Dave Saunders goes on the attack in the Men's 1s vs Khalsa game

 

Men’s 1st XI 1-2 Khalsa

 

Goals: Joe Colantonio

 

Saints took the field against unbeaten Khalsa full of confidence after last week’s game. For the first 15 minutes it was all Saints as the home side pressed Khalsa and kept them in their own half. Saints took a well-deserved lead after great work down the right hand side by Parker and Carlin which ended with captain Joe Colantonio firing in at the back post. The game became more open towards the end of the half with both teams enjoying plenty of possession and chances. A contentious short corner was drag flicked home by Khalsa to equalise just before the break.

 

The second half was extremely open with both teams counter attacking at every opportunity. Both team had further short corners and Saints failed to score any of their three. Five minutes from time Khalsa won their fourth short corner and it was converted at the back post.

 

The game ended 2-1 to Khalsa. A disappointing result but a very good performance from the much improving Saints. Losing 3-2 and 2-1 to a team with a 100% record this year is no mean feat. Saints travel to on song Harborne next week. A very tough game.

 

 

 

Men's 2nd XI 2-2 Birmingham University 2nd XI

Goals: Dan Rose, Athiq Thamby

 

Following last weekend's disatorous results, Saints went into this game with a lot to prove. A last minute withdrawal of midfielder Stephan Williams didnt seem to dampen spirits (apart from coach Jon Noble's as he suddenly realised he'd be getting far more game time than he had hoped for!!) as they turned up at the pitch raring to go.

The game started at a frantic pace, with Saints on the back foot. However despite Birmingham enjoying lots of possession, they very rarely threatened as the Saints defence held firm. With the game still in it's infancy Saints broke up a Brum attack and quickly countered. The ball fell to Scott Mahoney who played a delightful ball through to forward Dan Rose who neatly slid the ball past the advancing keeper. 1-0 to Saints! The rest of the half saw Saints do much of the defending and eventually Birmingham equalised through a well worked penalty corner routine.

The second half and the game opened up with both teams keen to get the win. A couple of early chances fell to Saints with Dan Rose narrowly missing the target and Tom Scott-Collins also coming close. At the other end Birmingham's front 3 were looking threatening but the backline of Guy Roberts, Matt Wilde, Tom Wightman and Matt Gausden held firm. And when they didnt Ed Holt was on hand with some inspired keeping. With the game reaching it's final quarter, Saints re-took the lead. A penalty corner routine "straight from the training ground" saw Guy Roberts initial strike saved, but the rebound shot was brilliantly deflected in by Athiq Thamby. Saints looked to be holding firm and hanging on for a crucial 3 points but with 10 minutes to go Birmingham drew level again with a goal from closr range, after Northampton had failed to close down a cross from the left.

Neither side could find a winner so the game finished 2-2. A fair result and a well earnt point for Northampton, who take on league leaders West Bridgford at Moulton next week.

Special mention must also go to Sean Henry for his superb 'crunching' tackle on the Birmingham playmaker (unfortunately I cant remember what part of the game that happened in!).

 

MOTM: Ed Holt - great saves kept Saints in it.
DOTD: Stephan Williams - for going AWOL

Squad: Ed Holt (GK), Guy Roberts (c), Matt Gausden, Tom Wightman, Matt Wilde, Dan Whittaker, Jon Noble, Lee O'Donnell, Sean Henry, Scott Mahoney, Andy Smith, Dan Rose, Athiq Thamby, Tom Scott-Collins.

 

 

Men's 3rd XI 2-2 Nottingham University

Scorers: Bigley, Pibworth

 

Saints hosted Nottingham University, who after 11 games had only dropped points in one of them. Andy Dale, as well as Mcilwaine’s pep talk focused the team on a fast start, as well as making use of the extra substitutes. Saints did start brightly and several chances were created through open play and penalty corners. Pibworth missed a good chance after good play from Heaphy and Mitchell, but it was Bigley who was in the right place to blast the ball on the reverse stick past the keeper for the lead. Saints continued to play positively but Nottingham looked dangerous on the break and Thompson had to make several blocks. Nottingham University eventually drew level through a penalty corner and went into the break on level terms.

In the second half Whitfield, after a great block was then dispossessed and Nottingham made Saints pay to take the lead. Saints started to meander and it took organisation and cool heads to weather the Nottingham pressure. As time was getting short, a shot in the D, deflected into the air, and Pibworth was on hand to flick it past the keeper. Rejuvenated Saints pressed hard and had chances to win the game but they will be satisfied with the draw, albeit a niggling feeling they could have won.

Squad: Andy Dale (c), Simon Thompson (gk), Nigel Down, Evan Morris, Ian Mcilwaine, Luke Pibworth, Adam Croutear, George Roberts, Danny Whitfield, James Millar, Sam Bigley, Sam Mitchell, Ally Rose, Max Heaphy , Pete Riches

 

Men's WFF 6th XI 2-1 Hampton-in-Arden 4th XI (Away)

Scorers: Phil Adams, Richard Smith

It was a chilly, grey morning. The clocks hadn’t even started yet and the World Famous Fighting Sixes (WFF6s) were travelling to their favourite away fixture of the season. The glorious, magical home of the Hampton-in Arden pixies. Set in beautiful countryside and boasting one of the friendliest club houses in the Midlands it was always going to be a treat.

So was the hockey. The WFF6s first and second half performances were in some ways a continuation of the previous week. Punctuated by spells of good play and dogged by diabolical errors at other times, it took an assist by Karl Flowers through to Richard Smith to put away the first goal. Some said Karl managed to make it back post to put the final touch in, but there seems to be no confirmation of that.

Excellent play by Phil Adams in the first half meant that Northampton were constantly attacking. Tony Brennan’s running back from short corner to his centre back position was typical of a man possessed. This lead to a strategic half time talk and a fired up side.

The second half was more of the same. A major scuffle in the Hampton D, with play from Darren Thorpe giving rise to the opportunity that Phil Adams put away the goal. Excellent play by the WFF6s seemed to end there. The last 10 minutes was typically a panicked defense and poor passing which allowed Hampton to get a penalty stroke. After Dean Gibson was nutmegged he did a tiny pirouette to celebrate.

MOM: Phil Adams (Goal scorer and excellent play)
DOD: Karl Flowers (When you are good people hate you)

 

Squad: Tony Brennan(c); Dean Gibson (GK); Karl Flowers; Rob O’Donnell; Darren Thorpe; Pete Malpass; Phil Adams; Rob Tee; Alex Jeffery; Phil Adams; Jon Keep; Joshua Pibworth; Aidan Walker; Richard Smith and Phil Adams

 

 

Ladies 1s Emma Cave shows off  the perfect hockey pose! 

 

Ladies 4th XI 1-7 Olney

Goals: Becca Herring

 

Unfortunately this result comes down to some bad decisions made by the captain and the changes made at half time. Everyone worked extremely hard in this game against Olney but we worked hard as individuals and not as a team. However the team should be proud of their performance for the first half of this game. A 2-1 score at half time was a great achievement against the top of the league. And what a goal that was! A break from the back saw the ball passed swiftly between the mids and forwards around the Olney defence to Becca Herring who on receiveing the ball at the top of the D wacked it passed their goalie. Awesome goal! Ella Forsyth had a great game defending very well and providing some great breaks up the pitch for the mids.

 

MOTM - Ella Forsyth

DOTD - Becky Mellor