In a hard-fought home encounter, Sunbury and Walton Hawks Men's 1st XI emerged victorious against Mid-Sussex with a 3-2 win, overcoming challenging weather conditions and a tough opponent. The Hawks, in their emerald green home strip, were buoyed by the home crowd who braved torrential rain to cheer their team to victory.

The match started at a high tempo, with both sides probing each other's defences. The deadlock was finally broken by Hawks’ captain, Matt Chappell, whose leadership on the pitch was underscored by his opening goal. The skipper timed his run perfectly to receive a brilliant assist from Nick Browning, finishing with precision to put the Hawks 1-0 up and set the tone for what would be an intense battle.

Mid-Sussex equalised shortly after, but the Hawks remained unphased, pressing forward with determination. Their persistence paid off in the second half when Dan Littlefair found the back of the net. A well-executed short corner routine orchestrated by player-coach Mark Collins saw Littlefair slide the ball past the opposition keeper to restore the Hawks’ lead, 2-1.

The Hawks continued to build momentum and soon earned another short corner. This time, it was Alex Taylor who stepped up, reacting quickly as the ball bounced back off the upright to smash a volley beyond the keepers' grasp and give the Hawks a 3-1 advantage. Taylor’s goal, crucially from another set-piece opportunity, was a testament to the Hawks’ tactical discipline throughout the game.

Despite Mid-Sussex pulling a goal back late in the game, a result of a decision that raised more than a few eyebrows from the home crowd, the Hawks’ defence stood firm. Their ability to weather the pressure in the final minutes, coupled with standout performances across the pitch, sealed the victory.

Jorden Thorne was named Man of the Match for his relentless work rate and composure at the back. Reflecting on the game, Thorne said: “It was a tough match in difficult conditions, but we stuck together and got the result. The support from the home crowd was unbelievable, especially when you consider the weather conditions they sat through. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

It was clear that the energy from the stands played a significant part in keeping the team motivated throughout the match, and kept the team pushing forwards when it seemed like things were going against them.

Another home win will give the Hawks confidence as they go into a huge double header weekend, with Brighton away on Saturday, before they travel to Jersey on Sunday for a huge cup clash against the islanders.

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