Match Reports from 1st December
Men’s 2nd XI 2-1 Bourneville 2nd XI
Goals: Scott Mahoney, Ian Tipples
Dancing on Ice
Saints travelled to Bourneville on Saturday for their last away game before the Christmas break. Conditions were tricky as a 3.45pm push back meant the pitch was starting to freeze over so players from both sides were struggling to keep on their feet.
Bourneville opened the scoring somewhat against the run of play as a penalty corner routine was inadvertently deflected in by Saints defender Ally Rose. This really fired up Northampton as they then proceeded to dominate the rest of the half. The well earnt equaliser came shortly before half-time as midfielder Scott Mahoney drag-flicked the ball in directly from a short corner. Other chances came and went for Northampton but half-time arrived with the scores level.
The second half saw Saints continue to press for the lead with midfielder and man of the match Sam Mitchell looking particularly menacing. Several chances came and went before the all important winner was scored by returning centre forward Ian Tipples, as he unleashed a rocket of a shot from into the bottom left corner of the goal, from another short corner.
Special mentions to:
- Robin Sawyer for nearly scoring the own goal of the season.
- Alex Blunt for another atrocious tackle!
- To any of the team who managed not to fall over at some-point during the game!
- Dan Rose for causing a traffic jam on the way to their club-house.
- Dan Whittaker for taking out a post and a bush with his car and for his rather erratic driving to Birmingham.
Squad: Robin Sawyer, Ben Northedge, Tom Wightman, Lewis Ward , Ally Rose, Matt Gausden, Chris Reid, Dan Whittaker, Sam Mitchell, Jack Pogson, Dan Rose, Ian Tipples, Alex Blunt.
Men’s 3rd XI 8-2 Coventry and North Warwick 3rd XI
Scorers: Whitfield (2pc), Gamble 2, Pibworth 2, Down, McIlwaine
Saints cruised to an emphatic victory with their highest goal tally of the season so far. Playing a rock bottom Coventry & North Warwick team who had beaten the second placed team, Boots, the previous week, Saints were aware that anything could happen. The umpires were clearly up for the game, Martin Wilkes and Clive Rockell both sporting microphones.
Saints set the scoring going with Down scoring a rare goal, thumping in from the top of the D. Not to be outdone, captain McIlwaine doubled the lead, knocking in from close range after some fantastic triangular passing.
In the second half, Gamble on a self-acknowledged goal drought was on hand to score the third. His delight in scoring was evident, as were the orange and green hockey shoes he wore. The visitors got back into the game with a goal, and came close to an immediate second, after hitting the inside of the post. After weathering this period, mainly thanks to some superb saves from Powell, Saints got back into gear, Pibworth combining well with Gamble to finish. This was just seconds after missing a seemingly open goal. Gamble them grabbed his second of the match, scoring from close range. Just as Saints were cruising, Whitfield decided to try and take on the forward. Not a good idea when you are the last defender, and the Coventry player was grateful to take the ball and score his teams’ second. Whitfield did however redeem himself with 2 quick fire rockets from penalty corners. Both accurate drag flicks too hot for the keeper. In-between this Pibworth was able to grab his second albeit via a large deflection off the defender.
Saints will be delighted with the result, especially ahead of a mouth-watering clash with the Men’s 4th team next week. Any player missing is lacking their “Moral Fibre” stated Andy Dale, a clear sign of intent.
MOTM: Andy Dale: Great defensive and creative play
DOTD: Danny Whitfield: Living live on the edge defensively
Squad: Adam Powell, James Miller, Andy Dale, Andy Wade, Harry Stobart, Ian McIlwaine (c), Lewis Moran, Hugo Day, Luke Pibworth, Will Gamble, Nigel Down, Pete Riches, Danny Whitfield, Jon Noble, George Rockell
Men’s 4thXI 10-2 Boots 4thXI
Goals: Lloyd Atkinson 4, Luke Howard 3, Dave Henry , Krish Jasinarachchi , Chris Godman .
Boots on the back foot as Saints hit double figures.
The 4s continue to top the league table with convincing victory over Boots 4s at Caroline Chisholm School. The team remain unbeaten, having only dropped 2 points with half the league season completed. Lots of talk about promotion afterwards, but let’s not get too carried away!
Before the game had started there was mild panic amongst the Saints players as Richard Wharton only arrived with minutes to spare before the push back. Apparently his wife had driven off with his kit in her car! There was then confusion as the 4s tried unsuccessfully to start the game with 12 players on the pitch. Was the secret out about their success this season?? Krish duly took his place on the bench and the game started. It didn’t take long for the 4s to register the opening goal, as Lloyd Atkinson rifled a drag flick into the top corner of the goal from the first penalty corner. Luke Howard quickly added a second and looked like to have scored another only for David Henry to dink one of Howard’s shots over the Boots keeper. (it would have been saved, honest!!) Despite the goals, the 4s were only playing good passing hockey in patches. Boots 4s were adopting a high risk pressing game and were throwing a lot of players forward . Scott Bashford made a few good saves, but this tactic left the Nottingham team exposed at the back and the 4s added a further 2 goals before half time. Both from league top scorer Lloyd Atkinson.
The second half began with ‘Gentleman Max’ Darby politely asking the umpire if it was okay for him to wear a fluorescent bobble hat for the second half. No santa Hat then Max? Saints had to regroup when Matt Candler pulled up with an achilies injury. This saw David (chopper) Henry play out of position at left back and showed everyone why he can’t defend! Boots hit back with 2 goals in the second half (the most goals conceded all season). But as Boots continued to press forward big gaps appeared at the back and further goals came from Luke Howard (2) and despite numerous missed chances and air shots Chris Godman and Krish Jasinarachchi finally got on the score sheet. The only other notable event of the second half was Max Darby’s contender for ‘ Nearly the goal of the season’ competition, as one of his shots flew inches over the bar from the edge of the circle. Atkinson kindly bought his jug of beer in the Yeoman of England after the game, celebrating his 4 goals.
Crowd: Luke’s Mum, Max’s son and pet dog
Tea: sausages and chip butties
MOTM: Lloyd Atkinson (goalscoring machine)
DOTD: KrishJasinarachchi (12thplayer on the pitch!)
Squad: Scott Bashford GK, Matt Candler, Steve Morris, Jim Phipps, Richard Wharton, Luke Howard, Gary Paterson, Chris Godman, David Henry, Max Darby, Krish Jasinarachchi, Lloyd Atkinson
Belper 4thXI 1-1 Men’s 5thXI
Goalscorer: Rob Cary
The 5’s travelling to Belper with only 11 players as Ant Condon pulled out with illness and Gareth Voss due to a physio appointment. They started well despite Rob Tee’s pre match pessimism, enjoying large amounts of possession thanks to Rob Cary’s ingenious new formation.
The teams went into the break level with no goals despite various chances for both teams, and especially Ed Arnold who even if he collected the ball couldn’t hit the target!
Saints started on the back foot in the second half and spent much of the earlier period in their own half, after soaking up much pressure from Belper the 5’s conceded a succession of penalty corners, one of which was saved of the line magnificently by Rob Tee thus redeeming him from his ealier pessimism, eventually one of which was rifled into the goal through Phil Preen’s legs.
After conceding saints seemed to kick up a gear and again enjoyed large amounts of possession using Harry “player of tomorrow today” York lying in a holding midfield role to spread the play well. They drew level with a goal that was mysteriously scored by Rob Cary, after a few passes involving Dysko then Fin who played it through to Ed, whose shot was saved by the keeper and the ball fell to Cary who scored far post from a tight angle.
The remainder of the game was fairly even, but it can be argued that Saints had more opportunities to win the game, however the game ended at 1-1 which was well received by the players as a good result against Belper 4’s who are further up the league
MoM- Harry York (Great ball retention, confidence and persistence)
DoD- Ali “The hot chocolate tickler” Townsend by casting vote (Not sharing hot chocolate, alterior motive for having hot chocolate, general stupid comments during the journey)
Tea- Pizza, Sausages, Carrot Cake
Squad: Phil Preen (GK), James Ruse, Ali Townsend, Rob Tee, Alex, Jeffery, Ed Arnold (C), Rob Cary, Jeremy Wan, Harry York, Fin Pickard, Tom Dysko
Ashby 2-2 Men’s 6th XI
Goals: Mark Shepherd, Jack Knight
It is hard to say whether this game can be viewed as a point earned or two points lost as the 6’s fought back from a disastrous start to recover a two goal deficit and draw with bottom of the table Ashby who remain 9 points below the 6’s however that gap could have been 12.
The team started well retaining possession and attacking down the left however what can only be described as school boy defending by a few school boys and others who should know better and the 6’s showed some early festive spirit by gifting Ashby a goal from their first foray into our half. Worse was to follow as defenders over committed and a quick break saw Ashby go 2 up.
To their credit the 6’s did not panic and continued to play possession hockey, not helped by the ice rink like pitch, and as the half wore on the forwards started to make the runs that the sideline coach was demanding and chances started to be created with Gareth Voss and Darren Thorpe prompting from midfield. From a corner the ball was slipped to Patrick Rowntree who as he rounded the keeper was bought down however despite the appeals for a flick from the sideline coach (the sideline coach then told himself to shut up) the umpire played an excellent advantage to allow Mark “power injections” Shepherd to slot home the ball. Mark was promptly dropped from injecting corners after his second effort in a row had barely made it to the edge of the D.
The second half again started with the 6’s dominating and an equaliser soon came when Jack slotted home a power shot from the edge of the D. The second half was one way traffic with Ashby only getting into the 6’s D once in the half but chance after chance went begging despite some good efforts from Joshua Pibworth and Patrick. Playing on the left Anthony Walder seemed to develop a bit of a vendetta against the goal post preferring to hit it with the ball from a yard out rather than score a goal and the Ashby goalie also made a couple of quality saves. In the end this was a win that got away but some of the attacking play in the second half was a joy to watch.
MotM Jack Knight
DotD Anthony “post hater” Walder
Men’s 7th XI 2-2 Belper 7th XI
Goals: Charlie Graham (2)
The 7s travelled up to Belper for their final league match of the year. Belper were just behind the 7s on points in the league so a close match was on the cards. That wasn’t how it looked from the start. The 3s had warned us of the ‘bobbly’ nature of the new pitch, and it definitely delivered. The 7s spent much of the first 10 minutes struggling to get hold of the ball and keep it under control. Belper seized the advantage and piled on the pressure. Keeper Will Powell managed to get in on the act trying to deflect a ball away with his hand, sent it straight up in the air in front of him. He then tried to kick it as is came back down but missed this too, eventually the ball bobbled in front of Belper forward who drew a conclusion to the comedy of errors by mis hitting the lively ball off the baseline. A couple of minutes later Belper found space in a chaotic D to put away their first goal.
At this point the 7s started to get a little more control of the ball and the game and started to make their own foray’s into the belper half, with some great runs from both Michael Dicken and Owain Mahoney, supported very well by Tim Warburton. Tim had been working well to win the ball back from the midfield and was starting to find some space to lead some attacks. A quick move down the right side of pitch found Rob Ellis near the top of the D, he drew the defence well and slipped the ball straight to Charlie Graham who finished well to bring the score level.
Going into the second half the 7s started much more confidently, and Tim Warburton was pushing hard in attack to try to break the deadlock. Having picked up the ball from midfield he was initially berated by his team for not releasing the ball early to Charlie who was waiting unmarked on the top right of the pitch, however Tim’s driving run into the D opened up the defence for the 7s forwards and Tim slipped a great pass through to Graham to give the 7s the lead with his second goal of the afternoon. Saints new they needed to hold onto their lead and were trying to keep the Belper attacks out of the D, but some strong work from the Belper midfield found them in an attacking position and a mis-hit shot bobbled straight over the top of Will Powell as he ran out to make the clearance. The 7s worked hard to try and regain the advantage and had several good chances as the game wore on, the most significant was a shot that hit the post from 7s debutant Rob Ellis.
MoM: Tim Warburton – his best match all season
DoD: Will Powell – for his ball juggling act in the first half
Team: Will Powell (GK), Tom Woodhouse, Martin Skinner, Nigel Riches, Tim Riches, Micheal Dicken, Tim Warburton, Jon Keep, Owain Mahoney, Charlie Graham, Rob Ellis