Ladies 1st XI 3-4 Harborne

Goals: Hone (2), Chacksfield

Saints fielded a depleted squad on Saturday and made hard work of this week’s fixture which resulted in a disappointing 3-4 loss against Harborne.  

Amie Hone opened the scoring within minutes of the starting whistle, however, the visitors promptly replied with an equaliser and then again with a second taking full advantage of Saints lack of discipline. Hone was quick to respond and bailed Saints out with her second goal levelling the score line going into the break.

 

Lucy Ann Chacksfield then took the ladies 3-2 ahead with a well rehearsed penalty placed perfectly in the corner.  Harbourne continued to look dangerous benefiting from Saints poor decision making as the home side struggled to retain possession.  Unfortunately, the ladies were unable to sustain their lead and Harbourne scored a further two goals to secure victory.

 

 

Ladies 2nd XI 1-1 Leicester 3rd XI

Goals: KJ Wilkins 

In a must win game saints fielded a strong side and whilst a little apprehensive to start with, they soon settled into their defensive duties, with strong tackling from Tara Doyle, Ferne Sanders and Claire Dale. Saints had little forward play in the first 15 minutes but began to build in confidence as the half progressed with some challenging runs from Becky Wilkinson and Ellie Bleech.

 

After a closely contested first half the honours were even at half time. However, early in the second half Leicester were on the attack and a long corner was conceded and converted, giving Claire Leach in goal little chance from close range.

 

The goal inspired Saints to fight a bit harder and several short corners were won by KJ Wilkins silky skills. Solid defending kept the chances down to a minimum, until a slick exchange of passing between Caroline Whitehouse and Wilkins around a now dizzy defender ended in Wilkins slotting the ball past the keeper for her first goal of the season. Shortly after, Saints won another short corner, which was worked fantastically well by Ness Kingston,which KJ less gracefully booted with her left foot!!!

 A good team effort with some good individual performances, especially of note from man of the match Ness Kingston.

 

 

Mens 1st XI 1-4 Coventry & North Warwick (Saturday)

Goal: Lloyd Atkinson

Saints went into this mid table clash feeling confident from the 3 points won at chesterfield the previous week. Unfortunately saints started slowly and paid the price when a lack of concentration led to conceding a lot or early short corners. Coventry converted two of them to take the lead. Saints were denied a clear goal when Ben Scott drag flicked the ball into a defenders chest on the line only for no penalty to be given. Saints missed three clear cut opportunities which would have led to a half time lead. The half ended 2-0. The second half wasn’t much better as Saints conceded another two after very sloppy defending. Only winning one short corner in 70 minutes really punished Saints  Tireless running from Gareth Parker, Liam Cassidy and Stuart Clark created an opening for Lloyd Atkinson to poke home a consolation goal.

 

Mens 1st XI 2-7 Khalsa (Sunday)

Goals: Ben Scott, Lloyd Atkinson

Saints travelled to top of the table Khalsa with nothing to lose. Khalsa , unbeaten in the league started strongly and led the way through two short corner goals. Plenty of energy from the Saints midfield led to Lloyd Atkinson winning Saints’ first short corner of the game. A Ben Scott drag flick against the post proved a real let off for the home side and they countered to take three goal lead. A real lack of opportunities and ability to retain possession from Saints meant Khalsa were comfortable for the first 20 minutes of the second half. Two more goals put the game beyond reach but did speak up a bit of life from the home side. Scott pulled one goal back for the Saints before Lloyd Atkinson smashed in a Stuart Clark cross into the roof of the net. A fantastic finish diving in at the back post. Unfortunately this was the end of the Saints fight back as Khalsa converted two short corners late on to cap a convincing 7-2 win. Saints inability to convert goal scoring chances and only win 3 short corners over the weekend proved a real problem. Saints travel to North Staffs next weekend which is a must win game.

 

Mens 3rd XI 1-2 Beeston 3rd XI

Goals: Sidhu

Saints 3s came into this game on the back of two heavy defeats, and knowing that points from all of our remaining games are needed in a bid to avoid an immediate relegation to the East Midlands Premier Division.
 
The first half was a very even affair with both sides sharing good chunks of possession. The opening 20 minutes was played at a good pace, with difficult openings carved at both ends. Solid defensive work from the backline of Pacheco, Miller, Hillier and Wrightman kept opportunities down to a minimum. The best chance of the half for saints came when Noble put Swansborough through, with the latter steering his shot wide of the target.
 
The halftime talk concentrated on making sure the simple pass was made, and generally continuing with the same determination in the second half.
 
Shortly after the second period got underway however, the visitors took the lead though with a well taken opportunity leaving keeper Phil Preen with little chance. Saints heads didn’t drop however, and they continued to play with good endeavour. After 15 minutes of the half, the visitors score was doubled with another good opportunity.
 
Saints will lament the fact that they again failed to carve out many clear opportunities, only winning 3 PCs throughout the whole game. A Superb individual effort from Simon Sidhu did reduce the arrears and give the home side hope with 10 minutes to play. However, despite enjoying the majority of the late possession, Saints were unable to salvage anything from the game.
 
A good performance with a disappointing (but fair) result leaves Saints firmly planted in the relegation dog fight. With an away trip to Nottingham University next week, 3 points is surely now a must.

MOTM: Dan Rose, who worked tirelessly up front for the whole game. Special mention also needs to be given to Wightman and Down who both had solid performances.

 

Team: Phil Preen, James Miller, Patrick Pacheco, Jason Hillier, Tom Wrightman, Sean Henry, Hugo Day, Jon Noble, Nigel Down, Max Heaphy, Matt Swansborough, Simon Sidhu, Dan Rose,

 

    

Mens 5th XI 0-0 Leicester 5th XI

 

Attendance; The Grant Stevens Hareem

Tea; Sausage, chips & beans

In the news; Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus

 

Toothless Old-Timers

 

Fielding a patched-up squad of old-timers and new boys, Saints’ reputation preceded them as Leicester made the trip down the M1 and set their stall out to defend.

They needn’t have bothered.

Despite a glittering array of attacking talent on show in the shape of Rob “Ivor the Engine” Cary, Mike “Comeback” Derbyshire and Ross “Papa” McLean, Saints were unable to get a shot on target.

Plenty of openings created by midfield but the ball just would not hit the back of the net.

Airshots a-plenty, woodwork from McLean and a disallowed goal from Adam Shepherd were no consolation. Even the normally reliable Steve Morris was unable to put away a string of short corners.

Derbyshire’s best moment was providing a spare pair of boots for the bare-footed Joe “Goldfish” Cliffe, before going off with a honey-roast hamstring.

Saints were lucky not to loose by the inevitable one goal as the best player on the pitch shot narrowly wide with the back of his stick.

Having said all that, Saint’s defence held firm against Leicester’s sporadic attacks. The oppo never came with any ambition other than a draw, but to their credit, Saints stayed calm and kept playing hockey.

Back to business next week, more goals needed.   

MOM; Steve Morris

DOD; Ross McLean (Beardy weirdy)

 

Scott Bashford (GK), Grant Stevens, Steve Morris, Callum Scott-Collins, George Roberts, Ross McLean, Gareth Voss, Joe Cliffe, David Henry (C), Adam Shepherd, Tom Dysko, Rob Carey, Mike Derbyshire, Rob Tee

 

 

 

Northampton Badgers 4-2 Rugby & EW

Goals: Anthony Condon (4)

 

Northampton eased to a 4-2 victory against Rugby last weekend.
Anthony Condon opened the score sheet for Northampton with a super solo run with an even better finish.  Rugby closed the gap not long after though with a goal which was scrambled across the line. Condon struck twice more taking a well deserved hat-trick before the close of the first half.
Rugby continued to threaten Northampton throughout the second half but could only pull one goal back before Anthony took a fourth!  He looked like taking a fifth after a Rugby defender attempted an areal pass which went in the opposite direction, but he could only put it wide of the post.