Mens 2nd XI 4-3 Belper 2nd XI

Goals: Martyn Cory (3), Liam Cassidy

 

The 2nd team secured a vital 3 points in there mid for survival in the Ener-G 2nd XI Midlands Premier Division. Saints started off the better team however showed some clear signs of rustiness having not played for over 2 weeks. It was a tense opening 15 minutes, however Martyn Cory helped settle the nerves as he coolly slotted home from a penalty corner. A second followed minutes later as Cory again converted from a penalty corner. However shortly before half-time Belper pulled a goal back.

The second half started with a  Belper equaliser. It like a scene from the Matrix as in slow motion the ball deflected off a defender’s stick, rolled over Sam Biddle’s helmet before trickling over the line!

Saints came back into the game and looked to have sealed the result through goals from Martyn Cory and Liam Cassidy, however some sloppy defending lead to Belper pulling a goal back, but fortunately for Saints they held out for the last ten minutes to secure victory.

Other points of interest:

• Matt Gausden for sliding about 20 yards on the floor after colliding with a Belper winger!
• Grant Carlin for having to wear a ladies shirt all game after forgetting his own!!
• Liam Cassidy and Grant Carlin – there bromance was blossoming before the game in the dugout
• Athiq Thamby – rubbish warm up (or should that be cool down!) before the game.

 

MOTM: Martyn Cory – hat-trick hero!

DOTD: Grant Carlin – for reasons above.

 

Squad: Sam Biddle (GK), Simon Stringer, Jon Noble, Pete Riches, Ben Northedge, Matt Gausden, Alex Mcindoe, Gavin Markham, Liam Cassidy, Grant Carlin, Kyle Taylor, Lloyd Atkinson, Martyn Cory, James Askew, Athiq Thamby

 

 

Mens 4th XI 7-1 Coalville 4th XI

After an unanticipated break away from the hockey field due to the rather harsh cold spell it was back to business for the 4th Team. All refreshed after the break and raring to go this fixture against Coalville was a bottom of the table decider. Saints had had a crazy run of bad form in that no matter if they played well or not they still managed to lose by the odd goal.

Anyway this is where the tide turned for the Fours, and from the start Saints piled on the pressure and were 1-0 up after a piercing run from the flightily Sidhu to cut the Coalville defence in two with a pin point pass to Godman’s reverse stick side, to then slip the ball on the outside to his strong side and
then firing the ball under the diving keeper. Saints were adamant they were going to win this in convincing style and by half time they were 3-0 up with goals coming from the spritely AJ with a very
cheeky finish, along with the third being scored using a wall pass off the post by the young Aiden Walker for the ball to be drilled hard and low in the corner.

Half time came and Saints were worried that maybe complacency would creep in so when the second half started it was ‘all hands to the pump’ and within 10 mins Saints were now 5-0 up. They continued to press and bought the score line to 7-0, but unfortunately were unable to keep a clean sheet due to a minor lapse in concentration in the dying minutes. Anyway Saints 4s have put a convincing win on the board and can only mean that maybe they are on a winning streak.

 

Nuneaton IV 0-10 Mens 5th XI

Scorers; Dave Henry 3, Steve Morris 2, Rob Tee 2, Ed Arnold, Jon Keep, Luke Pibworth

Attendance; The Sam Bigley Appreciation Club

Tea; Proper chip shop chips

In the news; Car bombs in Sweden

 

In From the Cold

David Henry warned us before the match not to be complacent about the opposition. Oh how wrong he was! Poor old Nuneaton appear to have suffered from an exodus of players and their fourth team in reality was their fifth team. They didn’t stand a chance. Champing at the bit after an enforced three weeks on the sofa, Saints were in no mood to take prisoners.

From the outset Nuneaton had no answer to Sam Bigley’s pace down the right, supplied by an infinite number of passes from Joe Cliffe at right-back, who had never seen so much space.

Steve Morris kicked off the scoring, his short corner routine getting ever more clinical as the season draws on. David Henry was next up with the first of two spawny deflections. Jon Keep scored the best goal I’ve ever seen him score after ten minutes and Luke Pibworth made it five.

Another exocet from Morris , followed up by a rocket from F6 escapee Rob Tee made it six, and another embarrassing deflection for Henry rounded off the first half.

The second half was a different story as Saints forgot where the goal was and didn’t score for about fifteen minutes. Bigley ran out of Duracell and Cliffe was surrounded by four defenders every time he got the ball. At one point Scott Bashford even had a kick. He didn’t really need to but just wanted to get involved.

Frustration led to Keep murdering one of their minors. Harsh but fair and that seemed to kick start the visitors back into action.

Tee celebrated his second goal like an over paid footballer, Ed Arnold scored a cracker (despite his silly Marcus Spencer-Brown-style headband) and Henry at last scored a proper goal to get his jug avoidance and make it ten. Anything less would have been a travesty.

MOM; Steve Morris

DOD; Grant Stevens (wrong kit)

 

Scott Bashford (GK), Grant Stevens, Steve Morris, Callum Scott-Collins, Joe Cliffe, Jon Keep, David Henry (C), Marcus Spencer-Brown, Sam Biddle, Ed Arnold, Luke Pibworth, Rob Tee

 

 

Mens 6th XI (Home) 5-0 Hampton-in -Arden 4th XI

Goal Scorers: Ross McLean (3), Tony Brennan (2)

 

Hampton had arrived with nine, a rearranged; close-to- Christmas away fixture had seriously depleted a side with lots of quality. Dermot “Santa Claus” Cassidy urged the Fighting Sixes to try and get the maximum number of goals.

 

Wheel him around the other side Nana

 

Twas a fortnight before Christmas, when all through the Astroturf players were determined to go back to second on the league table. Cheerleader promises of incorrigible things with mistletoe only spurred the players on.

The opening hors d'œuvre was as delicious as a goats cheese and rocket offering as Ross “Prancer” McLean ran up the centre right had a deflection off the keeper only to put it away to put the F6s up. It was as obvious as a Snowman saying “I smell carrot”, that this was going to be a one-sided affair and with 9 no-one could blame Hampton.

Ross, like a one horse sleigh proceeded to run up the left through 7 players to put away goal number 2.  This was an individual effort, which would not have been possible without the rest of the team holding off the mounting numbers of mince pies, which are available as performance enhancing substances to hockey players of calibre.

Just before half time, Dermot called for the Utility Striker to take the pitch. Brennan took to the pitch and immediately linked up with a solid run from Gareth “Comet” Voss. Gareth passed to Chris “Dancer” Easton who assisted Tony to put away a fine Christmas offering. Tony still wasn’t happy mentioning something like “If I can’t get better through balls, I am going to go and strike for the 4s.”

Defensively, comedy was the order the day as Rob”£3.99 Satnav” O’Donnell had a blistering run at our own goal and Karl “Vixen” Flowers shoulder charged the Schmidt house wall. Owen “Cupid” Jones made some outstanding tackles and together with Rob buttoned down any serious offensive threats. Paul “Blitzen” Crawford wasn’t asked to do much, except handing out eggnog and canapés.

The half time Sherries and Iceland party treats were complimented with a rousing chat from skipper who handed out Christmas cards and M&S vouchers.

In the second half Ross finished off his hat trick with a team effort from Nigel “Nutmeg”Riches holding up the ball well while waiting for Will “Rudolph” Gamble and Ross to catch up. Will then assisted Ross who tucked the ball away like a pig in a blanket. The jug of mulled wine did not materialise in the pub later, with some saying that cricketers didn’t make good hockey players as they want to break for tea and bad light.

The final goal of the game was a festive run (some would say a cracker) by Dan “Donner” Burge who set up Will and Tony (Tony finishing) in another great goal. Going for three Tony “Pantomime” Brennan couldn’t link up with the pass “it’s behind you” from Dermot. Dermot’s miss of an open goal was the Christmas comedy moment with some saying that as a Santa he is known to go up the wrong chimney…

 

Teas: Sliced Churkey with Cranberry sauce, Roast Potatoes, Chestnut stuffing and Napoleon Brandy Christmas Pudding.

MOM: Tony Brennan (Utility striker)

DOD:  Dermot Cassidy (Up the wrong chimney)

 

Squad: Dermot Cassidy(c); Paul Crawford (GK); Karl Flowers; Rob O’Donnell; Dan Burge; Owen Jones; Gareth Voss; Will Gamble; Chris Easton; Tony Brennan; Ross McLean and Nigel Riches.

 

 

Ladies 4th XI 2-3 Towcester 3rd XI

Goals: Claire Baker, Hannah Richards

 

The ladies 4s dusted themselves down after a 2 week snow break to put in a great performance against Towcester in this mid-season friendly, held at Moulton Sports Complex.

Claire Baker got the first Saints goal from a penalty corner. Baker injected to Hannah Richards who returned it to Baker just in-front of the back line, slap shot in, back of the net. The second Northampton goal was from Hannah Richards who expertly slotted the ball past the keeper following a superb solo run.

This performance should inspire confidence into the Ladies 4s when they return to league action after in the New Year.

 

 

 

Mixed 1stXI 8-0 Welford

Goals: James Knibb (4), Dave Langley, Christian Howard, Ben Northedge

Saints experience showed in this match as they convincingly saw off Welford 8-0. James Knibb's was the main destroyer as he scored 4. Also on the score sheet were Dave Langley, Christian Howard and Ben Northedge.