Sunbury and Walton Hawks Men's 1st XI secured a thrilling victory against Mid-Sussex, showcasing precision set plays and clinical finishing. The game saw the away side net five goals, with Matthew Chappell and Joe Jones both scoring a brace from set pieces, before Ben Littlefair sealed the deal.

The Hawks wasted no time asserting their dominance in the game, and their pressure paid off when Matthew Chappell opened the scoring with a beautifully executed short corner in the 5th minute. The drag flick from Chappell flew past the keeper, setting the tone for the game. Building on their early momentum, the Hawks continued to press hard. Mid-Sussex struggled to cope with the Hawks’ forwards in the D, and the resulting short corners. Chappell struck gold again in the 15th minute, converting another short corner to give his side a two-goal advantage.

Mid-Sussex attempted to mount a comeback, but the Hawks' defensive line held firm. The Hawks then extended their lead when Joe Jones converted from another short corner, with the Hawks mixing up their routines to unlock more opportunities. Mid-sussex then got a goal back through a short corner of their own just before the end of the half, but Jones struck again at the death, displaying remarkable composure and technique to make it four for the Hawks.

The second half saw a completely different Mid-Sussex team emerge, and a far more even game, but 3 points were already out of reach for the home side. They managed a second, throwing everything at the Hawks, but their efforts to attain a more flattering scoreline were short-lived, as Ben Littlefair delivered at the end of a moment of magic from open play. Jones and Chappell both involved once again, this time combining superbly through the midfield to create the chance, with Chappell beating 2 defenders on the edge of the D to find B. Littlefair at the back post, who coolly slotted home to put the cherry on top of a dominant performance for the travelling side.

It was a match defined by tactical brilliance, set-piece mastery, and individual flair. Speaking to Head Coach Mark Collins after the game, he was quick to heap praise on the forwards, and in particular his skipper. “Matt and Joe were undoubtedly the stars of the show, while Ben’s late strike was the perfect exclamation point. It was a fantastic display of set-piece execution and teamwork. We’ll take a lot of confidence from this result as we look ahead to Brighton at home next week!”

The Men’s 1st XI would also like to congratulate the Ladies’ 1st XI on their ongoing run in the Plate, and their commanding 9-1 win on the road last Sunday! UTH

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