Mens 1st XI 6-5 Bedford 1st XI

Goals: Ben Scott (2), Joe Colantonio, Jamie Webb, Stuart Clark, Lloyd Atkinson

 

Sainst started quite slowly in their first fixture after the Christmas break, going 2-0 down within ten minutes. After soaking a lot of early pressure, Saints gained control of the game and scored through a Ben Scott short corner, only to let the scoreline slip again to 4-1. A Joe Colantonio screamer gave Saints hope going into the halftime break.

Some motivational words from coach Lars Prevo saw Saints start the liveliest of the two teams and drew level with Bedford when Jamie Webb bobbled in a short corner and Stuart Clark scored a great solo effort. This topsy-turvy game then took another change of direction as Bedford again took the lead after some sloppy Saints defending making the score 5-4.

A fantastic counter attack by Gareth Parker and Dave Saunders saw Lloyd Atkinson level things up at 5-5. Five minutes from time Saints won a short corner which captain Scott converted to edge Northampton ahead for the first time in the game. A frantic final five minutes saw Saints hang on and take a well-earned win ahead of the first league game back away at Chesterfield next week.

 

 

Mens 2nd XI 4-2 Rugby & EW 2nd XI

Goals: Martyn Cory (2), Tom Warburton, Grant Carlin

After a 4 week absence from hockey, Saints blew off the cobwebs in this mid-season friendly away at Rugby. With some of the team unavailable, they welcomed back former players Rhys ‘Golden Boy’ Linnell and Tom ‘Toast’ (possibly the most original nickname ever…) Warburton. So a 12 man squad headed to Rugby.

With Rugby waiting for their keeper to arrive from London, Saints enjoyed an extended warm up, and seemed to rediscover what a hockey ball looked like! When play finally started Saints began as the more comfortable team, passing the ball around nicely and pressing the opposition well. It came as no surprise when Northampton got the first goal from a penalty corner. Martyn Cory dragged the ball into the bottom left corner. Minutes later it was 2-0 as a cross from James Knibb found Cory who beat his man to slot the ball past the keeper.

Shortly before half-time, Ben Northedge wielded his axe to give away a penalty corner, this led to a Rugby goal.

The half-time team talk was all about team shape, holding your positions, playing the simple hockey. This was duly ignored in the second half as the team played like a bunch of school kids for 15 minutes, losing all shape and pattern. However some solid defending (along with some horrendous stick tackles from Ben Northedge) from the make-shift defence of Pete Riches, Alex Micindoe, Ben Northedge and Matt Gausden kept Rugby at bay. And this allowed Saints to hit Rugby on the counter-attack, a swift move saw Athiq Thamby in space on the right, he hit a superb cross into the D that Warburton beat the keeper to score to make it 3-1.

Some soft-marking lead to Rugby pulling a goal back, however Saints had the final word as Grant Carlin found some space in the D to hit an unstoppable shot past the keepers near post.

 

Other points of interest:

• The other 20 stick tackles Ben Northedge committed during the game!
• Liam Cassidy’s stunning swing and miss at the back post
• Martyn Cory for completing 70 minutes! I think that’s a record for him!!

 

MOTM: Martyn Cory – 2 great goals

DOTD: Ben Northedge for reasons mentioned above

Squad: Sam Biddle (GK), Pete Riches, Alex Mcindoe, Ben Northedge, Matt Gausden (c), Athiq Thamby, Liam Cassidy, Grant Carlin, Rhys Linnell, James Knibb, Martyn Cory, Tom Warburton

 

 

Mens 3rd XI 1-8 Cannock 3rd XI
 
Goals: Tristan O’Conner
 

Saints 3s rearranged fixture from 4th December was a tricky home encounter against Cannock. Both sides played some good hockey early on, but the difference in the first half was the clinical execution of short corners from the away side. Within the first 15 minutes, Saints found themselves 3 goals down after 3 penalty corners in quick succession, all resulting in drag flicks to various parts of the goal leaving Phil Preen with little chance.
 
Saints continued to play some good passages of hockey, however didn’t really find any testing shots for the Cannock keeper to deal with. Before half time, Cannock added another couple of goals through more good finishing to leave the score at half time 0-5.
 
The half time team talk was more around performance than result, and to keep working hard throughout the game.
 
The second half was more evenly contested, with Saints providing more attacking impetus and creating more chances. However, it was the visitors who continue to have the more clear opportunities, with more penalty corners won. The away side scored 3 more unanswered goals leaving the score at 0-8.
 
There was time however for Saints to grab a consolation goal, when Matt Swansborough found Tristan O’Conner on the top of the D in space, and he coolly rounded the keeper to take his goal very well.
 
Saints will be pleased with some aspects of the game, and played some nice hockey. However, there were disappointing elements, including not winning any attacking Penalty Corners throughout the entire game. In order to stay in the division, Saints know they will need to up their game in what will be tricky ties from now until the end of the season.
 

Squad: Phil Preen (GK), James Miller (c), Matt Wilde, Jason Hillier, Gavin Markham, Sean Henry, Ian MacIlwaine, Nigel Down, Max Heaphy, Tristan O’Conner, Andy Smith, Matt Swansborough, Hugo Day

 

 

Mens 4th XI 0-4 Burton 4th XI

 

Sundays rearranged match against Burton saw the return of two Saints legends, Mike (The Axe Man) Derbyshire and Trevor (The Terminator) Fidler.

 

The game started and Saints played the ball freely around the pitch working the ball back and forth across the back, waiting for a killer opening, which unfortunately did not arise, and with a small lapse in concentration they allowed Burton to slip through and give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Although this spurred saints on they could not break down the Burton defence in the last quarter of the field, and as Saints pushed up the field this left gaps at the back for Burton to hack long balls onto running forwards. This allowed

Burton to gain in confidence and were awarded a short corner from which they went 2-0 up.

The second half came and Saints pushed harder and although having some great runs and scoring chances the ball would not settle in the back of the net for them. As frustration set in the Axe Man Derbyshire lost his cool and gained himself a nice yellow card and a minimum of 5 mins off the pitch for hacking apart one of the opposition.

This bought Saints down to 10 men and left a hole in defence which Burton capitalised on scoring a third. Saints refused to lay down and continued to press but with a few minutes to go a stray back cross-field pass from an embarrassed Jim Phipps allowed

Burton in for their final goal. Although losing 4-0 Saints did have more of the possession, they just have to find where the goal is situated on the pitch.

 

DOTD – Mike (The Axe Man) Derbyshire

MOTM – Aiden Walker

 

 

 

Mens 5th XI 4-1 Rugby and EW 6th XI

Goals: Ed Arnold, Steve Morris, Luke Pibworth

The 5s emerged from their festive break with a reasonably convincing win against a spirited Rugby team.  With 2 weeks missed due to the snow added to the Christmas break, the 5s  were eager to get back onto the hockey pitch.  Things didn’t start too well when the 5s were rocked by the sudden withdrawal from the side by ex captain Jon Keep. Apparently lost sleep due to recent fatherhood had taken it’s toll ( not that his gained any sympathy from the other dads in the team).  The start was slightly delayed to allow keeper, Bash, to get kitted up having umpired the previous game.  Rob Cary led us through a rigorous warm up and we were ready for the off.

Rugby started the brighter side and enjoyed a lot of the early possession. A needless short corner was given away by Joe (rule book) Cliffe for not retreating the minimum 5 metres from a free hit. Being a slow learner Joe was guilty of exactly the same offence later in the game.  However, Saints struck well on the counter and  scored two quick goals. The first was a tap in from Ed Arnold after good work on the left by Marcus Spencer-Brown. It was Ed’s second goal in 2 games but only his second all season ( a bit like London buses....). A penalty corner award  led to Steve (exocet) Morris firing another strike hard and low into the bottom right of the goal. Rugby were clearly  angered by the way the game was going and things started to get a bit heated on the pitch. Rugby were stringing passes together well and had some neat interchanges between midfield and attack.  Northampton’s defence held strong with Callum Scott-Collins and Steve Morris resolute in the centre, well supported by Grant Stevens and Joe Cliffe at full back.  Chris Godman was posing a threat down the right and made several penetrating runs into the D. During one attack Luke Pibworth tucked the ball away having previously narrowly missed the goal with a shot over the bar.  Poor marking at the back led to a goal back for Rugby and at half time it was 3-1.

The second half lacked the quality of the first with neither side producing much flowing hockey. Bash made a few good saves to deny the Rugby centre forward, but Saints were having the better of the goal action and at a penalty corner a Steve Morris shot was deflected into the net by skipper David Henry.  Further chance fell to Rob Cary but as the game petered out the final whistle went with the score 4-1.  The 5th team remain top of the  league table having lost only once in the first round of league fixtures. However, there is still al long way to go......

Tea proved a bit of a comedown after the festive fayre. Joe moaned about the beans being cold, but overall it had been a good New Year for the 5th team.

MOM: Callum Scott-Collins

DOD: Jon (parent trap) Keep

 

 

Welford Badgers 1-1 Northampton (Lions) Badgers

  

Goals: Greg Summers

 

This game was the most Dramatic of the season so far, with continual end-to-end action!

After a tough battle in the first half the teams went in at the break goalless, and came out with even more determination.  Northampton took the lead half way through the second half through Greg Summers but Welford pulled it back with 5 left on the clock.  The two teams struggled through the dying minutes desperately trying to get the win but neither could manage it.

 

Mixed 2nd XI 5-6 Fat Cats

Goals: Claire Baker (2), Athiq Thamby (2),  James Knibb

Saints lost out in this thoroughly entertaining, end-to-end match against Fat Cats. A brace each from Claire Baker and Athiq Thamby plus one from James Knibb just couldn’t prove enough as Fat Cats replied with 6 impressive goals of their own.