Match Reports from Saturday 8th September
Men’s 1st XI 5-2 Cambridge City
Goals: Ben Scott 2, Scott Mahoney, Joe Kopka, James Knibb
Saints 1st team played their last friendly before the season officially starts at home to Cambridge City on Saturday. A strong looking Saints side took the field hoping to put in a decent performance with one week left and with places still up for grabs come next weekend, individual effort was doubly important.
The home side started very well and were ahead within 5 minutes. Alex Press found room in the D and crossed for James Knibbs to finish at the far post. Saints continued to dominate and doubled their lead when Ben Scott drag flicked home after clever play from Grant Carlin won the home side their first short corner. Clever play by Carlin and Press allowed Joe Kopka to score a reverse stick shot from the top of the D that went in above the keepers head. Saints should really have put the game to bed at this point but 5 minutes of slack defending let Cambridge back in. The first goal came direct from a short corner beating Paul Madeley and the next from weak defending and tracking on the Saints left hand side allowing a free Cambridge player to tap in a the back post.
The second half went much the same way as the first with Saints dominating possession. Chances came and went but Saints continued to press and were rewarded with an excellent counter attack goal. After Jamie Webb won the ball at the back, Saints broke down the right and Press found Scott Mahoney at the top of the D who fired in under the Cambridge keeper. Saints did well not to concede any short corners in the second period and with every Cambridge break being soaked up by Webb and fellow defenders Adam Croutear, Paul Wilkinson and Tom Wightman, the home side were able to play free flowing attacking hockey and grabbed a well deserved fifth goal just before the end. Saints won their fourth short corner though Joe Kopka and Scott stepped up to grab his second.
The game finished 5-2 and a very solid performance by Saints. Only two training sessions before the first league game at home to Coventry so watch this space next week….
Team – Paul Madeley, Jamie Webb, Paul Wilkinson, Adam Croutear, Tom Wightman, Ben Scott (C), Tom Lewington, Sean Henry, Evan Morris, Grant Carlin, Joe Kopka, Scott Mahoney, Alex Press, Martyn Cory, James Knibbs.
Men’s 2nd XI 4-2 Spalding 1st XI (Sunday)
Goals: Ian Tipples (3), Alex Blunt
Saints picked up their first victory in pre-season with a well deserved win at Moulton Sports Complex. Despite the heat, the game started off at a frantic pace, with both sides going all out to open the scoring. Spalding drew first blood as they cut open Northamptons defence with great ease. After this Saints settled into their stride and dominated possession and put in numerious teasing crosses that just evaded the advancing forwards. Spalding then scored again courtesy of some very generous defending. Half-time 0-2.
The second half saw Northampton carry on with their domination of the ball, but this time they looked far more threatening and it came as no suprise when they got a goal back through forward Ian Tipples. Shortly after Alex Blunt equalised with a thunderbolt hit from the top of the D. 2 Further goals followed midway through the second half for Tipples as he completed his hatrick.
A well deserved win, and an encouraging team performance.
Squad: Sam Biddle (GK), Pete Riches, Ally Rose, Lewis Ward, Matt Gausden, Dan Whittaker (c), Ben Northedge, Tom Wightman, Scott Mahoney, Ian Tipples, Alex Blunt, George Roberts, Sam Mitchell, Danny Whitfield