting to sweep it in........and as the Skipper swept.....along came 'stealerman' Dax Debice for a tap in.

One final save from Simon Bullmore prompted the decision to keep ball and protect another clean sheet, 5 in a row now. Next Saturday the 5s are back at Home 3pm vs Brighton 6s.

MOM: Tom Fewster - despite Ollie claiming numerous assists, Tom had a storming game and really was, as the report may suggest, at the centre of everything.