Ladies 2’s 4-1 Towcester 2’s

Goals: Caz McCabe, Becca Wilkinson, LA Chacksfield, Emily Kilner

 

Two teachers, a copper and the paramedics.

 

 

Our pre match team talk was a simple one, enjoy today and give as good as you get.  The team certainly did and within the first minute the midfield led a charge like a hot knife through butter to score a wonderful goal from Caz McCabe, score line 1-0 in minute 1 of the match.  This seemed to somewhat upset Towcester and Saints continued to pile on the pressure to the Tows defence with players running rings around their opposition.  It gave our midfield the chance to pounce on some excellent build up play, with Becca Wilkinson scoring our second goal from a very well worked move. 

Towcester’s long ball tactics did lead them to sneak a goal in the first half totally against the run of play.  We seemed to have a short lapse in concentration ooops! 

The last goal of the first half was a very well executed penalty corner move scored by LA Chacksfield slotted neatly past the Tows diving keeper.  Never one to be missed off the score sheet LA made sure she got at least one goal this match, and also left herself plenty more time to  pot some more!!

Half time team talk was wet, miserable due to the conditions but we were full of enthusiasm and happy to be playing in the worst conditions of the season.  Anyway back to the hockey!  The second half started well with saints having the majority of the possession and again proving we have the superior skills and fitness by having at least another five chances on goal.  One of which Emily Kilner scored from and the goal must be in contention for goal of the season.  Simple pick up a Cazza pass at the left of the D little tap and then BOOM…..back of the net.  Some on the sideline were convinced the ball had gone through the backboard, and Emily’s parents were heard to say “it was worth the weather to see a goal like that!”  Never a more true word spoken.

No more goals were scored although Towcester had one chance about ten minutes before the end.  Unfortunately during one of the her best matches, captain Leechy unfortunately log rolled over her foot and sustained a nasty, season ending injury to her ankle.   A short wait later and with help from team saints, Leechy was in the bar ice strapped to her ankle, waiting for the paramedics (hence the title!).  A massive thanks to all who helped including Del, Tony, Steph, Steve and Caz.  A huge thank you to Nicky Milford for stepping into leechy’s shoes literally to play the last ten minutes in goal.  Good news Leechy is up and about on crutches and looking forward to seeing the rest of the season being a winning season!!

 

 

Men’s 1st XI 6-3 Warwick

 

Goals: Ben Scott (3), Alex Press (2), Jamie Webb

 

Saints travelled to Warwick after a long break in fixtures due to bad weather hoping to continue their form from the last two games. The opening ten minutes was very even as both teams battled the hail storm more than each other. As time progressed Saints started to take control of the game and after a couple of clear breakaways they won their first short corner. Ben Scott flick into the corner to give Saints the lead. Two minutes later Saints won their second corner and Scott doubled the lead. Slack defending down the left allowed Warwick to enter the Saints D for the first time and after two missed tackles Warwick bundled the ball home to pull a goal back. This spurred Saints on and a slick passing move down the inside left channel involving Parker, Kopka and Saunders allowed Alex Press to deflect the ball home to immediately give Saints their two goal cushion back. It was Press that scored next as well, intercepting a cross field ball to hammer the ball home with his reverse stick for his 8th goal of the season. With five minutes to go the action wasn’t over... Saints awarded another short corner and with both Scott and Cory on the bench, good work from Kopka and Saunders won Saints a penalty stroke which Jamie Webb duly converted. Just before the break Ben Stephenson saw yellow for a deliberate back stick which meant Saints started the first ten minutes off the second half with 10 men.

 

It was Warwick who took control in the second half and while both teams gave away possession a lot it was Saints who were made to pay. A man short, they conceded a short corner and beat Paul Madeley with the resulting drag flick. A series of great blocks by Madeley, the Saints keeper kept Saints three goals ahead until a terrible mistake by the away side defence. The ball was given away cheaply on the ’25 and Warwick broke away and scored, 5-3. It was the turn of Seb Jones to be sin binned for the same offence as Stephenson, Saints again down to 10 men for ten minutes. Saints rallied and took control of the last ten minutes, defending well and breaking with pace. With two minutes to go Press outwitted the Warwick defence to win Saints another short corner. Martyn Cory firing the ball at the back post for Scott to deflect the ball home for his hat-trick and seal the win.

 

A solid performance but plenty to work on before Saints host in form Burton at the weekend.

 

 

Men’s 2nd XI 2-5 Leek 2nd XI

 

Goals: Dan Rose, Sean Henry

 

Saints were taught a lesson in possession in this encounter at Moulton Sports Complex. Leek played with a superior confidence on the ball and moved it around very nicely in the opening period. They soon went into a 2 goal lead courtesy of 2 penalty corners. With Leek seemingly cruising, Saints pulled a goal back against the run of play with Dan Rose converting from close range. With Northampton now in the ascendancy they went on to enjoy their best period of the game as they like Leek suddenly discovered the art of keeping the ball as they went onto frustrate Leek for the last 20 minutes of the first half. During this time winger Sean Henry drew Saints level with a superb reverse stick sweep into the near post. With minutes left in the first half Leek re-took the lead, again through a penalty corner.

 

The second half represented a real opportunity for Northampton to get a valuable 3 points, but they failed to live up to their first half performance and on numerous occasions gifted possession to Leek to enable them to keep Saints on the back foot. Leek went onto score 2 further goals to put the game beyond any doubt.

Squad: Simon Thompson (GK), Guy Roberts, Matt Gausden, Adam Croutear, Dan Whitakker, Matt Wilde, Jon Noble, Sean Henry, Max Heaphy, Dan Rose, Athiq Thamby, Tom Scott-Collins, Andy Smith, Scott Mahoney

 

 

Rugby and East Warwick 3rd XI 0-0 Saints 3rd XI

 

Saints travelled to Rugby to play at the historic Rugby School. Both teams had early possession with opportunities at either end. Saints made good use of the wings creating opportunities through Rowland’s and Wightman, but Saints lacked the final ball. Pibworth went close after rounding the keeper but wasn’t able to convert from the angle. At the other end Rugby and East Warwick went close with a couple of short corners, Preen being alert to clear the danger. Torrential rain coincided with Saints getting into the driving seat with possession building all the time. Saints however were unable to gain from short corners. As time drew to a close Morris and particularly Mitchell had good chances, the latter going agonisingly close.  At the other end Rose made a great goal line save. A point sounded good before the game but it could have been so much more.

 

Squad: Andy Dale (c), Phil Preen (gk), Nigel Down, Evan Morris, Luke Pibworth, Danny Whitfield, James Miller, Sam Mitchell, Ally Rose, Tom Wightman, Chris Rowlands, Lee O’Donnell, Will Gamble

 

 

 

Ladies 3rd XI 4-0 Ladies 4th XI

The Ladies 4's put in a fantastic team effort and managed to restrict the 3's to a 1-0 lead at half time. This was backed by a sterling effort from the defence throughout the game. Special mention goes to Ella Forsyth and Savanna Jones who played exceptionally well together, communicating well and supporting each other and the team for the duration of the game. The second half showed a lack of fitness and structure that allowed the 3’s to score three more goals to win 4-0. Verity Anderton Johnson had a cracking game and saved the 4’s on a number of occasions keeping the score to 4-0. Overall a thoroughly respectable performance by the 4’s