Mens Vets 5-1 Rugeley Vets

Goals: Jon Noble, Richard Darby (2), Max Darby, Guy Roberts

 

The Saints travelled to Cannock full of optimism bouyed this year by several new sets of legs and a morale boosting win over Rugby earlier in the week. Saints soon took control of the game with Mcilwaine and Roberts controlling the game from midfield - and it was no surprise  when they took the lead through the subtlest touches by Jon Noble to fierce pass into the D. The lead was extended to 3 by half time with goals from Richard and Max Darby. Such was the control being exerted by the saints that the only limitation to scoring more goals was the unusual surface and the final pass. The half time team talk centred around keeping control and the ball and working the opposition - this never really materialised and although Guy Roberts added a 4th - Rugeley put up a more dogged resistance in the second half and  scored a we;ll taken consolation goal of their own to make it 4-1. Saints whilst creating numerous chances only managed one further goal before full time when Richard Darby slammed the ball home. A comfortable win and an enjoyable afternoon for all those concerned. The Saints look forward to the next round with some confidence.

 

Squad: Colyn Biddle, Jim Phipps, Jason Hillier, Andy Dale, Richard Smith, Steve Morris, Guy Roberts, Ian Mcilwaine, Gary Paterson , Martin Skinner, Jon Noble, Richard Darby, Max Darby

 

 

Men’s 1st XI 0 – 5 Rugby & EW 1st XI

 

A very disappointing day for the Saints as their unbeaten record came to an abrupt end. From the first whistle Saints were second best with Rugby winning every 50/50 challenge and showing far more effort and desire than Saints.

 

Rugby opened the scoring through a weak short corner and followed this up with a scrambled goal at the near post after a Rugby player ghosted past the Saints defence. Saints did break the opposition D a few times but wasted any chance they got through poor decision making, Rugby made it three after an initial short corner was saved but the second shot sneaking in at the near post. Just before half time Rugby put the game beyond doubt through another short corner.

 

The second half was much the same and although Saints had more possession it was in the middle of the pitch rather than threatening the Rugby goal. The travelling side couldn’t string more than two passes together with most of the side struggling to stop and pass the ball. Rugby scored a fifth goal mid-way through the half but the game was over by then. Saints did not win a short corner all game.

 

A deserved result for a lazy, arrogant Saints who will need a marked improvement to get anything out of next week’s fixture. Away at top of the table Khalsa.

 

Men's 2nd XI 4-2 Rugby & EW 2nd XI

Scorers:Scott Mahoney (2), Danny Whitfield

 

Saints produced a stunning comeback in this thoroughly entertaining match at Moulton. They got off to a dreadful start as Rugby opened the scoring after 5 minutes. It then went from bad to worse as skipper Matt Gausden left the field injured (fortunately nurse Steph was on the sideline dying to use her new first aid kit!!). With Saints still chasing shadows on the pitch it came as no suprise when Rugby scored a deserved second. With steam now blowing out of coach Colyn Biddle ears on the sideline, the team knew they were playing badly!

Realising this they suddenly stepped up a gear and launched the comeback. Scott Mahoney set things off as he neatly converted a swift counter-attack, and shortly before half-time it was all square as ?? got on the score sheet.

With Saints in the ascendancy, it came as no suprise that Saints scored a further 2 in the second half. However a stubborn Rugby defence meant Saints had to work for it, as it wasn't until midway through the half that they took the lead. Danny Whitfield dragged the ball into the top corner off a short corner (cue the hop, skip and jump celebration from Danny!!). With minutes left Northampton put the result beyond doubt as man of the match Scott Mahoney tapped in at the far post after some great work by Tom Scott-Collins.

 

Squad: Sam Biddle (GK), Pete Riches, Guy Roberts, Danny Whitfield, Matt Gausden (c), Josh Hawkins, Dan Whitakker, Sean Henry, Athiq Thamby, Scott Mahoney, Liam Cassidy, James Morgan, Max Heaphy, Tom Scott-Collins, Tom Wightman

 

MOTM: Pete Riches

DOTD: Matt Gausden

 

 

Men's 3rd XI 4-1 Burton 3rd XI

 

Scorers: Hillier x 2 (pc), Hunter (pc), Pibworth 

After an emphatic league win last week, Saints welcomed Burton for the home friendly at MSC. Welcoming several players into the team, saints looked to keep to the fast moving, passing game that served them well in previous matches. Despite Bigley comically slipping over in the first 10 minutes, it was saints who looked to build a lead first, with Hillier, then Hunter each scoring from penalty corners. Despite the lead, Saints began to relax back in to the old habit of taking on the team, and consequentially Burton scored to get back into the game. Chances still came either way, but the pressure from saints finally told as Pibworth knocked a rebound into an empty goal for 3-1. The game meandered on, slightly lacking the desired flow, but crucially saints maintained a 2 goal lead. In the final act of the game, saints won a penalty corner, from which Hillier dispatched to claim his second. 4-1 the final result.

 

Next week Saints travel to top of the table Nottingham University, in what will be a good measure of how far saints can go this year. Also hopefully i'll remember pen and paper so the match report won't sound like an obituary.

 

Team: ed holt (gk),  andy dale  (c)  , jason hillier , jon hunter , james miller , adam croutear , nigel down , ian mcilwaine , sam mitchell , stephen williams , chris rowlands , will gamble , luke pibworth , jon noble , sam bigley

 

Mens WFF6th XI vs. Nuneaton 4th XI

Goals: Mark Shepperd (2), Joshua Pibworth and Richard Smith.

Described by the umpire, Mike Taylor, as: “a masterful exhibition of passing hockey” - the World Famous Fighting Sixes showed their true calibre as they destroyed a Nuneaton 4th team. The first league match of the year was a major boost to morale as the WFF6s toyi-toyied well into the night (sort of).

The account was opened with some masterful work from Joshua Pibworth who put it away after some great building hockey up the right. This was shortly followed by a nutmeg goal from Mark Shepperd from left of the p-spot.

At half time the talk was spent mainly on whether poaching eggs was indeed faster and better than scrambling them...

Back in the second half, the rampant F6s were keen on finishing off the away team. In what modern scientific equipment has described as the slowest shot in hockey history, a Richard Smith put in one from the right. He stated after that: “he felt it was just going to cross the line and not hit the backboard...”. There were claims that Mark Shepperd may have touched it...but they were rapidly squashed.

The final goal was again from Mark Shepperd, some people, not myself of course, can hardly remember it. It was even alleged that, except for hat-trick enforcement, it may not even have taken place. But, the record does show we scored 4 and that Mark scored 2. A good win.

Squad: Tony Brennan(c); Colyn Biddle (GK); Karl Flowers; Rob O’Donnell; Darren Thorpe; Alex Jeffery; Phil Marillat; Pete Malpass; Richard Smith; Joshua Pibworth; Mark Shepperd; Jon Keep and Lee Thompson.

Teas:   Chips, Sausages and Beans

MOM:  Richard Smith (excellent positional play)

DOD:  Alex Jeffery (Match fixing)

 

 

Ladies 1st XI 2-4 Liverpool

 

Goals: Thea Jackson, Emma Cave

 

This was a game of 2 halves as the Saints continued their winless run in their National League Conference campaign. The first half was dominated by Northampton and they well have felt hard done by to only be 2-1 up at half-time. Thea Jackson and Emma Cave were the scorers.

 

Unfortunately the second half saw the ladies press the self-destruct button as they shipped 3 goals to lose 4-2.

 

 

Ladies 4thXI 3-0 Towcester 3rdXI

 

 

Goals: Nadine Moll, Lou Harte, Jan Sanders

 

The Saints 4's made an impressive start to the game attacking and making a

number of attempts on goal.  However Towcester's defence remained strong and put

up a good fight against the Saints clearing the ball and giving their mids and

forwards an opportunity to attack. The Saints pushed too far up at times and

this loss of formation left the Saints defenders defending a 4 - 5 strong attack

by Towcester. Liz Hone stayed strong in defence and managed to win the ball and

clear out to the wings to ensure a 0-0 score by half time. 2nd half saw the

Saints reform and we attacked for the duration of the second half. Savanna Jones

and Annie Toman played a great game supporting defence and the mids ensuring the

ball moved up the pitch. Becca Herring used the space well in the D and Jan

Sanders made some strong hits on goal and finally beat the goalie to make it

1-0. Lou Harte joined the score sheet with a cracking hit in from a short corner

and finally Jules Herring skillfully fed a ball through to Nadine Moll who,

perfectly placed on the post knocked in the 3rd goal for the Saints 4's. Job

done! A huge thanks to Tone Brennan who cheered us on from the sideline and

helped motivate the team!

 

MOTM - Jules Herring. Consistantly worked hard throughout the game, tackling well and pushing forward feeding the ball up to the forwards and setting up some great goals.

 

DOTD - Jules Herring. Lost the skin off her finger rolling around on the floor