Ladies 1stXI 0-5 Doncaster

 

Saints faced mid table team Doncaster this weekend but made the journey north with a positive attitude and a passion to get their first win of the season. in the first ten minutes Doncaster showed their intent to get on the score board early. Some excellent goal keeping from new signing Sophie Rossi kept the sheet clean. With a constant pressure from an experienced and well-rehearsed team they put three points on the board going into half time. Saints were not without opportunities in front of goal, from a number of well worked passes up the  pitch and a handful of penalty corners being awarded. Unfortunately these opportunities were not converted.

 

In the second half the Saints defence continued to withstand the strong attack and many more goals were kept off the score sheet by the defensive team on penalty corners and in particular through man of the match goal keeper Rossi. Saints continue to look for their first win of the season to move them from the bottom of the table. They have the players and the passion and will hope to find the magic to make it happen.  Final score 5:0.

We can't finish this report without a special mention to Charlie White - "thanks for coming"!!

 

Ladies 2nd XI 6-2 Ashbourne

You’ve seen the Bourne trilogy but now read the Bourne Thrashing!!

 

Ladies 2s settled quickly into a routine of flowing hockey interspersed with some randomness as usual in the first ten minutes of the match.  Everyone had listened to the inspirational team talk in the changing rooms and had come out determined to win at home and keep up our excellent record so far.  For some if our players this meant passing accurately or striking the ball sweetly but for others it meant make noises like a gorilla or tripping over our own feet.  Anyway match well under way and goal number one from LA Chacksfield who scored so many yesterday, it was hard to keep count!   Anyway saints 1 ashbourne 0.  Although we let the opposition put is under pressure for a few minutes at a time the midfield combinations of Noble, Kilner, Macdonnell and McCabe worked tirelessly and up popped Ellie Bleech to score goal number 2.  Saints 2 others 0.

There was some more hockey played and this meant LA had the chance to score even more goals and although Ashbourne tried they just couldn’t get through our rock solid defence of Sibbers, Milford, Sanders and Leech.  Well they couldn’t get through without the rather huge helping hand that Nikki Stringer gave them by wandering off her post during a penalty corner and letting them muller one into the back of the net.  Saints 2 opps 1 (boo hiss)

Half time and after a rousing game of charades from Jonno and Alfie digging for victory, saints started strong again and threaded some excellent passes though the left, mid and right via McCabe, Wilkinsion (formerly known as Tango) and Kilner ending in LA scoring another cracking effort.  Saints 3 opps 2.  Opposition have such a long name, so opps will have to do!

Again pressure being applied from the right back led to a wonderful reaching long ball to Meg” Luna Lovegood” Patrick who fed LA a sweet ball to score goal number 4.  Nice work ladies.

As for the other two goals, I know LA scored them and I am going to assume from Penalty corners as I forgot to write down any build up play.

 

MOTM was a 4 way tie between 4 different people!

DOTD was Luna as at half time she fell through the goal netting instead of balancing in the backboard.  Genius!

 

 

Ladies 3rdXI 0-1 Olney

After a delayed start due to Olney being at the wrong pitch, the ladies were ready to go after a thorough warm up and skills practice led by the captain. We were raring to go with the sight of birthday cake for the end of the game.

Both teams were equally matched throughout the game, and it was tough for both sides. There was a lot of tackling, passing and back and forth running, however Olney had a break and took the lead in the first half.

A swig of water and a team talk the game was underway for the second half, Saints had many chances for goals but there was just no luck. We spent about 15 minutes in one corner of the pitch near our D, trying to win something but no short corners were given and no goals were scored.

A frustrating and undeserved lose for the ladies 3’s, but all was forgotten after the famous sausage, beans and chips and a slice of birthday cake.

Man of the match was tied between Alice Kilner and Hannah Richards who both played relentlessly for the duration of the game.

Written by Sophie Herring- Birthday girl therefore DOTD

Squad: Steph Brennan, Emma Brennan, Chloe Arnison, Hanna Wilkins, Jane Ogden, Sophie Herring, Alice Kilner, Rosie Barnes, Hannah Richards, Courtney Thorpe, Annie Howard, Cj Thompson, Natalia Raca

 

Ladies 4thXI 2-5 Kettering 3rdXI

Scorers: Lou Harte, Liz Hone

 

A game of extremes for the Saints 4's this week. At times the team played exceptionally well, using the width and passing swiftly to negotiate around Kettering. At the other extreme the hockey played was sloppy with players being drawn across the pitch leaving large gaps which Kettering took advantage of.

 

They picked holes in our defence and the second half saw the score move from a respectable 1-1 to 5-2. The real highlights for the Saints were our short corners from which Lou Harte scored a cracking first goal. During the first half we had a few good chances to score and the mids and forwards worked very well together in Ketterings D. Another fantastic short corner and Liz Hone sends the ball flying past their goalkeeper. Becca Herring played very well staying strong against Kettering and Savanna Jones held her position well and had a great game.

 

MOTM: Liz Hone - strong in defence and driven by sheer determination pushed up to score our second goal

 

U16 Girls 1-1 Blueharts U16 girls

 

Goals: Courtney Thorpe

 

The Saints U16 girls arrive in Hitchin for their first match in the newly formed EH U16 Club Championship. The starting XI started the match rather slowly, mainly because as it was their first match playing as a team, but fortunately it didn’t take long for the girls to get into the swing of things, and after some great link up play from Toman, Clayson and Kilner who fed the ball to Thorpe to sweetly hit the ball pass the keeper.

Half Time 1-0 Saints.

The second half started quite promisingly, with some impressive play from MacDonell and Thomas in the middle, however with sequence bizzare events led to Blueharts equalising. This made the girls spirits drop slightly. However, excellent play from from the trio of Forsyth, Jones and Instrell in defence, and with the travelling support from the side lines, the girls held on for a draw.

 

Squad: Tamara Ragiste,(GK), Courtney Thorpe(C), Laura Thomas, Kate Clayson, Sara Ashmore, Emily Kilner, Grace Nolan, Holly Harris, Charlotte Newton, Lydia MacDonell, Annie Toman, Ella Forsyth, Savanna Jones, Rosie Instrell.

 

 

U16 Girls 5-2 Buckingham

 

Goals: Lydia MacDowell (2), Clayson (3)

 

The girls started the second match of the day with much more positivity and confidence. The team attacked from the very start applying heavy amounts of pressure to the opposition. Near the end of the first half, the hard work paid off, as three short corners were won, with the last one finishing with a beautiful strike from MacDonell. Half Time 1-0 Saints

 

After another very promising start to the Second half, the team won another short corner. Again, MacDonell scored another beautiful goal, making the score 2-0 to saints. Buckingham managed to pull one back afterwards, much to the disappointment of the team. This however this galvanised Saints and with further great link up play between Kilner and Clayson, with Clayson slotting home for her first of the afternoon. Further determined team work from Nolan, Clayson and MacDonell, who then ran through the middle, taking a strike at goal, allowing Clayson to cheekily tip in for her second and Saints 4th. The score was now 4-1. Buckingham still applied pressure but further great team work from Newton, Harris, Ashmore and encouragement from Ragiste in goal kept them at bay and led to Clayson getting her 3rd of the afternoon. Buckingham came back strong and scored a late goal.

Final Score Saints 5  Buckingham 2 

We would like to mention the new players; Rosie, Holly, Charlotte, Grace and Savannah and congratulate them on their success within the team. Thank you for getting stuck in and involved! Hope to see you on the 13th!

 

U18 Girls 0-3 Sutton Coldfield U18 Girls

 

A new season of EH Cup matches started badly for Saints U18 girls. With players unavailable and 2 no shows, Saints starting XI were the only XI! The Girls started really well and matched and at times bettered Sutton’s game. Great team work from the back to the midfield was starting look like Saints were going to take the lead but a quick break away from Sutton saw them take the lead. 0-1. Saints kept their heads and kept working hard as a team with the forwards Hill and Patrick trying to disrupt Suttons defence and midfield but it wasn’t to be, as Sutton scored from a scrappy encounter in the D.

Half Time 0-2 Sutton

Second half, even  with the Saints girls now starting to feel the effects of a busy hockey weekend, they pushed and pushed Sutton with most of the play in the midfield being bossed by Tulley and wilkinson but with 20 minutes left Patrick’s Ankle made contact with the ball and that was end of her match. Saints rallied as a team and with fine and messy saves Emma Brennan kept the score 0-2. Even with the heroics of Ferne Sanders, Leah Sanders, Steph Brennan, Anniky and Herring could not keep Sutton out of the goal, 0-3.

Squad : Emma Brennan (GK), Ferne Sanders, Georgia Anniky, Steph Brennan (C), Georgia Linnell, Lottie Tulley, Leah Sanders, Becca Wilkinson, Sophie Herring, Rachael Hills, Meg Patrick

 

 

Men’s 1stXI 2-3 Khalsa

Goals: Dave Saunders, Ben Scott

Saints travelled to Leamington to face top of the table Khalsa in hope for a better performance than last week. The match was very even with both sides having chances but it was Khalsa that broke the deadlock. A short corner was saved by keeper Paul Madeley but a Khalsa forward got to the rebound first and beat the Saints keeper at his near post. After this Saints did enjoy long periods of possession but were undone again when another rebound fell to a Khalsa midfield player after a poor clearance by Saints. Not shaken by going two down, Saints controlled the first half thereafter, being very patient and moving the ball around very comfortably. The away side got a goal back through Dave Saunders after he beat three players to fire through the opposition keepers legs.

 The second half carried on in the same way with Saints enjoying far more possession than the home side but a drag flicked short corner from Khalsa increased the home sides lead. Again, Saints showed a lot of maturity and kept the ball well. Long periods of possession resulted in Saints winning a short corner and a chance to get back into the match. Ben Scott flicked the ball and struck a defenders body on the line. Scott converted the resulting penalty. For the remaining ten minutes it was one way traffic with Saints pressuring Khalsa and the home side defending for their lives. Every time Khalsa got the ball it was smashed clear only for Saints to pile on the pressure again. Unfortunately, to the relief of the home crowd, Khalsa held out for victory to end a very exciting game. Although Saints went home with no points they will be very pleased with their performance and go into next week’s game against Harborne full of confidence.

 

 

Men’s 2nd XI 2-2 Birmingham University 2nd XI (Saturday)

Goals: Andy Smith, Max Heaphy

Birmingham University started off strongly with a lot of possession and a very early shot on goal. Saints absorbed pressure for most of the first half and created numerous breakaway opportunities from good turnovers and interceptions. Andy Smith and Max Heaphy scored from two of these brak aways, with the latter being setup after a brilliant pass from Dan Rose. Two nil saints at half time and it could easily have been more.

But Birmingham come out the better team in the early second half scoring a quick goal and had saints reeling for the first ten minutes of the second half. Throughout the rest of the second half Birmingham pushed for an equaliser, but while doing so committed mistakes which allowed more breakaways by saints who could have scored a third. Caused by excellent hassling and interceptions by the forwards in particular Tom Scott-Collins man of the match for Saints.

With about ten minutes to go a Birmingham long ariel and breakaway led to an equaliser. The last ten minutes were tense for saints as they repelled attack after attack and having a chance or two themselves, either team could have nicked a winner late on. Upon reflection saints will be disappointed with the draw but it turned out to be fair result for both teams.

MOTM: Tom Scott-Collins

DOTD: Ed Holt – nail varnish, need we say more?!

 

Men’s 2ndXI 4-1 Loughborough Town 2ndXI (Sunday)

Goals: Scott Mahoney (2), Tom Scott-Collins, Danny Whitfield

 

Saints advance into second round of the EH Trophy with a 4-1 win over Loughborough Town.

A slow start from both teams turned into a scrappy first half. Both sides had chances but one goal was scored coming from a short corner, a low drag flick by Danny Whitfield that went under the diving goalkeeper. One nil saints at half time.

The scrappy play from the first half continued into the second half but Saints managed to score another goal through Scott Mahoney, from a rebound off the keeper. Loughborough Town had their passage of play after this threatening to score several times on breakaways and finally managing to. 2-1 Saints.

Conceding a goal had a positive effect on Saints who after a few scary minutes began to consistently string some decent passes together for the first time in the game. An excellent shot from Tom (Scott-Collins) went straight through the goalkeeper made it 3-1 Saints. The scoring was completed by Scott Mahoney who walked through two defenders before pushing the ball past the keeper into the bottom corner to collect his second goal of the game.

An unconvincing game from Saints but in the end a decent win and into the next round of the cup they go.

MOTM: Scott Mahoney

DOTD: Ed Holt – still had nail varnish on!!

 

Nottingham University 5-1 Men's 3rd XI 

Goal: Jon Hunter

 

Out skilled by students, outsmarted by the council 

 

Dear Nottingham Council,

The Saints 3’s feel slightly aggrieved to each car gaining a parking ticket during our trip.

You see the day started with firstly Gamble leaving his stick at home, then Sam Mitchell phoning to ask whether he needed to park (think he meant pay!!). Then Bigley practicing drag flicks, skyed a ball over the high fence, and hit a child (Timmy Cratchett) on the head. Despite rocking us, Nigel Down’s wise words of “if its a 50/50, f*****g hit ‘em, got us back on task before the match. Goodness knows why Mitchell felt the need to pose topless to ‘air himslef out’ though.

Nottingham University got the game underway in fast paced fashion, and despite expecting a fast flowing game, the students did not take long to take the lead. It took about 10 minutes for Saints to soak up the pressure, before they started creating half chances, and having more and more possession, without success. This continued to half time 1-0 down, though still with 11 players despite the best efforts of hillier and his slide tackles

Despite knowing we had to start the 2ndhalf well, Saints got off to a terrible start with the defence failing to clear a harmless ball, before a striker scored under the nose of Thompson. This led to the students gaining momentum in which 2 more we scored, through fast breaks and precise passing. When the score reached 4-0, Saints felt hard done by, particularly as they had had a significant amount of possession. Eventually Saints did score, thanks to a drag flick from Hunter. This however did not stop him from continuing to whinge at the umpires. Despite pushing hard in the last 15 minutes , with michell trying to head the ball home, it was too little, too late, and an eventual final score of 5-1, though hard to take, showed Saints the benchmark that they need to perform at.

Post match Hunter had the delight of finding that the University had a juice bar, a few lad got to experience James Miller stall his car, others got to see a barman trying to flip and catch bottles, before we all got to see that our car’s had been ‘got’, contrary to belief that ticket wardens did not check areas 20 minutes before permit parking areas were free.

Guess that might have put paid to some of the lad’s planning to have a drink back in Northampton

So you see, Nottingham council, we would love to be let off.

 

 

Food: One slice of Pizza (Will Gamble, I saw that 2ndslice), a few chips, and some salad stuff

MOTM: Macca, for a never say die attitude

DOTD: Sam Bigley – for hitting children on the head

 

simon thompson gk , andy dale (c), jason hillier, jon hunter, james miller, adam croutear , nigel down, ian mcilwaine, sam mitchell , chris rowlands, will gamble , luke pibworth, sam bigley

 

 

Men's 4thXI 2-1 West Bridgford 6th XI

Scorers; John Noble, Ally Rose

Saved by the Bash

Clearly lacking confidence after last week’s humiliating defeat at the hands on the Fives, and beset by technological difficulties, Saints Fours got off to a stuttering start on this hot October afternoon. Despite some floppy defending early doors however, Saints scored against the run of play with a tomahawk into the bottom corner from Ally Rose.

The visitors kept up the pressure and it was no surprise when James Ruse gifted the oppo’s attacker the ball, who gratefully slotted home past the outstretched stick of Jim Phipps.

One all at half time and on came Jon Noble at left midfield. Gradually Saints got more into the game and it was Noble who dispatched a loose ball at the top of the D for the home side to take the lead. The game wasn’t over though and Saints had to battle to hold onto their lead. West Bridgford’s sprightly young forward was causing all sorts of problems for the home team and Scott Bashford had no choice but to take the boy out: penalty flick. Tension mounted but Bashford saved at the right post and kept the lead for Saints.

All very exciting but Saints should never have been struggling to keep a 2-1 lead. Still, a win’s a win and things can only get better from here on in.

 

MOTM: Scott Bashford (amazing save)

DOTD: Ross McLean (undercutting)

 

Squad: Scott Bashford (GK), Ally Rose, Jim Phipps, James Ruse (c), Joe Cliffe, Ross McLean, Gary Patterson, Marcus Spencer-Brown, Lewis Moran, John Noble, Ant Condon, Chris Godman

 

Men’s 5thXI 1-1 West Bridgford

Goals: Ed Arnold

Saints arrived in sunny West Bridgeford on the back of two straight victories, for what turned out to be a bit of an agricultural contest. The initial headcount at Moulton resulted in minor panic when it was discovered we were a man down, however thanks to Dave Henry’s intimate knowledge of Northampton bus routes Max “is this the right bus?” Dymond was found somewhere near Lumbertubs.

Saints took the lead early in the first half, when a well worked short corner resulted in Ed Arnold harvesting a low flying drag flick which defeated the keeper when it deflected off a grain of sand. Shortly after passions rose, primarily due to some scythe like tackles. The umpires took control of the situation, and shortly after blew for half time.

A focussed talk at half time sent the saints onto the field with a renewed level of eagerness. Unfortunately though an uncharacteristically weak pass, was picked up by the floating centre forward, who strode into the D a slotted the ball home for the equaliser. Harry Stobartenthusiastically toiled away at left back,and reaped what he sewed with Man of the Match. In addition the second half contained a number of other incidents; the highlights including Rob Tee being bulldozed off the ball in a jousting contest and Rob Cary being deemed “a disgrace” by a Freddie Mercury look a like.

 

MOTM – Harry Stobart

DOTD – Gareth Voss (that uncharacteristically weak pass) closely followed by Rob “Coco the Clown” Tee.

Attendance – 2

Teas – Pasta bake or Pie (not sure on flavour – genetically modified cheese and onion??)

 

Moulton Mixed Hockey Academy 1stXI 2 – 3 John Leggot College

Goals: James Knibb, David Marriott

“The wrong side of a close encounter”

It was Moulton who had the first of the opportunities forcing the keeper in to a good confident save.  Moulton were finding acres of space in Midfield and occasionally got round the back to the baseline.  Then the breakthrough was made and a goal came from the space in the middle of the pitch, James Knibb picked up the ball and beat a couple of players and finished well across the goal. Inevitably in such a close fought game the away team that got their first goal after some good team play the ball was played through the middle of the D and Ed Holt was beaten by some good play just before the half time whistle.

 

The second half and Moulton committed too many players forward not retaining 3 at the back as practiced. The away team found space in the left hand side of the D and were able to put a bouncing ball past Ed Holt in goal which was seemingly going harmlessly across goal was then in avertedly turned in by the trailing defender Matt Caton, 2-1 John Leggot.  Moulton went through phases of good play but couldn’t convert until finally hitting the base line and coming back up paid off with Megan Patrick supplying the ball for David Marriott to finish well, 2-2.  The game didn’t end well for Moulton College who were careless again not leaving the 3 players back and conceding a penalty corner which was initially saved well but not cleared efficiently to give John Leggot another opportunity which they took.