Beeston 1st XI  12 - 0  Ladies 1st XI

Beeston had a strong squad, enabling them to put Saints under a lot of pressure from the off. Due to Saints panicking, Beeston went into an early lead. Saints got a well deserved short corner but were unable to convert. Ellie Hand had a 1v1 with the Beeston keeper but unfortunately could not convert. Beeston continued to work hard, putting two more goals away just before half time. 

Saints came out hard in the second half, although Beeston put another goal away early on after a counter attack. Beeston forwards were able to press hard, making full use of their rolling subs whereas Saints became tired with a only 12 players. This allowed Beeston to overload the defence finally resulting in a 12-0 loss for Saints.

Men’s 2ndXI 2-6 Belper 2ndXI

Goals: Tom Wightman, Andy Smith

2ndin the table Belper raced into a 2 goal lead in this encounter at Moulton. During this time Saints continuously gave away possession and inviting pressure on them. A third goal followed for Belper midway through the half as Northampton let a long ball go right through the middle of the pitch. This third goal was a killer blow and slightly harsh on Saints as they’d enjoyed a good 10 minute spell before-hand where they camped themselves in the Belper half. But as in previous weeks the killer touch was missing! Minutes before half-time Saints did find a way back. Tom Wightman neatly lifted the ball over the keeper.

The second half saw a marked improvement from Saints. They cut out the long ball from Belper, pressed higher up the pitch and enjoyed a long spell of possession. However Belper looked the more threatening of the 2 sides as they hit Saints on the counter-attack. This led to 2 further goals for them. Northampton then hit back once more as Andy Smith finished off a neat team move. However they then proceeded to hit the self-destruct button and lost all shape and discipline allowing Belper to score one more and close out the game.

Squad: Ed Holt (GK), Matt Gausden, Adam Croutear, Pete Riches, Matt Wilde, Dan Whitakker, Tom Wightman, Tom Lewington, Sean Henry, Andy Smith, Athiq Thamby, Tom Scott-Collins, Dan Rose.

North Notts 3rd XI  3 – 0  Men’s 3rd XI

Saints faced North Notts, another side marooned in the middle of the league. After regular keeper Thompson called up injured, Dean Gibson stepped up from the 6’s, initially believing this was the 5th team till just before hit off. Saints dominated possession in the first part of the match with lovely triangle passes around the pitch. Roberts combined well with Mitchell and Mcilwaine creating space for the team. Unfortunately this did not translate into goals, and Notts took the lead after an opportunistic reverse from a tight angle.

The second half brought more of the same, before Notts doubled their league from a tight angle. Saints thought they had grabbed a goal back, before the umpire decided to award an attacking short corner instead. Again Saints failed to capitalize and when Notts scored their third from a short corner, you just knew this was not a great day for Saints.

Squad: Dean Gibson (gk), Nigel Down, Ian Mcilwaine, Luke Pibworth, George Roberts, James Millar, Sam Bigley , Sam Mitchell, Ally Rose, Jason Hillier, Evan Morris, Hugo Day

Moulton Academy Ladies 1st XI  8 – 0   University of Bedford Ladies 1st XI

“It’s Raining Goals”

The last time the ladies played a University side the college went and won 6-1 against the odds. This time the stakes were higher, playing a team that was not only leagues above the previous team but also a much older outfit being mainly third year students.  After a tactical talk from Coach Brett Holland the girls went to warm up in anticipation of a tough match.  As the game started Bedford came out the blocks the quickest and looked to get Moulton on the back foot but right from the off the defence of Steph Brennan, Laura Wychgel and Holly Donelley-Bush were equal to the attack.  Moulton then reacted and started to build an attack through new central midfield partnership of Leah Sanders and Ella Dagnall. The ball eventually found its way in to the Moulton colleges ‘Happy Area’ and Cat Broomfield was unlucky not to score from close range.  From this point on it was all Moulton College, mainly down to a well structured and disciplined press against a Bedford centre back who had a very hard strike, however not quite hard enough as without fail Moulton were able to win the ball back and mount another attack.  It was then a matter of time before we had the first score and it was right midfielder Abi Dalton who came running in to deflect the ball in from the right hand post.  This was quickly followed up by Rebecca Trist scoring Moulton’s second, and the third came shortly before half time with a neat finish by Abi Dalton, picking up her second goal.  Goalkeeper Verity Anderton-Johnson showed great concentration and awareness after not being engaged in the game until right at the end of the first half, stopping a breakaway one on one, maintaining Moulton’s clean sheet.

The girls came in to the break on a real high and were all enjoying their hockey. Words of praise, but also caution were then delivered to the team to maintain their focus and not let the Bedford University side back in to the game, by ensuring they enjoy themselves by playing good hockey and not enjoying the occasion or the score line.  Sure enough these words were taken on board and it was business as usual with Bedford unable to break down the press and Moulton were able to string flurries of passes together, building the attack and still able to utilise the ‘Happy Area’.  Moulton was awarded a penalty corner  and Leah Sanders had the presence of mind to beat the first on rushing defender meaning she had aches of space to lift the ball speedily pass the goalkeeper in to the roof of the net!  Moulton then became more expansive and right half Laura Wychgel was able to get forward and support Abi Dalton causing the Bedford defensive all sorts of problems.  It again wasn’t long before Rebecca Trist was deservedly back on the score sheet, after her relentless defensive work, with a great strike. Too good for the Bedford goalkeeper.  Some positional changes brought trusty centre back Steph Brennan in to centre Midfield, presenting Ella Dagnall with a new challenge and slightly less leg work after her charity half marathon at the weekend.  At 5:0 up you could have forgiven Moulton for taking their foot off the gas however this was not in the script and new addition to the squad Cat Broomfield was in the right place at the right time to tuck away nicely.  Leah Sanders then proved her national league stature by picking the ball up on the half way line, engaging defenders and then hitting the space, finding herself on the Bedford baseline in no time and with fantastic support from the rest of the team, and was able to pin point a pass to Cat Broomfield who again found herself in the right place to neatly deflect the ball pass the goalkeeper on the half volley.  With only minutes remaining there was a chance for one more Moulton goal and with three girls fighting for a hat-trick it was Cat Broomfield, who become an aunty earlier on it that day, who claimed the eighth and topped off a great day all round for her.  Special mention goes to another new member of the team, Keira Lee, who had a fantastic game at left midfield, ever growing in confidence and a great addition to the squad.

Again the girls proving how to play as a team and how to be clinical in front of goal, with fantastic performances all over the pitch!