Mens 1st XI 0-3 Rugby and East Warwick

Saints fine run of form came to an abrupt end in this very one sided game, as Saints put in one of there worst performances of the season to resulting in a 3-0 defeat. The result still leaves them in mid-table in the Ener-G Midlands Premier Division with all to play for.

 

Mens 2nd XI 3-4 Loughborough Students 2nd XI

The pre-match talk was all about putting the Students under some early pressure. And this was exactly what Saints as the Pound Lane side raced into a well deserved 2-0 lead with goals from Liam Cassidy and Lloyd Atkinson. Further chances went begging as Saints controlled the half.  Moments before half-time and Saints switched off allowing the Students a goal from a short corner.

The second half started as badly as the first half finished, as 3 goals were conceded within the first fifteen minutes. With a sudden realisation that all was to play for, Saints stepped up a gear, and like the first-half they dominated the rest of the game, unfortunately all they had to show for there efforts was an Andy Smith strike moments before the end.

Comedy moments from the day/previous week:

• Liam Cassidy for missing an open goal, and then blaming James Askew for the bad pass!
• Lewis Ward for his power nap at training
• Athiq and Knibb's for there 'Diva' tantrums
• Athiq for passing out after training (Man up!!)!

 

MOTM: Phil Preen - cat like reaction saves in goal

DOTD: Liam Cassidy - for reasons mentioned above!

Squad: Phil Preen, Simon Stringer, Kyle Taylor, Ben Stephenson, Pete Riches, Lewis Ward, Matt Gausden, Grant Carlin, Lloyd Atkinson, Andy Smith, James Askew, Liam Cassidy, James Knibb,  George Mellor, Athiq Thamby, Christian Howard 

 

 

Mens 3rd XI 4-2 Rugby and East Warwick

 

Goals: Jon Noble (pc), Czaicki, Brimyard (2)

This last weekend saw Saints welcome Rugby and East Warwick for what was to be a vitally important game following a tough away game at Leek the previous weekend, with both teams needing a win to inject some momentum back into their season.

The game started brightly for Saints with a good deal of possession and they found themselves moving the ball around confidently and with purpose. However after 15 minutes of play Saints took their foot of the pedal and allowed Rugby more and more possession, culminating in the hosts’ goal being placed under more and more pressure. Rugby though for all their possession couldn’t convert and actually looked more dangerous on the counter attack. It wasn’t long thereafter when one of their players found himself unmarked at the back post for a simple tap in over the keeper. The visitors then scored again, with Saints in a state of shock to make the score 2-0 at half time.

At half time there were a few choice words about the performance thus far, however the overriding feeling that a bit of patience, plus a bit more intensity from everyone would see some goals in the second half.

Sure enough the second period started brightly, and as in the throes of the first half the hosts controlled the game and really placed the Rugby defence under some pressure. This ultimately paid off when Noble stepped up and slotted a fine shot home to the keeper’s right from a penalty corner. Czaicki then placed the ball low to the keepers left following a well worked routine in to bring the scores level. Saints then stepped up a level, with the visitors seeing very little of the ball, and with the hosts camped in the Rugby half it wasn’t long before Brimyard found himself in the circle to slot home a fine reverse stick shot past the keeper for his first goal of the season, shortly followed by his second, a thunderous drag flick to the keepers left from a penalty corner.

With the score at 4-2 the game was by no means over, with Rugby always looking threatening on the break down the right hand side. Despite the last minute drama of a Rugby resurgence and accompanying penalty corner, Saints held on for the win to remain unbeaten at home thus far this season.

MOTM: Chris Brimyard. Had a very strong, committed game up front leading to two well taken goals.

DOTD: Kieran Lane. Unfortunately colluding to spoil the DOTD vote against Macca for his new pumps and flash new mobile ultimately led to his downfall...

 

Squad: Scott Bashford, James Miller, Jason Hillier, Danny Whitfield, Matt Wilde, Nigel Down,  Ian McIlwaine, Jonno Noble, Sean Henry, Max Heaphy, Kieran Lane, Ant Czaicki, Chris Brimyard, Dan Rose

  

Mens 5th XI 4-0 Boots

Scorers: Steve Morris (2), Rob Cary, Dave Henry

Dave Henry’smerry band of men travelled to Nottingham with a 100% winning record to defend.  Due to a sat nav mishap the team caught the sites of Maid Marion Way and the Robin Hood shop on the long route toBoots’ ground, an error that seemed certain to earn Henry DOTD before an arrow had been fired in anger.

Having assembled the troops and discussed battle tactics the game commenced (but only after‘LittleJon’ Keep received extra instruction as to which was the left side of the battle ground). For once Tom Dysko, Grant Stevens and Marcus Spencer-Brown turned up for battle without their green tights, but their axes had been sharpened and were used well during theskirmish.

The first half was an even affair with the Saints defence absorbing the initial boots cavalry charges.  Good work by the Saints midfield and attack saw some consistent pressure as the chinks in the opposition’s armour were discovered and then exploited.  The first half ended with a 1-0 advantage following a short corner strike from Morris that flew, straight as an arrow, ina blur of colour.  Dave‘Robin Hood’ Henrywithdrew his troops on the half time whistle where refreshments of mead were taken on by all but Ed‘Maid Marion’ Holt, who seemed to have brought his own‘special sample’ to consume.

The second half saw the saints up the pressure with a well worked (according to Ed) short corner between Ed Arnold and Steve Morris doubling the lead before Rob‘Friar Tuck’ Carycoolly slotted in a penalty flick for the third.  Some great goal line defending from Callum Scott-Collins and Ed‘MaidMarion’ Holtensured the Saints maintained a clean sheet.  Maid Marion however clearly over did the half time refreshments and had to take a nap in the second half.   Whilst laying prone on the goal line Boots mounted an attack that the saints were luckyto escape from– an incident that rightly won Maid Marion DOTD.  With the battle won there was still time for Robin Hood to slot in a fourth goal following good work down the right hand side.

A great win despite the Sheriff of Nottingham coming close to capturing Little Jon, Maid Marian and Aidan Walker during the battle......

Man of the match went to Callum Scott-Collins for some great defending.

 

Mens 6th XI 2-1 Warwick 5th XI (Home)

Squad: Dermot Cassidy(c); Rob Tee (GK); KF&DB; DanB; Rob O’Donnell; DanB; Karl McGregor; Jeremy Wan; Tim Warburton; Owen Jones; Ross McLean; Luke Pibworth; Dan Burge and James Ruse.

Goal Scorers: Tim Warburton and Dermot Cassidy

 

Kings, Castles and Gruel

The battle started with rousing words from Dan “Scullery Maid” Burge: “No sacrifice, no victory” and “What we do in life echoes in eternity” and “This jock itch is the worst I have ever had.” The last one might have been as the megaphone was still on. The F6s quickly bristled into their new 3-2-3-2 formation like a hedgehog on Viagra and from the whistle went all out offensive. After several exchanges, Saints were rewarded with a blistering gallop up the left by Dan who linked up a square delivery with Karl “Wizard’s Sleeve” Flowers, who cannoned a shot into Tim “Town Crier” Warburton, who breached the ramparts. With elation, we were ahead.

The play at times was sloppy and Scrappy, some would say related to Doo. Shaggy was the only one missing which is maybe why Monsters Inc. could have done better. Rob “Gatekeeper” Tee brandishing Excalibur did a magnificent job of keeping us in the game with several excellent saves.  The dying seconds of the first half saw Owen “Offa” Jones get struck on the finger resulting in some time off.

At half time, Dermot "Executioner" Cassidy after a visit to the garderobe, felt buoyed up and encouraged us to keep a tighter structure and to keep the fast moving pace.

The second half saw more structured play from Warwick and a number of incidents resulted from this. Jeremy “Friar” Wan had to do some valiant defending as the majority of their strikes took place up their right. Dan Burge was injured to the extent that it required first aid and had to depart the field of battle.

Ross “Eunuch” McLean had to do some serious running to keep Saints in the game and we were rewarded with a centre play from Flowers finding Luke “Charlemagne” Pibworth’s stick that deflected it to Dermot. Dermot, known to fire off a quick one, drilled the winner home. Someone was heard to say: “OMG! Dermot scored, that hasn’t happened since those lookers in the kebab shop on Saturday”

The last 20 minutes saw the Saints dominate and the back three repelled many invasions across the barricades.  Rob “the Bruce” O’Donnell, Karl “Beefeater” McGregor and James “Nearly Headless” Ruse did some excellent defending and counterstriking, but it was not enough to keep out a short corner which was very professionally put away.

As we disappeared into the Ladies change rooms we felt slightly deflated that we couldn’t shower there. There was only one shower and it wasn’t working. So we resigned to retire into Slimming world for post match teas…

Teas: Tepid chilli con carne gruel with lightly defrosted, stale, gluten-rich naan and mead

MOTM: Rob Tee (Finally in the correct amount of padding for his own safety)

DOTD: Tim Warburton (Talking on the phone in game)