Ladies 1stXI 1-4 Whitley Bay

Goals: Lisa Coe

After a good night of team bonding everyone was up for the game. Northampton didn't have a good start but were up for it. As Sunderland kept possession and managed to score 3 good goals in quick succession we were keen to score winning a short corner. Lisa Coe took the ball well and the score was 3-1 as the half time whistle blow.

The second half saw Saints keep their own and defend the line well. Unfortunately they allowed the oranges to come back and score making the result 4-1. The game continued with some strong leads from the Saints forward line although no outcomes.

Next weekend sees them host Beeston at Moulton College on Sunday, 12pm push back. Please come along and support them in this crunch match.

 

 

Ladies 2nd XI 5-2 West Bridgford

 

Goals: Lucy Ann Checksfield (3), Becca Wilkinson (2)

 

A few stats for you to put you in the picture: combined age of the back 5 players: 193 (not including keeper!). Average age of front 5 players: 15! (if you don’t count Lucy Ann.  She was 22 years older than our youngest player!!). Hmmm what have we let ourselves in for???

Saints started badly and for the first ten minutes they carelessly gave away possession to West Bridgford.  With a few words of encouragement from the side they soon started to play the beautiful hockey we are more than capable of and scored first through Lucy Ann Checksfield after a lovely ball from Emily Kilner, leaving the score 1-0.  Not long after Checksfield won a penalty corner which she converted to make it 2. Seemingly in control of the game, Saints pressed the self-destruct button as some sloppy defending led to a goal for the opposition just before half-time.

The Half time team talk was a bit miserable and grey but the ladies did manage to consume a bag of jelly babies quickly, and recompose themselves to start the second half.

The second half saw some great play from Saints both in defence and attack.  Some excellent pieces of play from Becca Wilkinson up front and Checksfield led to Wilkinson scoring goal number 3 for Saints.  The pairing of Caz Whitehouse and Clare Noble was working so well in the middle that they forced the opposition to run down either flank into the welcoming stick of both Ness Kingston and Nikki Stringer, both who had excellent defensive games (note Stringer you play in defence!!!!!). Alice Kilnerl worked hard in midfield to steal the ball from the opposition and then pass to Lydia MacDonell who ran past two players into the D and pass a lovely ball to Checksfield who scored making it 4-1 to Saints.  Great teamwork from young players and finished off by experience!

Our last goal was scored soon after by Becca Wilkinson. Again from a well worked piece of play from Lucy Ann making the score 5-1 to Saints.  There were ten minutes left and we thought it was all over until West Bridgford scored from an unlikely penalty corner to make the final score 5-2 to saints.

Well done girls another win to leave you at the top of the table by a point! Next week a trickier match against Newark away.

Man of match: Clare Noble

DOTD: Karla Tate (admin error!!) 

 

 

Ladies 3rd XI 5-1 Wellingborough 3rd XI

 

Goals: Hannah Richards (3), Sarah Telford, ?

Match report to follow....

 

 

Ladies 4thXI 3-0 Rushden & Higham

 

Goals: Lou Harte (2), Lizz Hone

 

Saints came out as deserved victors in this match. The first half was an end to end encounter, although unfortunately no goals were scored by either side. The second half saw Lou Harte put two goals away in open play, and the game was sealed with an outstanding goal from Lizz Hone. Special mention to some great play from Jules Herring and Christie Walsh as centre and right midfield.

 

Men’s 1st XI 3-4 Burton 1st XI

 

Goals: Dave Saunders, Joe Colantonio, Ben Scott

 

Saints travelled to Burton hoping to get back to winning ways after last week’s disappointing result against Warwick. However, the away side made a shocking start conceding three goals in the first fifteen minutes. Bad mistakes and weak defending cost Saints as they now faced an uphill struggle. Saints found it difficult to keep hold of the ball and turned over possession far too easily. Towards the end of the first half Dave Saunders pulled a goal back after a good cross from Ben Northedge.

 

The second half was slightly better but Saints still struggled to create chances once in the Burton half and were lucky not to concede further goals as Burton missed a host of chances. Joe Kopka was sent off after taking down a high ball which made the job tougher for Saints but they never gave up. The last ten minutes was all Saints and after some contacts pressure, Joe Colantonio made it 3-2 slamming home after an initial short corner was saved. With three minutes to go Saints won another corner and Ben Scott drag flicked home to equalise – a great comeback.

 

Unfortunately this was not enough as Burton broke away and won a dubious short corner in extra time. Burton scored to win the game.

 

With two games to before the Christmas break, Saints need a win to avoid getting drawn into a relegation battle next year.

 

 

 

Men’s 2nd XI 2-7 Olton & West Warwick

 

Goals: Andy Smith, ?

 

The game started well as Saints managed to keep Olton out and make a few chances of their own. After the game being like this for a good 10 minutes Olton managed to break the Saints defence and score the first goal. Saints knowing they needed to bounce back early restarted with a positive attitude and began attacking, not long after the restart saints managed to pull it back to 1 – 1. This remained the score until half time despite both teams creating chances.

 

After an inspiring team talk from Collin and Guy we set up to begin the second half with a positive belief of taking the win, the second half started the same as the first with Olton having the majority of the attack. Saints were defending to the last breath but unfortunately couldn’t help but concede a penalty corner, cue the Olton forward who stepped up and drag flicked the ball ridiculously fast past Guys head. 2 – 1.

The majority of the second half was the same with Olton having the majority of the attacks where they went on to get more short corners with their forward stepping up and slotting another 2 drag flicks in, not sure if he was aiming for Guy but as they both went down the left of the goal. They then scored another short slipping it back post and slapping it in. They also managed to get a penalty flick after a controversial tackle by Pete Riches, 6 – 1. Saints looking at a loss still held their heads high as we continued to push forward finally getting a goal, which came from a well-executed pass from Max Heaphy to Andy Smith on the back post who calm as a cucumber slotted it in, 6 – 2. The game continued with Olton still pressing for more goals when they managed to grab another. The game finished 7 – 2 but saints were not disheartened as we put in a good effort rate and played quality hockey.

 

MOTM: Ed Holt - great saves

 

DOTD: Liam Cassidy – Liam DOTD (is that enough emphasis on DOTD?) for when asked who his man of the match was he looked at the sheet and I quote said “can’t believe nobody voted for me to be man of the match”  he then took the pen and wrote his own name and put a vote next to it, cue everybody changing the vote to Liam for DOTD!

 

 

Men's 3rd XI 5-1 Boots

Goals: George Roberts, Luke Pibworth (2), Evan Morris, Ian Maciiwaine

Saints came out to Nottingham to play Boots, via KFC & Starbucks for some. After being led to use the 1940’s ladies changing rooms, then waiting for ages while Umpires from the previous match decided whether lights would help, the match was finally here. Whether Spencer-Brown finished reading his novel is another matter. A scrappy start saw a goal line clearance from Hillier... hang on a minutes wasn’t Jason Hillier told to rest for 6 weeks after damaging bones and ligaments. Apparently so!!

Saints took the lead when Bigley passed to the back post for Roberts to tap in. The lead was doubled when Pibworth hit home from just inside the D. With Saints looking to dominate, Boot came back into the game scoring, before saves from Thompson kept Saints’ lead at 2-1. As the half wore on Saints began to dominate with Pibworth giving newcomer Evan a tap in at the far post for 3.

The second half saw Saints in control with some majestic passing that was quite enjoyable to watch (or would have been if I was a spectator), giving the Boots keeper a chance to make some fine saves. Saints scored their fourth with Mcilwaine scoring a delightful, skilful, magical goal scooping the ball into the corner (he wanted it to sound impressive). The fifth was really the work of a rampaging Down who, in the last 10 minutes seemed possessed. His pass gave Pibworth the tap in, but further rampages didn’t give Down his glory. Wightman was unlucky not to score as his drag flick cannoned of the crossbar, while Hillier’s ‘injury’ brought on a massive air shot from a penalty corner. Also Andy Dale made up for lost time by having his friendly chat to the opposition post match this time instead of before.

Next week Saints are at home to the new league leaders, but are confident after recent performances.

 

MOTM: Evan Morris, for a fine newcomer performance

DOTD:  George Roberts – Incessant stupidity, and over enthusiastic apologising during the match

 

 

Men’s 5th 1-2 Loughborough Town 5th XI

Goals: Matt Kerr

 

 

Motorway delays puts paid to 5s unbeaten run.

 

The 5th team went down to their first defeat of the season in unfortunate circumstances. A broken down lorry on the M1 motorway delayed the whole squad for over an hour which led to the game starting late. The team had to start the game minutes after arriving at the  Loughborough University pitch. Not surprising in these circumstances, they fell behind by two goals to nil within the first 10 minutes. The opposition started much more brightly and stand- in keeper Rob Tee, who himself had not had any warm up, could do nothing about either shot on goal.  

The game settled down into a more even contest after this shocking opening, and the 5s started passing the ball around down both flanks.  Tom Dysko and Gareth Voss were pulling the strings in midfield  and Hugo Day started to use his pace and skill to attack down the left wing.  Loughborough were still looking threatening but it was Northampton who scored next. A fine taken effort on the turn by Matt Kerr. Captain David Henry had to leave the field due to a leg injury and with a number of substitutions being made, the 5th's were finding it hard to get their rhythm seen in previous weeks.

 

In the second half Rob Tee excelled in goal with some fine saves. Dysko showed a little bit too much competitive spirit and was yellow cared for a dangerous challenge. The pitch was playing well but this did not stop a number of players being hit by shots being lifted. Rob Cary was also guilty of missing two penalty corner stops. Did the ball bobble? 

 

The 5s kept pressing for another goal and  Ed Arnold and Ro Cary went close with efforts. However, it wasnt to be and the 5s need to pick themselves up for next week's game against West Bridgford.  

 

 

MOTM:  Rob Tee (heroic goalkeeping)

DOTD:   Tom Dysko  (Yellow Fever)

 

tea:  Pasta bake in loughborough pub

 

Squad: Rob Tee (GK) Steve Morris, Jeremy Wan Harry Stobart, Matt Caton, Gareth Voss, Hugo Day, David Henry (capt), Luke Howard, Rob Cary, Matt Kerr, Ed Arnold, Tom Dysko.

 

 

 

Men’s 6th XI 0-1 Ashby 4th XI

Goal Scorers: None

In a very physical game, a simple formula was going to be applied: whoever gets the other team to change their game plan will win. Ashby succeeded in getting the World Famous Fighting Sixes to change their plan and they put the golden goal away.

The WFF6s did not play with enough commitment, passion and were easily bullied off the ball. Poor passes, sloppy tackling and lazy man marking meant the F6s were constantly under pressure. Darren Thorpe was absolutely dogged in defense and Dean Gibson made some fantastic saves to keep the scores tied at 0-0 going into half time. Umpire dissent from senior F6s players hampered further efforts to win 50/50 decisions and all of this was pointed out in a fiery half time talk.

The second half was a rinse and repeat of the first half with one difference. In the dying minutes of the game an Ashby striker lobbed a shot over a committed keeper to take them 1-0 up. Moral of the story: stick to your game plan WFF6s, no matter how the other team are playing.

 

Squad: Tony Brennan(c); Dean Gibson (GK); Karl Flowers; Rob O’Donnell; Darren Thorpe; Pete Malpass; Phil Marillat; Ian Boddington; Lee Thompson; Alasdair Townsend; Jamie Hawkins; Tim Warburton; Alex Jeffery and Phil Adams