Ladies 1st XI 4 -  1 Leicester Ladies 2's
 
Scorers: Amie Hone (2), Lottie Tulley, Fran Lee
 
After a closely fought first ten minutes, Saints upped there game to dominate possession, a well worked ball from Fran Lee resulted in Amie Hone scoring the first goal. After a quick break, and a lapse in defence, Leicester broke through and won a short corner, which they scored creating an equaliser.
The rest of the first half was closely fought, but saints won a shot corner as the halt-time whistle went, which Lucy Ann Chacksfield hit across the goal for Lottie Tulley to put away.
In the second half saints went out dominating most of the play. Fran Lee scored shortly after the opening whistle, from a ball passed in from Emma Cooper off a long corner. After a series of unsuccessful short corners, saints cemented their win with an Amie Hone solo effort, making the final score 4-1 to Saints.

 

 

Barton 3-0 Ladies 2nd XI

 

A confident Saints side took to the field and initially found themselves in ore of a well organised Barton side, however, Saints soon found their feet and where able to compete with some gusto. There were few scoring opportunities from Saints in the first half which is more than can be said for Barton, but unfortunately for them they met an in form Claire Leach who kept goal with some spectacular saves.

 

The deadlock was broken just before half time which was an unfortunate blow to Saints who battled well, with performances of note from Ellie Bleech and Molly Ogden who defended from the front. Clare Noble made some positive runs forward but was halted by some dubious tackling from the opposition. Barton converted two short corners later on in the half which was an unfortunate blow to a well organised defence with some good performances from Fern Cotton, Claire Dale and Jayne Eyre. Man of the match was awarded to Claire Leech who kept goal in style and Ellie Bleech was awarded DOTD for a graceful fall to the floor!!

 

 

U18 Girls 7-5 Nuneaton U18’s Girls

 

Scorers: Jessica Lovell 3, Ellie Bleech 2, Lottie Tulley 1, Emily Kilner 1

 

The day started well with everyone arriving on time (including the smelly horses and taekwondo kids), except for Molly Ogden. Even the skies were looking forward to this glorious day to push back our under 18s league campaign.

Newly appointed captain Stephanie Brennan took the team for a warm up, and Jessica Lovell showing her first team class by complaining about the full pitch jog!

Saints had a bright start early on putting pressure on the Nuneaton goal straight from the push back, Ellie Bleech getting in on the end of a ball, and putting Saints 1-0 up, then it was for the maestro from the defence Lovell to slot home from a short corner. Saints were cruising for the victory until the attacking overload backfired, allowing Nuneaton to catch Saints on the break to score. Then it was time for the young guns Emily Kilner to carry on from where Jess left off and slotted home a thunderous short corner.

However Saints didn’t learn from their first mistake and were punished again for pushing too many people forward. Half time was approaching but thankfully Lovell stepped again to show what ever Kilner could do I could also and slammed in yet another short corner, the keeper had no chance.

 

The second half lacked the same amount of fire as the first half, and unfortunately the same defensive mistakes were made, however it was fortunate that Ella Forsyth was on top form but still Saints let in another goal, again on the break leaving Emma Brennan no chance in goal despite her best efforts.

Still the attacking came to good, and Bleech stepped up on the back post again to tap the ball in again.

But this just gave us false hope as Nuneaton struck back with 2 goals of their own to make the score line 5-5.

So wanting to prove that they had more self belief, Saints started playing some dazzling hockey again and Jessica Lovell and Lottie Tulley ghosting past the defence with lots of help from all of their team mates to score some stunning goals. Score 7-5 job done! Phew!

Captains Pick = Ella Forsyth for her defensive performance.

Managers Pick = Saints U18 team for not giving up and keeping him and the crowd on the edge for 70 minutes!

 

Squad: Emma Brennan, Ella Forsyth, Alice Kilner, Steph Brennan, Jessica Lovell, Lottie Tulley, Emma Matthews, Ellie Bleech, Emily Kilner, Rosie Barnes, Sophie Cattell, Laura Wygchel, Mia Vincent, Mizzy Haines, Molly Ogden

 

 Mens 2nd XI 1-4 West Bridgford 2nd XI

 

Goals: Lloyd Atkinson (pc)

Remember boys, it’s a game of 2 halves!!

 

Preparation for the game was good, despite Liam Cassidy turning up late for the meet! George Mellor spent most of the journey talking about his musical talents with wind instruments!

With the team arriving in plenty of time, the warm consisted of Morris-men dancing throughJames Knibb and Lloyd Atkinson. George Mellor did his best to capture a stray cat to keep as the team’s mascot! Unfortunately he’s just not a magnet for cats…..

The first half was an even affair, both teams passing the ball around nicely, but neither giving anything away in the final third. Needless to say the first half finished 0-0!

The half-time team talk was based around doing the same thing, and our break through would come. And most importantly keep focused for the start of the second half!

The team did this for about 5 minutes, then as in previous games they hit the self destruct button! When the umpire blew for a foul for the opposition, half the Saints team started arguing with the umpire, whilst Bridgford attacked and scored on the counter-attack. Minutes later poor marking and a horrendous stick tackle by Ben Northedge led to a second goal for the opposition!

Saints stepped up a gear after this and got a goal back through a well struck penalty corner from Lloyd Atkinson. Surely Saints were back in it? Well that was until Liam Cassidy stupidly got himself sin-binned for a cynical tackle (DOTD vote secured!). Bridgford got there third goal of the game and it looked as though the game was over, however Saints made a fantastic counter attack, resulting in a great ball being played to the unmarked Andy Smith at the back post. Unfortunately his effort missed the goal and as he threw his stick in anger, he became the second Saints player to see yellow!

With 10 minutes to go Saints threw on an extra forward to try and get back into the game, unfortunately they continuously gave the ball away when in good positions (as they had done for the whole second half!), and Bridgford got there 4th and final goal as they scored from a penalty flick after a lethal stick tackle by Atkinson. Had it not been for some fine saves from keeper Sam Biddle, the score line could have been worse!

Post game, not much to say as half the team disappeared to go back to play mixed!

 

MOTM:Sam Biddle – 3 top class saves

DOTD:Liam Cassidy – late for the meet, yellow card during the game and he forgot the DOTD outfit as well!

Squad: Sam Biddle (GK), Simon Stringer, Ben Stephenson, Lewis Ward, Pete Riches, Ben Northedge, Kyle Taylor, Matt Gausden, Lloyd Atkinson (c), Grant Carlin, Athiq Thamby, Liam Cassidy, Andy Smith, James Knibb, George Mellor

 

Mens 5th XI 5-2 Melton IVs

 

Squad: Scott Bashford (GK), Grant Stevens, Steve Morris, Callum Scott-Collins, Joe Cliffe, Jon Keep, David Henry (C), Gary Patterson, Marcus Spencer-Brown, Tom Dysko, Rob Cary, Hugo Day

Scorers; Tom Dysko, David Henry, Jon Keep, Steve Morris, Gary Patterson

Attendance; Rob Cary’s extended family

Tea; Sausage, chips and beans.

In the news; Somali pirates still coining it in.

 

Twelve Minus Two Equals Five-Two

Melton where one of the few teams Saints were unable to beat last season so the visit of the pie makers was greeted with talented new faces Gary Patterson and Hugo Day playing in David Henry’s new-look attacking formation.

As it turned out, Saints had so much possession in the first half that the middle of the pitch became as congested as a nasty head cold. And despite going three-nil up by half-time courtesy of Henry, Steve Morris and Patterson, no-one was particularly impressed, least of all newcomers Patterson and Day who both left the pitch for personal reasons.

Down to ten men, Saints started to spray the ball around and play some proper hockey. Jon Keep’s amazing mazy runs kept the visitors under pressure and Tom Dysko scored from another short corner.

Shortly after, the opposition got a consolation from a deflected shot, but Keep replied with a snowplough into Melton’s net to make it five.

Rob Cary was unlucky not to make it six; if only he could have relied on a decent service from his team mates, despite loudly informing Joe Cliffe that, “The goal’s over here, boyo!”

One minute from time and Saints won another short corner. Naturally both of the home team’s full-backs had drifted to the edge of the D in the hope of picking up some scraps when Cary fluffed his lines and the ball ran free. By the time Joe Cliffe and Grant Stevens had scampered back into defence, the ball was in the back of the net. Luckily for Cliffe, he wasn’t spotted and the hapless Stevens ended up with DOTD.

Credit goes to Callum Scott-Collins for playing the entire match with his shorts on back-to-front.

MOTM; Marcus Spencer-Brown

DOTD; Grant Stevens

 

 

 

Mens 6th XI 3-1 Melton Mowbray 5th XI

Goal Scorers: Chris Easton, Luke Pibworth and Ross McLean

“Order, order…” cried the Speaker, there was dissent in the ranks and the officials were having trouble quelling the uprising. Scott was stuck in traffic and we had to start with Rob “Keyes” Tee in goal.

 

Remember, remember the 5th of November

At the home of the pork pie, the Mowbrayers were determined to keep a 4th placed Fighting Sixes in their place. We were determined to blow their Houses of Parliament to smithereens even if it involved softening home pitch chips in baked beans and eating them.

 

The match started with great pace, vigour and a Roman candle attack up the centre (this is the right-side after all). Instead of doing the Catherine wheel manoeuvre like planned, the F6 were determined to thunder cracker through the middle. Some great saves by Tee kept us in the game, only to be substituted by a fresh Scott “Rookwood” Fleming. F6 always take an extra keeper to games to keep up the tempo.

 

But, the opening volley terminated in an explosive shot off Socrates (the actual Greek) and an Olympian ping pong tournament. In the end, Chris “Percy” Easton fizzled a sparkler shot in to trouble the scorers.

 Melton riposted, but were unlucky not to score thanks to rock solid George “Grant” Roberts and ice solid Rob “Wintour” O’Donnell.  Luke “Garnet” Pibworth, forgetting to take his beta blockers, decided to abuse the match officials in a whine that outlived the white noise of the Big Bang.

 Great support play and left hand drives by Sam “King James” Russell and Will “Wright” Gamble, allowed Nigel “Digby” Riches win a short corner. A squib-like shot off the keeper fell to Pibbers who putted it in, in a manner that would have made Bernard Langer proud.

 At half time, Dermot* “Catesby” Cassidy, sporting a massive, hairy tache (for Movember) informed the other conspirators of the game plan - the “not going” up the right plan was going to be switched for the real going up the right Peony plan.

 In the second half, a barely above average Karl “Infanta Isabella” Flowers was switched to the right to replace an aging Jeremy “Tresham” Wan. The resulting switch to right resulted in excellent drives up the right hand side. However, Melton replied with a goal of their own allowing them back in the game.

Ross “Fawkes” McLean, on a green card warning for hooking, stepped forward to bury the hopes. After a goal mouth scramble by Tee and Pibbers, an aging McLean sent a Salute home which sealed the victory. In the clearing smoke, the F6s revelled in their hard won 3rd place spot…

* It must be stressed that this was Catesby either before his marriage or after his return to Catholicism.

Teas:    A rather tasty pasta or a pilfered rugby player pie…mwhahaha

MOM:   Sam Russell (holding the midfield)

DOD:     Ross McLean and Scott Fleming (For general buffoonery)

 

Squad: Dermot Cassidy(c); Rob Tee (GK) /Scott Fleming (GK); Karl Flowers; Rob O’Donnell; George Roberts; Jeremy Wan; Will Gamble; Sam Russell; Ross McLean; Luke Pibworth; Nigel Riches and Chris Easton.