Ladies 1st XI 2 - Kettering 0

 

Goals: Lucy-Ann Chacksfield, Nikki Stringer

 

The nerves were high on Saturday within the Saints team for the match against Kettering. Not only is it THE local derby, but their current coach is ex-Saints coach Ian Hughes-Rowlands. Saints has had a good run and wanted to show in their home game against Kettering that they are serious about promotion and hoping to create a gap with the numbers 3 and 4 in the league table.

 

Saints came out of the changing rooms and immediately put the nerves into something positive. The ball was played around the back, focussing on keeping possession and movement off the ball. At the right time the ball was passed into midfield and pressure was put on the Kettering defence. It seemed as if Kettering were afraid of the Saints ladies, who continued to keep possession for most of the first half. Good movement off the ball resulted in a series of chances for the forwards, with Lucy-Ann Chacksfield stepping up and drawing on her experience to place the ball behind the Kettering goalkeeper. Saints kept the pressure high and a series of short corners was awarded. As always, Nikki Stringer was ready to stop the ball. However, when the ball came out on her front stick she was quick to change her position and determined to score her first goal of the season. With this comfortable lead Saints slowed down their play and Kettering was allowed to get back in the game.

 

The second half saw a change of traffic. Kettering stepped up their game and increased pressure on the Saints defence, who initially allowed them. The game slowed down, and Saints were struggling to pick up their high pace from the first half. Play went up and down the pitch with the better chances being for the Saints ladies. From a defensive point of view it was however a great game: a clean sheet and no open play shots or corners against. From an attacking point of view there will be some focus to increase the efficiency, but overall it was a good team performance.

 

Ladies 2nd XI 2-1 Newark

 

Goals: Katie Barnetson, Molly Sugden

 

Saints took to the field in a confident mood, knowing 3 points was a must. From the start Saints looked positive and were well organised with some early attacking play leading to a short corner. The short corner was injected by Katie Barnetson and after a straight strike was deflected to Barnetson on the near post, the current top goal scorer converted from close range.

 

Some great defensive work from Ferne Cotton and Claire Rayner frustrated the opposition and they began to loose their temper, mainly with the umpires. Great attacking play from Clare Noble and Molly Sugden soon led to another short corner. A variation in the routine meant a short switch to Sugden who converted her chance in spectacular style. The opposition were fortunate to pull back one goal against the run of play.

 

Overall a well deserved win from a much improved saints side who worked tirelessly for one another. Stand out performances were Ness Kingston for encouraging the oppositions No.40, but also some great saving tackles as well as Jean “Madge” for some last ditch defending. Man of the match went to Ferne Cotton, for her calm and confident performance in defence.

 

Mens 2nd XI 3-1 Stourport 2nd XI

 

Goals: James Knibb, Kyle Taylor, Martyn Cory

 2s win the hard way!

Despite it being early on in the season, this really was a “6 pointer” for Saints. A win and they’d move themselves away from bottom side Stourport, or a loss and they’d be back in the relegation zone.

Saints drew first blood, as midway through the first half James "Leo Sayer" Knibb converted a simple opportunity, further chances went begging and shortly before half-time, things were all square as Stourport converted a penalty corner.

 

The second half saw Saints continue to create chance after chance, but time and again they missed or were dealt with by the Stourport keeper. With 20 minutes of the game to go, Saints got a well-deserved goal. A superb break started on the left and was quickly switched to the right to allow midfielder Kyle "Hobbit" Taylor to waltz through and hit an unstoppable shot in the far corner. Minutes later the same move was repeated as Taylor again found himself in plenty of space, this time the he passed the ball to the back post for Martyn Cory to tap in.

 Points of interest:

• Liam Cassidy - Has a shots to goal ratio worse than Andy Cole!!
• Martyn Cory - How did he miss an open goal?!

Squad: Sam Biddle (GK), Simon Stringer, Ben Northedge, Pete Riches, Jon Noble, Alex Mcindoe, Ross Wickens, Matt Gausden (c), Liam Cassidy, Kyle Taylor, Athiq Thamby, Andy Smith, James Knibb, Martyn Cory, James Askew

 

 

Mens 3rd XI 2-3 Loughborough Students 3rd XI

 

Goals: Dan Rose, Chris Brimyard

 

Saints 3s traveled up to Loughborough for an anticipated tough game, especially given that their squad was reduced to 12 on the morning of the match. The chat before the game centered around playing hard and starting well, something Saints had failed to do in the last few games.

 

This seemed to have had at least some effect as Rose opened the scoring for the visitors within the first few minutes, rounding the keeper and gracefully peeling away to celebrate. The home team with a full bench didn’t then take long to find their rhythm with the Saints midfield and defense working tirelessly to repel attack after attack from the Students, who were remarkably sober for a Saturday morning. Inevitably then the home side equalized after 20 minutes with a well worked goal pushed in off the back post, which was followed shortly by a further goal to bring the score to 2-1. Saints hard work in midfield paid off, and with Swansborough a constant outlet from the back almost equalized when Rose was fed in from the left to be denied by the Loughborough keeper.  Loughborough got a further goal shortly before half time when a penalty corner shot got through Miller on the left hand post to be hoovered up by a Loughborough forward.

 

Despite being 3-1 down at half time, Saints could be happy with their performance and more of the same was asked for at half time. The overriding feeling was that if Saints could enjoy a bit more possession and look after the ball then they could worry the Loughborough defence.

 

Sure enough the second half was played at a frantic pace, with Loughborough starting to make their bench tell and looking ever dangerous on the attack. Despite this Saints worked extremely hard in defence and midfield to keep the home team at bay. A brilliant ball from Ward across from the right led to a Saints penalty corner, which Brimyard duly stepped up to drag flick home past the keepers left, and with the score at 3-2 Saints started to believe that a point could be on the cards. However Loughborough kept the ball well and the game finished 3-2. A great team effort from Saints though, which if maintained through the year will surely lead to better things!

 

MOTM: Dan Rose, for his goal and tireless running in midfield and attack.

 

DOTD: Nigel Down, mainly for trying to leave his car boot open at Moulton, which was luckily spotted as we were driving away. Also for leaving the fines meeting early to watch the rugby.

 

Squad: P Preen, J Hillier, J Miller, L Ward, M Wilde, S Henry, N Down, I McIlwaine, A Czaicki, M Swansborough, D Rose and C Brimyard.   

 

 

 

Mens 5th XI 0-3 Beeston 6th XI

 

 

November 13th was an unlucky day for Saints 5th team. The league leaders in the ENERG midlands central league south east division 1 suffered their first defeat for more than a year at the hands of Beeston 6th team. The 5s were expecting a tough match, but their over-confidence having won every match in this years league was soon to prove their undoing. From the outset Beeston pressed Saints hard, giving them very little space to attack from, and with the very capable Beeston defensive keeping the forwards busy. Even Ed Arnold doing his best Michael Johnson impression couldn't manage to find any space to create an opportunity for Saints. As the half went on Saints started to learn to deal with the Beeston tactics and were moving the ball around much more confidently, creating some better space and a few more opportunities. A strong attack down the right hand side lead to a short corner for Saints: Rob Cary played his trademark flick to the top right hand corner of the goal, only to be denied by a great stick save by the Beeston keeper sending the ball over the fence.

 

In the dying stages of the half Beeston broke through Saints defensive lines and managed and scored their first goal. Going into half time Saints were disappointed but the match was not yet over and everyone felt we were capable of getting a result from this match.

 

The second half started brightly with Saints putting Beeston under further pressure, moving the ball around well and making some testing runs into the Beeston half, but as the half wore on Saints frustration became more and more apparent. Passes into the last 25 yards became more and more desperate as saints sought that one goal-scoring opportunity to get back into the game. The frustration was clear at the back too as having easily cleared up another Beeston breakthrough, goalkeeper Bash loudly complained about one of the Beeston forwards (aptly nicknamed 'Bambi' by his teammates) falling over yet again, this time taking out Steve Morris in the process. The outburst earnt the hapless keeper a green card, and earnt Beeston an unexpected short corner. Beeston converted this to put them 2-0 up.

 

Saints fought hard, but the pace of the game started to tell and Saints started to loose their shape, and Beeston buoyed by their second goal were pressing Saints back into their own half. Beeston's skillful young right winger picked up a pass on the top of the D and turned Saints defenders inside out and sent a good shot into the right side of the goal. Scott bashford saved the first but the deflection fell kindly for Beeston's forward who put the ball away to put the match beyond reach of saints.

 

MoM - Adam Shepherd for his hard work in midfield

DoD - Bash - for giving away the short that lead the to the second goal

 

Teas - chip butties

 

 

Squad: Scott Bashford (GK), Grant Stevens, Sam Bigley, Steve Morris, Callum Scott-Collins, Jon Keep, Dave Henry (c), Adam Shepherd, Tom Dysko, Marcus Spencer-Brown, Ed Arnold, Rob Cary

 

 

Mens 6th XI (Home) 4-2 Kettering 4th XI

Goal Scorers: Ross “No jug hat trick boy” McLean (3) and Tony Brennan

The North wind blowing across the pitch dropped the mercury to -58°C. The sound of icicles jingling on Dermot’s Mo was not going to put off those from the Niflheim.

 

Hrafnagaldr Óðins

 

Extracting their strength from Yggdrasil the Fighting Sixes were ready for any challenge.  With ale and mace (not the spray kind); shield and spear; the bearded men (and the slightly fuzzy) loomed on the field, oozing experience.

 

The F6s had a great squad, Dermot “Baldr” Cassidy lead the midfield with a mighty roar in a charge that electrified the opening volley.

 

The first goal by Ross “Meili” McLean was an example of the deep skill the F6 have.  On an individual run from deep, Ross blasted into the opposition D and harpooned a shot into the goal. The F6s returned to the safety of three valkyries bearing ale in Valhalla, to re-organise and celebrate had to stave off a few minor skirmishes. Scott “Odr” Fleming kept out some good saves (using Thor’s hammer like a fly swat) to keep us on top.

 

The second goal resulted from Ross finishing up from an angle on the right applying even more pressure on Kettering. Chris “Loki” Easton nearly won MOM by exemplary play, awesome runs on the left and excellent all round play. Nigel “Gylfi” Riches had a few chances at the front and had some spritely runs to connect up with through balls.

 

For the 3rd F6 goal it required an inspired Dan “Freyr” Burge to beat 2 defenders, past outside to Rob “Hodr” Tee who speared a cross in to Wossy who slammed his hat trick home. To the plaudits of the team he was heard muttering: “I only buy jugs for cricketers, hockey is for wannabe men!”

 

Owen “Bragi” Jones and Rob “Tyr” O’Donnell and the other defenders could not keep Kettering from putting 2 goals away in reply. One, a very well worked short corner went under Karl “Sigyn” Flowers’s stick on the back post which nearly earned him the DOD title. Like Asgard, a 3 goal lead seemed insurmountable, but a rapid 2 goal reply made us feel vulnerable.

 

Flowers sympathised with an opposition friendly fire incident and then encouraged umpire Steph “Vár” Brennan to send her father off for repeated stick tackles. Tony “Odin” Brennan responded with a solo run from his own 22’, dribbled past 7 men (one of them twice, to show off) got into the D and muscled a shot off the post, deflecting off the keeper’s helmet into the goal. Only to have been heard saying: “It was nothing, without you guys!!”

 

The F6s moved to second on the log almost securing their places in Ragnarok.

 

Teas:    Tenderloin steak, potato Dauphine, green beans and a cranberry jus

MOM:   Ross McLean (hat trick)

DOD:     Tony Brennan (shocking miss)

Squad: Dermot Cassidy(c); Scott Fleming (GK); Karl Flowers; Rob O’Donnell; Dan Burge; Tony Brennan; Owen Jones; Chris Easton; Ross McLean; Rob Tee and Nigel Riches.

 

Mixed 1st XI 1-0 Bugbrooke – Abandoned

Goals: James Knibb

We started the game and after going 1 goal ahead, scored by James Knibb, the lights failed. After they were fired up again, we played for another 10 minutes or so, and they went out again. The umpires and captains then decided to call it a day and abandoned the match. BAD LIGHT STOPPED PLAY. We will be re-arranging in the near future.

 

Mixed 2nd XI 3-2s Long Buckby

Goals: Casey Humphries (2), Aaron Hill

Saints went into the lead with a scrambled shot from a short corner, scorer Casey Humphries.  Long Buckby equalised then went ahead with another goal. In the second half another goal from Casey, which was an awesome shot from the edge of the D, which rocketed into the goal, beating the keeper. Asking her where that came from, the answer was 'I haven't a clue'. The winning goal came from Aaron Hill well into the half.

 

NorthamptonBadgers 4-2 Daventry Badgers

 Goals: Anthony Condon, Jacob Price, Lee Thompson, Tim Warburton

Northamptontook an early lead with Anthony Condon scoring a hectic goal after a beautiful solo run down the wing.  Daventry never really came back after that though getting very little possession, however with 3 seconds to go they scored from a penalty corner; which was unfortunately disallowed as an adult had scored, which, due to the laws of the badgers league was illegal.

The story was much the same in the second half with Jacob Price scoring to make it 2-0.  Then the tides changed though with Daventry getting back into the game with 15 minutes to go, but it was not enough; Lee Thompson and Tim Warburton struck home quickly to increase the lead and Daventry’s last minute goal was more of a consolation than anything.

 

 

 

Boys U16 3-6 Edgbaston Boys U16

 

 

Saints were dealt a harsh lesson in finishing in the 2nd Round of the U16 England Hockey Board National Cup. Despite enjoying the majority of possession, and creating numerous chances (including 25 penalty corners!), they just couldn’t get the goals they deserved as Edgbaston ran out 6-3 winners. Credit to the players for working hard throughout the game and playing some fantastic hockey. Special mention must go to 13 year old Joe Wightman who performed superbly in goal to keep the score down.

So with a 6-3 defeat we don’t progress to the next round of this knock out cup competition, but the players who will be too old for next year are shaping up to make a great U18 squad, and we fielded two U13 and several U14 and U15, so this bodes well for future U16 triumph.

 

Highlights off the pitch:

• Escapades in funny lanes behind the botanical gardens (!!)....having found some opposition in the Edgbaston School for Girls car park, made the mistake of following them down track and over dale – all in view of the pitch but no actual access from where they were leading us... 
• Tim snoring on the way there
• Spectator groans as yet another lovely cross eluded the tip of a stick and failed to be nudged into goal. 
• Game of how many can you squeeze into smallest car for journey back (NB only the tallest players were allowed to be selected for this...)

 

Thanks go to:

• Joe the coach
• Marga, Geoff, John and Joe for ferrying folks and the early start at Sixfields (and if I missed a driver forgive me and thanks)
• Everyone for paying their subs {Note the adults – not one person’s match fees are missing!}
• NICKY – for arranging the team sheet, the shirts, the practice balls, the goalie kit, the coach and generally making the whole thing happen
• JACKIE – for aforementioned and diligent emailing and arrangements

 

Without our parents, the drivers and supporting behind-the-scene effort these things don’t happen.  And the lads did us proud on the pitch, so that’s good enough reward for us all. 

 

Squad: Anthony Condon, Ben Cooper, Oliver Hartfield, Lewis Moran, Jacob Pryce, George Roberts, Mark Shepherd, Lee Thompson, Anthony Walder, Jeremy Wan, Tim Warburton, Joe Wightman (GK), and Adam Wright

 

Girls U16 1-3 Banbury U16

 

Goals: Emily Kilner

 

The girls battled really hard but it just wasn't to be, despite an Emily Kilner goal. They now go into the plate competition on the 28th November.