Match Reports from 15th September
Men’s 1stXI 1-0 Coventry & North Warwick
Goals: Ben Scott
Saints started their season with a well-earned win over local rivals Coventry. The home side fielded five debutants, all of which played their part in the victory. From the off, Saints dominated possession and played most of the first period in the Coventry half. After a few wasted half chances they won their first short corner and Ben Scott went close as a defender cleared off the line and the keeper made a good save from Gareth Parker who was following up. Coventry had a man sent off for a deliberate foot which didn’t help their cause as Saints continued to press and create chances. Another short corner fell to James Knibb who saw his effort pass the back post with no team mate close enough to put the ball away.
Half time came and after a few stern words from the coach about the teams finishing, Saints set about their work in the second half. There was a familiar pattern to the game, Saints enjoying the majority of possession and Coventry confined to the odd break away which the defence coped well with. Saints had to wait until 15 minutes to go before taking a well-deserved lead. A short corner was slipped left by Martyn Cory and after good work by Tom Lewington and Gareth Parker, the latter placed a clever ball into Ben Scott who beat the keeper from close range.
After this, Coventry were more than happy to sit and wait for counter attack opportunities which rarely came. Jamie Webb marshalled the defence fantastically, calm and patient work when going forward and some great tackles when under pressure. Saints were coasting until 5 minutes before the end when James Knibb and Christian Howard both saw yellow and reduced the home side to 9 men but hard work and good communication got Saints through the final few minutes.
More goals needed in future weeks but the chances were there. A good solid start for Saints. Next week they travel to ex-National League outfit Bournville which is guaranteed to provide a much sterner test.
Squad: Paul Madeley (GK), Adam Croutear, Paul Wilkinson, Jamie Webb, Tom Wightman, Tom Lewington, Ben Scott (c), Joe Kopka, Evan Morris, Sean Henry, Christian Howard, Gareth Parker, Martyn Cory, James Knibb, Alex Press.
Ladies 1stXI 2-0 Edgbaston
Goals: Becca Wilkinson, Sally Cory
A great start for saints who were up for the game straight from the whistle. Defending from the front we gained possession after Edgbaston tested the defence. As saints passed the ball around before entering the circle winning a short corner which was nicely deflected by Becca Wilkinson.
Continuing to battle it out, Claire Leech made some great saves to keep Saints in the game.
On the break Sally Cory took on 2 players before have a strike on goal, scoring out second goal.
With a 2-0 final score everyone was very happy with our first of our many wins for this season
Men’s 2ndXI 1-1 Rugby & EW 2ndXI
Goals: Scott Mahoney
With their first game in a busy weekend of hockey, Northampton travelled to Rugby looking to continue their improved pre-season performances.
They got off to a very bright start as they camped themselves in Rugby’s half. Chance after chance was created but time and time again the ball flashed agonizingly wide of the goal, or was thwarted by the opposing keeper.
Slightly against the run of play Rugby took the lead as their winger waltzed in unopposed into the D and slotted the ball past the keepers near post.
Saints came back strongly and continued to lay siege on the Rugby goal, and they finally pulled level through Scott Mahoney.
The second half carried on as the first had finished but again chances went begging and the game finished 0-0.
Squad: Robin Sawyer (GK), Danny Whitfield, Pete Riches, Guy Roberts, Lewis Ward, Dan Whittaker (c), Ben Northedge, Matt Gausden, Lee O’Donnell, Alex Blunt, Scott Mahoney, Dan Rose, Ian Tipples, Greg Summers, Stephan Williams.
Men’s 2ndXI – Wellingborough Tournament
Victory over Warwick 1s (Alex Blunt the scorer), 3-2 defeat to Market Harborough 1s, 4-1 defeat to Worcester 1s and a 3-1 victory over Stratford 1s. Overall a good lesson for Saints as they faced a number of experienced first teams.
Squad: Robin Sawyer (GK), Danny Whitfield, George Roberts, Ally Rose, Dan Whittaker (c), Ben Northedge, Matt Gausden, Lee O’Donnell, Alex Blunt, Scott Mahoney, Will Gamble, Sam Mitchell
Men’s 4thXI 1-2 Rugby & EW 4thXI
Goals: Andy Smith
Saints travelled to Rugby for their 3rdpreseason friendly with a strengthened team and lots of optimism. An overly technical warm up may have taken too much out of the more ‘senior’ members of the team. However, despite the warm-up, against an experienced Rugby team who play in a higher league, the Saints started strongly.
The first half saw the saints dominate the early stages with the majority of possession. With good work from Andy Smith in the centre, the saints pulled together a number of flowing moves. Saints claimed the lead when Andy Smith drove into the D and then wrong footed the goalkeeper by deliberately miss-hitting his shot! At one nil up the saints were justified in their early optimism and were playing well.
Unfortunately as the game wore on, and legs got tired, the saints reverted to long hopeful balls and Rugby had spells of increased possession. The defence came under increased pressure and Goalkeeper Scott Bashford made a number of excellent saves before Rugby eventually drew level. A tired saints team continued to work hard, but couldn’t stop Rugby from scoring a late winner.
The team were pleased to see Tom’s dribbling was as good as ever – and have agreed to buy him a bib for tea time in future…..
Whilst disappointed to lose, this was a much improved performance. Saints host Milton Keynes for their final preseason warn-up before their league campaign starts in earnest
Man of the match went to Bash (again) for a great performance in goal and for making special friends with the umpire.
DOTD to Rob Tee for getting lost between the pitch and Rugby’s clubhouse!
Ladies 4thXI 0-1 Rugby & EW 2ndXI
On a beautiful sunny day, the match got off to a nervy start for the Saints, with Rugby retaining a lot of the ball, and setting a fast pace with some slick passing. However, once the Saints found their feet, calmed down, and opened up the pitch, their form improved and they moved the ball around with more confidence. Despite being under near constant pressure, the Saints defence held firm and broke up Rugby attacks with strength and determination. However, Rugby’s superior quality told, and they finally converted their possession into a goal just after half time from a penalty corner.
Saints did not let their heads go down and kept the score to a respectable 1- 0 until the final whistle, whilst showing encouraging signs of better positional play, and venturing forwards with increasing frequency. Even though the Saints were beaten by the better team, a lot of positives can be taken from this game.
Men’s 6thXI 1-1 Rugby & EW 6thXI
Goals: Darren Thorpe
To borrow a football phrase this was a game of two halves with the WFF6’s under pressure in the first only to dominate the second. However this was not just a battle on the pitch but also off it prior to the game.
It was a battle of man versus technology and technology won. First off Dean Gibson sat nav (probably bought in a pub from a shady geezer) sent him off up the M1 with Rob OD in hot pursuit while their canny skipper ignored his to arrive 15 minutes before them. However the real challenge came for Tweddledum Darren and Twedledee Phil whose sat nav would not recognise Rugby and they just about managed to arrive for the push back. Then just before the push back Lee suffered a kit failure which saw him awarded the DotD award.
The first half saw the team struggle with the formation and were put under pressure by an experienced Rugby team, after a few close misses the Rugby centre forward slotted away a far post deflection. A sweetly struck short corner at the end of first half time by Darren Thorpe meant that we were a tad lucky to start the second half on equal terms. The first half was a welcome introduction to the rigours of 6thteam hockey for some of the young bucks, Jack spending more time getting knocked over than he did on the ball.
A change of formation in the second half saw us dominate with an excellent midfield performance from Harry causing Rugby all kinds of trouble, Jack, Anthony and Patrick continued to impress with Jack narrowly missing a half chance right at the death. Rob Frost in only his second game of hockey ever also came close to a goal with a glorious first time shot that just went wide. Given the amount of possession and chances it did in the end feel like a win that got away but against a team that we will play twice in the league it was a good learning experience for the team.