Ladies 4th XI 2-1 Towcester 3rd XI

Goals: Alice Kilner, Lou                  

Well , What can I say but we won!! And it was thoroughly deserved. The midfield of Alice Kilner, Hannah, Becky Mellor and Mizzy were sterling, constantly driving and never giving up.

The Forwards this week were passionate, Sophie, Nadine, Annie and Lou Harte.

Alice Kilner’sgoal was glorious ,Lou’s put us in the lead  and left Towcester scrabbling.

I’m glad to say I (Sue Wightman) had nothing to do this week, as thedefencewas solid with Becky Mellor and Rose Brewhill.

A big thank you to Alice Kilner for helping the 4s this week, you are always welcome!

MOTM: Hannah - whose legs never gave up!

Boots 1st XI 2 – 1 Ladies 1st XI

Goals: Lucy Ann Chacksfield 

Ladies 2s 1-5 Derby Asterdale

 Goals: Ferne Sanders

Northamptonladies 2’s took on top of the table Derby Asterdale last weekend. From the off Northampton were defending and due to some unfortunate defensive errors by Katie Barnetson that left Claire Leech in goal with little chance of saving, Northampton were a goal down in the opening minutes of this encounter. A short corner was conceded shortly after the re-start and Northampton were 2-0 down inside the first 10 minutes.

Some good defensive work from Sally Alden and Ferne Sanders steadied the ship, until just before half time when again, after some defensive pressure another goal was conceded.

After half time Northampton displayed some slick passing and great interplay which led to a well deserved short corner, converted by man of the match Tara Doyle. For some time after, Northampton saints showed promise and had a Derby team rattled at the back, however the team were unable to capitalise on this pressure.

Some good forward play by Courtney Thorpe and Emma Matthews was met by a strong Derby defence. Mid way through the second half derby scored after a catalogue of errors from defence and midfield and the win was completed at the stroke of full time by another converted short corner.

Mens 3rd XI 2-1 Nottingham University 3rd XI

Goals: Si Ellison, Dan Rose

Saints 3's less their skipper on 2's duty at Leek faced a stern test from Nottingham Uni, the side that had piped them to the championship title last season.

And so it was. The first 15 minutes were evenly matched in terms of possession, but the University boys looked most likely to score. The 15 minutes that followed was even tighter, with Saints chasing shadows, and unable to get hold of the ball, and if it was not for 3 or 4 inspirational saves from M-O-M Scott Bashford Saints could have been 2 or 3 goals down. The only success that Saints were able to enjoy was down the flanks with Sean Henry and Andy Smith providing the pressure.

As the half progressed It seemed likely that the score line would be 0-0 at half time, an injustice to the play and possession from the students, then with 2 minutes to go, a sharp Saints move down the left found Dan Rose in just a little space, and he was able to wriggle along the bye line, coming perilously close to working the ball out of play, before his final pass to the P spot was calmly swept into the empty net by Si Ellison. Half time 1-0 but with a lot of hard work ahead.

Stand in skipper Nigel Down decided to juggle the midfield for the second half, switching Henry to the left and dropping Brimyard from the attack to the right flank. This allowed Andy Smith to move into the centre of midfield to work alongside the tireless McIllwaine, with the instruction to "run at them" and the intention of pushing the Uni midfield deeper.
This semed to have back fired within 2 minutes of the restart as the Uni boys got the goal they deserved and drew level with a neat deflection.
However as the half progressed, Saints found more and more space and the chances started to come. At the other end the backline of Jason Hillier and Simon Stringer who had an assured game after returning to competition after a 6 week lay off with a back injury, Keiran Lane and Danny Whitfield started to get to grips with the Uni attackers, and were able to move the game further up the pitch, Stringer and Hillier even finding time to join the attack on occasions!

The break Saints were looking for came 10 minutes before time when Andy Smith, who had a fine game throughout, picked the pocket of his opposite number in midfield and his pinpoint pass was collected and taken past the advancing Uni goalie by Rose, and he was able to watch the ball run into the empty net. This was a just reward for his hard work during the game. Saints then slowed the game down, and "shut up shop" to hold on for a valuable 3 points in this tough league. It proves hard work can get results, and this was a good team performance.
Next week will be an equally challenging trip to top of the table Leek.

MOTM: Scott Bashford
 

Mens 5th XI 2-1 West Bridgford

Scorers:Rob Cary (PC), Tom Dysko (PC)

Attendance:4

Tea:Sausages, chips and beans.

In the news:Scientists discover a new kind of snail fish in the Peru-Chile trench of the Pacific Ocean.

Déjà vu

The fives juggernaut rumbles on as yet another South East Midland rival succumbs to a 2-1 scoreline.

Fired up by Joe Cliffe and Adam Shepherd’s x-rated art work in the pre-match huddle, Saints set off at a scintillating pace as erstwhile right-back Cliffe and the speedy Tom Dysko skinned the opposition on the right wing to set up a short corner to be clinically despatched by the Polish marauder.

And the home team’s exhaustive penalty corner drilling paid off again minutes later as Rob Cary made it 2-0 with a powerful flick from Saints’ second short of the game.

David Henryshould have made it three before the break, but as he himself admitted, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. And that proved to be the case as he took half an hour to get his feet round the ball instead of just shooting on the reverse like any of his many young sons would have done. In the end he just got tackled.

The half time team talk featured Cary’s instructions not to let a goal in and put ourselves under pressure for the last 20 minutes of the game.

Which is exactly what happened! Just as the home team’s back four sat back to stop Steve Morris from getting lonely, the visitors bundled in a short corner of their own, mid-way through the second half.

Indeed, if it were not for Cliffe’s heroic goal-line save moments earlier, Saints would have been looking at a disappointing draw.

Carydid his best to get another goal (in the absence of any meaningful contribution from Luke Pibworth), almost accelerating to a canter at one point, but perhaps he should have passed, “the bl**dy ball”, to Dysko, who started to cry.

Not that Dysko was completely free of blame. In fact he was lucky not to get DOD for a truly outstanding miss, as he took it so far past the keeper that by the time he got his shot off the ball had eroded into a microscopic pebble which dribbled past the side of the goal.

Anyway, with half the team on a duvet day next Saturday, it is fortuitous that Saints have another home game against West Bridgford’s second string team in this division coming up.

MOTM: Rob Cary

DOTD: Luke Pibworth

Squad: Ed Holt (GK), Aidan Walker, Steve Morris, Callum Scott-Collins, Joe Cliffe, Jon Keep, David Henry (C), Adam Shepherd, Tom Dysko, Rob Cary, Luke Pibworth

Mens 6thXI 1-3 Rugby and East Warwickshire 7th XI

Goal Scorers: Will Gamble

Note: Anyone struggling with understanding the following needs to use the 80s dictionary. It is the 80s week…

We were short of players. Dermot “flamer” Cassidy had been haggling at the team selection on Tuesday and we were short. We had to get some 80s cats. We needed to get with the lingo and get down with the Badgers and get 11 players out there. Basically, Dermot had a problem and no-one could help him…maybe he shoulda called….the 6thTeam…

In a world made of steel …made of….stone…da da dada dun dad a…

Ross “buppie” McLean sportin’ his leg warmers and possibly a new skitch was the first to deliver. Off a controversial decision, his goal was dissed but the opening exchanges looked like it was going to go the way of the Fighting Sixes.

In the beginning of the game the F6s made some fantabulous runs and many chances were lost until Will “spiffy” Gamble prevented a goal, ran the length of the field (without any support), beat some huge, enormous, and possibly quite large defenders, crossed the chasm of sheer death and slotted the goal in to put us up. It was most triumphant and most excellent!!

But, the pressure became too much for the steely defenders and midfield. Jeremy “mondo” Wan tried his hardest and together with Sam “tagging“Russell tried to repel the attacks. Karl “joanie” Flowers and Ed “Diesel” Holt could not keep out 2 of Rugby’s short corners.

At half time Dermot kirked out and some say that one of the F6s may have done a little wee in fear. But he was heard to say: “Cowabunga dude, surfs up!”  We were confident we could make it back. Karl was norvilling the umpire to try and get some decisions, but nothing was going our way. Nigel “tinkerbilly“Riches felt like he had been given a swirly and he was sporting a calf injury and had to go off. Tim “gamer” Warburton had to replace Nigel and tried on several occasions to put in the many good crosses to no avail.

Rob "Bitch'n" Tee made some trippin’ runs and was even heard to say: “See ya later, Pop. Whooo, time to change that oil.” Owen “trunkicular” Jones also had an awesome game, linked up well with Anthony “in the mix“Condon and repelled some very good attacks, but it wasn’t enough to let the last goal in. 3-1. We had lost…it was mung.

Dermot collected all the chicken at the clubhouse and after a freddy then returned to Moulton for Ed to bounce another game.

Grindage: Fun Dip, Nerds, Pop Rocks and Pixie Sticks

MOTM: Jeremy Wan (radical defending) AND Sam Russell (dag spanky midfield play)

DOTD: Ross McLean (Aerials off the park)

Squad: Dermot Cassidy(c); Ed Holt (GK); Karl Flowers; Sam Russell;  Nigel Riches; Tim Warburton; Jeremy Wan; Will Gamble; Anthony Condon; Ross McLean, Rob Tee.

Northampton “Lions” Badgers 3-2 Rugby and East Warwick

Goals: Tim Warburton (2), Jacob Price

Northampton arrived at Rugby’s home ground ready for a good game, and right from the start it seemed like Northampton were in control with great passing play between Jacob Price, Tim Warburton and Anthony Condon leading to a goal from Tim Warburton. Northampton’s second goal was a spectacular diving goal, with Jacob Price throwing himself at the floor to knock the ball in. Tim Warburton then scored his second goal after a pass coming in and drawing the opposition keeper away from him, leaving Tim with an open goal. During the second half Rugby fought back, resulting in a well earned goal. But Connor Wright shone through the rest as a brilliant defender, rarely letting a player past him, but in the last moments of the game Rugby pulled another goal back leaving the final score,

MOTM: Connor Wright

Northampton “Saints” Badgers 1-1 Daventry

Goals: Cade Jenkins

Northamptonplayed Daventry for the first time this season and started strong, with Cade Jenkins getting an early top-D goal. But after that great start the game became a very even affair with possession often switching between the two teams. Daventry had many breaks towards the Northampton goal but Mike Joyce was solid in defence letting very few runs past him. There were many great turnovers in the midfield due to Emily Kilner’s ability to take on players twice her size, but Northampton never got the perfect chance to add to their total, and Daventry capitalised on this by getting on goal in the last 10 minutes of the game, leaving the final score at

MOTM: Emily Kilner