Ladies 1st XI 3-0 Leicester Ladies 2nd XI
 
 
 Goal scorers: Lucy Ann Chacksfield, Esther Keijbets, Nikki Stringer
 
Saints got off to a slow start yet managed to find themselves with the lead after a well struck corner from Lucy Ann Chacksfield.  The rest of the first half was scrappy with Lecicester receiving two yellow cards. 
Second half Saints dominated possession and created a number of chances but it wasn’t until 15 minutes later and a player down that Saints extended the lead after Nikki Stringer scored from another short corner.  Amie Hone made up for her ill-discipline combining with Fran to win a penalty stroke.  This was duely dispatched by Esther Keijbets to complete a comfortable win for Saints.
 
Player of Match: Amy Tuffs

 

 

Men’s 1stXI 4-2 Warwick

Goals: Ben Scott, Christian Howard, Stuart Clark (2)

Saints went into their game against Warwick full of confidence after last week’s win and knew that victory would seal their Midlands Premier status for next season. Saints started very brightly enjoying large amounts of possession and went very close when Dave Saunders went through on goal. Saints pressure paid off when they won their first short corner of the game which was converted by Ben Scott. Saints continued to press and doubled their lead when Gareth Parker and Ben Scott combined to find Christian Howard free in the D, pouncing on a loose ball to scramble home. Unfortunately Saints conceded just before half time when a lack of concentration led to Warwick finding a free player in the D who pulled one back.

 

Saints enjoyed the majority of possession again in the second half and further increased their lead through two Stuart Clark goals. Both goals coming from great pressure by Clark and Saunders. Saints wasted other chances to put the game beyond doubt but were in full control of the game. The only blip coming 2 minutes from time as Warwick scored consolation from a short corner. A comfortable and much needed three points sees Saints go into their remaining games against the top three with nothing to lose. With Saints finding their form again, no team will relish the journey to Moulton. Saints have the chance to seriously influence who wins the race for promotion.

 

 

Ladies 2s   0-3  Barton 1s

 

Saints Ladies faced a stern test against top of the league Barton. Unbeaten this season Barton needed just three points to claim the league title.

 

Saints started tentatively giving Barton a little too much respect. Strong performances from Ferne Sanders & Caz Whitehouse in midfield along with keeper Claire Leech’s dominance in the D kept Saints in the game. Saints were unlucky to concede two goals shortly before half time.

 

A rousing team talk from coach Jon Noble led to a strong start from Saints in the second half. Sanders & Whitehouse continued with both flair & determination. KJ Wilkins troubled Barton’s keeper & Kate Barnetson was solid in the midfield.

 

Unfortunately Barton’s fitness & finesse eventually broke down a tiring but determined Saints to score a third goal. Against any other oppostion Saints would have had three points. All credit to Barton who thoroughly deserved the victory & with it the league title.

 

Man of the Match: Caz Whitehouse, Ferne Sanders, Claire Leech.

DOTD: Becca ‘I’ve dropped my phone down the loo’ Wilkinson.

 

 

Ladies 3rdXI 1-2 Wildcatz

 

Goals: Hannah Richards

 

With the temptation of Emma Brennan’s banana bread as after match sustenance the team were ready to give it their all. After a good warm up the 3s took to the pitch and dominated from the start. Emily Kilner was everywhere at centre mid and connecting well with Hannah Richards and Courtney Thorpe. Jayne Ogden was strong at centre back ensuring Wildcatz didn’t get near the goal. After a prolonged attack Hannah Richards scored and the team celebrated their first first match goal of the season. Saints continued the pressure with Alice Kilner using her silky skills to drive up the left, but the team couldn’t finish. Saints were out strong again in the second half. Emma Brennan made a number of tricky saves to keep the team ahead. Anya driving up the right and working well with Annie Holt. Natalie Raca worked hard in defence channelling the play and distributing to the midfield.

But it all went wrong. A loss of concentration from a worn out side saw Wildcatz secure themselves a flick that they quickly disposed of. Minutes later they slotted home a goal behind keeper Emma Brennan’s back. There was nothing that could be done, with minutes left the team gave it their all but couldn’t score leaving the result at a disappointing 2-1.

 

MOTM: Jayne Ogden

DOTD: Natalie Raca

 

 

 

Men’s 2nd XI 1-4 Harborne 2nd XI

Goals: Dan Rose

Saints faced 2nd in the table Harborne at Moulton in quietly confident mood that they could get a result from this. However things started off badly as 5 minutes in they were a goal down as Harborne quickly broke down the left and hit the ball across for a simple tap in. It then went from bad to worse as shortly after a defensive mistake gifted the away team a second goal.

With a mountain to climb, Saints finally joined in the game and slowly began to get back into it. Shortly before half-time they got a goal back as they brilliantly broke down a short-corner, and hit a swift attack down the right hand side to find Dan Rose unmarked for a simple tap in.

Minutes later another break away  found James Knibb and after his initial shot was well saved, the rebound by Gavin Markham was cleared off the line. Half-time 2-1.

The second half started off cagily as neither side looked to give anything away. Northampton were enjoying more of the possession however Harborne showed exactly why they’re second in the table with 2 clinical goals to kill the game off.

Next week sees the 2s travel to top of the table Cannock. Good luck boys!

MOTM: Simon Stringer for his numerous diving tackles!

DOTD: Ben Northedge for his nose bleed moments on the right wing, and for going to the ballet!

Squad: Phil Preen (GK), Simon Stringer, Ben Northedge, James Askew, Matt Gausden (c), Alex Mcindoe, Jon Noble, Liam Cassidy, Athiq Thamby, Kyle Taylor, James Knibb, Andy Smith, Dan Rose, Gavin Markham

 

Men’s 4th XI 2-1 Beeston 4th XI

Goals; Ant Condon 2

Attendance; 7

Tea; Sausage Chips & Beans

In the news; Libyans still at it

Bees Stung by Saints

Evening clouds turned from grey to purple, and supporters gave their all, as the home side put in a performance worthy of champions to silence the much-vaunted visitors from Beeston, who went home, with stings stuck firmly in their own sorry tails.

And so it prevailed as Saints weathered the early storm, the clattering of balls on the home side’s goalposts did nothing to dim the enthusiasm of the team in black. Saints rode their luck and, like a ferret up a drain pipe, hair slicked back, up popped Ant Condon in the opponent’s D, one-on-one with the goalie, he slides the ball past advancing pads and BUZZ! One-nil to the Saints!

Breathless and with a tangible sense of relief, came the half-time whistle. Encouragement all round and back into the fray, ready for an onslaught of vengeance.

But it didn’t come. Beeston’s attack force of future stars, with skill by the bucket load appeared to have run out of ideas. But not so, Northampton’s attack. Man of the match Condon kept running and running. A short corner. Tom Scott-Collins shoots. Just wide of the goalie. And who is there to mop up the pieces? Beekeeper extraordinaire Condon. Two-nil, and the visitors are stunned.

But not dead yet, the visitors score with a firm shot from the top of the D. Can Saints hold on? George Roberts dribbles the ball out of defence and is caught in possession by a ginger attacker. Bearing down on goal, are Saints going to throw it away? No! The chance is wasted and Saints hang on for a historic victory over top of the division visitors.  

MOM; Ant Condon

DOD; George Roberts

Ed Holt (GK), Joe Cliffe, Andy Dale (C), George Roberts, James Ruse, Aidan Walker, Anthony Stevens, Will Gamble, Tom Bradshaw, Marcus Spencer-Brown, Ross McLean, Ant Condon, Luke Pibworth.

 

Mens 5th XI 6-1 Leicester 4thXI

 

Goals: Ally Rose, Steve Morris, Rob Tee, Ollie Hartfield, Rob Cary (2)

 

 

Saint’s arrived at Leicester to find that the home side had decided to play on a water-based pitch. This was perhaps a cunning use of tactics from the Leicester team who might have guessed that a couple of the Saints team had never played on this type of pitch before. Ally Rose got quite excited by this prospect and decided to knock over the corner flag and do a belly dive down a slope in front of the home players, earning himself DOD before a touch of the ball.

 

5 minutes into the match it became apparent that the choice of pitch did not suite Leicester as they struggled to control the ball. Despite some good passing across the pitch and a decent amount of possession Saints lacked penetration and reduced strikers Rob Cary and Tom Dysko to frustrated observers. Rob Cary was particularly frustrated when David Henry did not pass to him when he had time and space but instead David’s through ball put Ally Rose through on goal and he lifted the ball over the opposition keeper like a true Scotland International. The half ended at 0:1 to Saints.

 

At the start of the second half Saints were complacent and allowed Leicester too much possession. The result was a controversial equaliser in which several tackles in the D and a clearance from keeper Martin Griffin all looked to hit Leicester feet, however play was allowed to continue and a far post tap in gave the home team hope. Saints struggled for the next 10 mins and Leicester were in the ascendancy but lacked a cutting edge. Saint’s took the lead from a short corner as Steve Morris found the bottom right of the goal with power. Somewhere around this time Steve hurt his finger, a fact he was eager to remind the team for the rest of the match.

 

The home side’s heads went down and Saint’s took control of the match with good midfield play from Ollie Hartfield and Ally Rose who’s passing was much faster than in the first half. A brilliant pass from Ollie Hartfield set up Rob Cary for Saints 3rdgoal and further goals were to follow shortly forRob Tee and Ollie Hartfield with Saint’s dominating the all round play.

 

The final nail in Leicester’s coffin went in when Rob Cary managed to poke a cross around the advancing keeper with a stretching dive for his 2ndand Saint’s 6thgoal.

 

 

Food: No food was provided by Leicester following the match leaving Saint’s to invest in cheese and ham rolls at the pub.

 

MOTM: Ollie Hartfield

DOD: Ally Rose

 

Squad: Martin Griffin (GK), Callum Scott-Collins, Ollie Hartfield, David Henry (c), Gareth Voss, Jon Keep, Rob Cary, Rob Tee.  Ally Rose, Steve Morris, Tom Dysko

 

 

 

Mixed 2nd XI 7-1 Long Buckby

Goals: Steve Roffe (3), Dan Rose (2), James Knibb, Athiq Thamby

After a 2 year layoff, Steve Roffe returned with a vengeance, scoring a hat trick.  Dan Rose joined in with 2 goals, The other goals were scored by James Knibb + Athiq Thamby. Long Buckby scored a consolation goal close to the end.

 

Mixed 1st XI 1-2 Bugbrooke

 

Goals: Nathan Hernandez

Saints lost out in this closely fort encounter against Bugbrooke. Nathan Hernandez got on the score sheet for Northampton with a well worked goal, but Bugbrooke’s experience came through as they ran out 2-1 winners.

 

Northampton Badgers 0-0 Long Buckby

Both teams struggled through the first half of the match, with Northampton dominating possession, however neither team was able to get a shot on goal finishing the half 0-0.
The second half was much the same as the first, but this time shots were being fired in by the Northampton forwards… But after some great goalkeepeing on behalf of the long buckby goalie, there were still no goals!
Final score 0-0

MOTM: Greg Summers