Mens 1stXI 5-4 Chesterfield

Goals:  Ben Scott (2), Joe Colantonio, Gareth Parker, Lloyd Atkinson

 

Saints went into their first league game back after the Christmas break full of confidence as they made the long journey up to Chesterfield. After soaking up some early pressure from the home side saints countered and won a penalty stroke following a foul on Lloyd Atkinson. This resulted in a sending off for the chesterfield keeper. Ben Scott slotted home for saints. With chesterfield still down to 10 men saints doubled their league when Joe Colantonio cleverly deflected in a short corner. With saints looking to build on their lead they let their concentration slip and chesterfield pulled a goal back after some slack defending from saints. Just before half time however Scott restored the away sides two goal lead, drag flicking in from a short corner for his second of the match.

 

In the second half saints started well and two quick goals from Gareth Parker and Lloyd Atkinson looked to put the game beyond doubt. Saints then took their foot off the gas and very nearly paid the penalty. Shocking defending from the away side let Chesterfield score three times in the last 15 minutes and led to a very nervy last 2 minutes. The game ended 5-4 to Saints, a great game for the neutral but Northampton will have to sure up their defence when they host Coventry next week.

 

 

Ladies 1st XI 0-5 Oxford Hawkes
 
Saints were on the back foot from the starting whistle with a different formation due to some key players missing and it took a while for Saints to organise themselves and get a grip on the game.  Oxford Hawkes quickly capitalised on gaps in the game with great movement from the blonde twins on the opposing team in the middle with in quick sucession they scored 2 goals.
 
Saints remained positive and played some good hockey, but failed to prevent 3 more well-worked Hawkes goals.  Despite some great balls from the midfield to the forwards, Saints were unable to finish and ended the game 5-0.  The scoreline did not reflect the play and Saints came away with some positive areas to work on for the second half of the season.
 
 
Player of the match: Lucy-Ann Chacksfield
DOTD: Clare Sibley

 

Mens 2nd XI 2-3 Beeston 2nd XI (Saturday)

Goals: Martyn Cory (2)

Saints went into this game as underdogs as they faced top of the table Beeston. Having lost 6-0 at there place at the start of the season, Saints knew they were going to be in for a tough game. However they stepped up to the mark in this closely fought match at Moulton Sports Complex.

The opening spell saw both teams play some neat tidy hockey, with neither side willing to give anything away, however midway through the half the deadlock was broken as Beeston scored from a penalty corner. This seemed to spur Saints on as they dominated the rest of the half. They deservedly drew level through a penalty corner of their own, converted by Martyn Cory, and just before half time it was a feeling of deja vu as Cory scored again from a penalty corner.

Minutes into the second half and disaster, as Beeston finished off a quick attacking move with a well taken goal at the far post. With all things level again both teams pressed for a winner, and had Saints been more clinical in front of goal it would have been them. Sadly with five minutes to go Beeston forced there way into the D and hit a powerful shot into the goal. This was a harsh result against the league leaders, but shows why Beeston are top, as they made the most of the chances they created.

MOTM: Matt Wilde – outstanding performance at left back

DOTD: James Knibb – just look at him!!

 

Squad: Sam Biddle (GK), Pete Riches, Simon Stringer, Matt Wilde, Jon Noble, Ben Northedge, Matt Gausden (c), Alex Macindoe, Gavin Markham, Andy Smith, Athiq Thamby, James Knibb, Martyn Cory

 

Mens 2nd XI 1-6 Cannock 2nd XI (Sunday)

Goals: Athiq Thamby

Having had just under 24 hours rest, Saints 2s played there second game of the weekend against a very strong, experienced Cannock. Minutes into the game a defensive mistake allowed Cannock a first goal, and as they dominated the half they scored a further 2.

The second half continued in the same vain, as Cannock pressed. When Saints did have possession they gave it away cheaply as they continuously tried to run with the ball rather than playing a simple pass. Three further goals went in for Cannock, although on a more positive note the one time Saints did play a passing game, it resulted in a well taken goal by Athiq Thamby.

MOTM: Matt Wilde (2 in 1 weekend!).

DOTD: James Knibb – only lasted a few minutes before hobbling off.

Squad: Sam Biddle (GK), Pete Riches, Simon Stringer, Lewis Ward, Matt Wilde, James Askew, Matt Gausden (c), Gavin Markham, Grant Carlin, Liam Cassidy, Andy Smith, Martyn Cory, James Knibb, Athiq Thamby

 

 

Ladies 2nd XI 1-0 Rothwell

Scorer: Ellie Bleech

 

A friendly encounter for these two teams just before the start of the league, enabled Saints to play a strong side and practice their new formation which they finished last year with.

 

Saints were in control from the start and displayed some slick passing throughout the team. There was some great forward running from Rebecca Wilkinson and Ellie Macpherson , well supported by Ness Kingston. A welcome return to the side from KJ, highlighted what we have been missing, in her passing ability.

 

Frequent short corners were well defended by Rothwell with special mention to their keeper who kept the score down to a minimum. The deadlock was finally broken by a short corner routine, KJ passing to Ellie Bleech who converted from close range.

 

A reasonable performance from Saints who face Leicester in the League next week.

 

Edgbaston 7-0 Mens 3rd XI

 
 
Saints travelled away to an Edgbaston team who before the start of play were only a couple of points ahead of them in the league table, and knowing that a positive result would give some good impetus to the second half of the season and for the relegation battle ahead.
 
Things didn’t start well however, with the team quickly finding themselves 1-0, 2-0, then 3-0 down within the first ten minutes. Despite the deficit, the team galvanised and didn’t let their heads dropped, and for the remainder of the first half produced some good hockey and competed well with the opposition. Tom Wrightman produced some good attacking intent, as did Sean Henry and Max Heaphy from the midfield. Unfortunately, the first half produced very few opportunities from the visiting side. And despite enjoying some good possession, the score line remained at 3-0 until halftime, and it could have been more but for some stout defending and sharp saves from Phil Preen.
 
Miller’s half time team talk was positive in as far as the despite the early deficit, the team re-gathered and worked their way back into the game. And who knows, with some oranges the second half may have gone differently…
 
…However, as it was the critical first goal of the second half again went to Edgbaston. At 4-0 this meant the away side had to throw more into the attack, ultimately leaving more gaps to be exploited. Saints will again rue a game where very few clear opportunities were created. In fact only 2 short corners were earned by the visitors in the entire game. By full time, the home side had accumulated a further 3 goals, and whilst 7-0 wasn’t necessarily reflective of the effort of Saints, or indeed to balance of play, Edgbaston were well worthy of the victory on the day.
 
MOTM – Whilst there were some nominations, the team as a whole were undeserving of a MOTM award
 
DOTD – Likewise, the whole team were ‘winners’ of this award. Special mention to James Miller however, for beating the first man and dribbling off the pitch on ‘multiple’ occasions. Also, mention to Tom Wrightman for his attempted ‘Scrap’, and also to Lewis Ward for his aerial pass which left the confines of the pitch!!
 

Team: Phil Preen, James Miller, Jason Hillier, Sean Henry, Lewis Ward, Tom Wrightman, Max Heaphy, Ian MacIlwaine, Nigel Down, Hugo Day, Dan Rose, Matt Swansborough, Ally Rose

 

Mens 4th XI 5-0 Belper 4th XI

Goals: Sam Bigley (2), Simon Sidhu (3)

As the second half of the season commences Saints 4’s have gained in confidence due to some strong win’s at the back end of the first part of the season.

 

With a fired up attitude Saints began from the off and pressed hard into heart of the defence with some promising build up. This all paid off when ‘AJ, The Duracell Bunny’ tore down the right hand side cutting the ball flat across the D too the spritely Godman, who would normally shoot from a silly angle but this time slipped the ball under the keeper for the oncoming Sam Bigley to sneak in to smack the ball into the net.

The second goal for Saints came when “Twinkle Toes Sidhu” skipped his way through three Belper players to then coolly take the keeper on and slot the ball in the bottom right corner.

As Saints went in at half time it was apparent that all they had to do was play sensible hockey to come away worthy winners. So as they came out it was not long before they added more to the score tally, with almost a carbon copy of Sidhu’s first goal. The Belper defence had nothing on the skilful Sidhu so as he beat several players he then as cool as a cucumber slipped the ball past the stranded keeper.

Then the Young Sam Bigley was thinking I can do just as well, and about 15 minutes into the second half the ball was driven hard into the D for Mr Bigley to spin and deflect the ball into the Belper net.

All that was left was for either Sam or Sidhu to get their hat-trick, and up steps the aggressive Sidhu to make his final mark. Saints come away from this with a 5-0 win and also pushes them into mid table safety for the first time this season.

 

MOTM – Sam Bigley (For some great determination)

DOTD – Ed Holt (For not properly taking out the Belper Centre Forward!)

 

 

Mens 5thXI 6-1 Sutton Coldfield 6thX1

Goals: Luke Pibworth (3), Rob Cary (2), Tom Dysko

 

Pibworth on Fire for the 5s

 

Luke Pibworth found his shooting boots again with a  well taken hat trick, securing  another win for the high flying 5thteam. 

The game started with Saints being pressed in the own half by the opposition, however, as in the previous week, they scored against the run of play with a well worked goal from Luke Pibworth. Marcus Spencer-Brown produced a good run and pass for Luke to slot into the far corner.  Marcus wa also involved in the second with a pass to Tom Dysko who finished with a firm shot past the Sutton goalkeeper. 

By this stage Saints had  fallen foul of the umpires with both Joe Cliffe and Scott Bashford receiving green cards for offences.  Sutton were still working hard as a team without  creating many clear cut chances. Steve Morris and Callum Scott Collins were their usual rock solid defence and George Roberts at right back was having a fine game with some excellent tackles and link up play.  Scott Bashford made one spectacular diving save with his stick to deny the opposition.   A third goal came when Joe Cliffe linked up well with Luke Pibworth who finished with a fine directed shot into the Sutton goal.  Towards the end of the half Sutton did manage to find the net when the ball was slid slowly past Scott Bashford and into the empty net. 

The second half saw the opposition more on the defensive and Saints were able to push more men forward in the search for goals.  Steve Morris seem determined to score an outfield goal and made several sortees into the opposition’s D.   A few light-hearted moments of the second half occurred when a stray football was ably returned to the right pitch via Callum’s boot. Callum and Grant Stevens were playing their own game of keep ball in their own D until the inevitable short corner resulted.   Joe  Cliffe was also also doing his best to mop up all the water from the pitch as he rolled around on the ground on several occasions.

Rob Cary then entered the goal scoring  chart with a simple tap in from a slightly off target shot from Rob Tee. His second goal came from a penalty flick, awarded after a short corner flick (also from Rob) was deflected over via a Sutton defender’s head! The score was now 5-1 and the opposition’s resistance had crumbled.  Luke Pibworth achieved his hat trick with the best goal of the game. A fine individual effort saw Luke rounding the keeper and finishing in style from a tight angle.

The 5thteam  are now in a strong position in the league and now have their sights firmly set  on promotion come the end of season. 

MOTM: George Roberts. Great defending and forward movement.

DOTD: David (where did I put that car park ticket) Henry

 

Squad: Scott Bashford, George Roberts, Callum Scott Collins, Steve Morris, Grant Stevens, David Henry (c), Joe cliffe, Tom Dysko, Rob Tee, Jon Keep, Rob Cary, Marcus Spencer Brown, Luke Pibworth.

 

Mixed 2ndXI 3-1 Welford

Goals: Athiq Thamby (2), Trudy Wellington

 

This was a hotly anticipated match against 2 young up and coming sides. Saints came out victors as an Athiq Thamy brace, and one from Trudy Wellington sealed a deserved victory.