Match Reports from 9th & 10th February
Ladies 1st XI 2-4 Harborne 1st XI
Saints played their rearranged fixture on Wednesday night against Harborne at Moulton. During the first half saints applied the pressure on Harborne and deserved were 2-1 in the lead at half-time having played some of the best hockey in the campaign so far. However this was to be all undone in the second half as Saints began to be the architects of their own downfall by not continuing with the fast paced passing hockey of the first period. Harborne were able to take advantage of this and went on to punish Saints with three quick goals in the second period to take all three points.
Squad: Sophie Chambers, Caroline Hossack, Sally Adlen, Claire Sibley, KJ Wilkins, LA Chacksfield, Emily Kilner, Caz McCabe, Sarah Brimyard, Sally Trappit-Jones, Sally Cory, Ferne Sanders, Emma Cooper, Georgia Linnell.
Ladies 1st XI 0-3 Boots 1st XI
A depleted Saints team travelled to Nottingham this weekend to take on Boots who are riding high in the table. In a match that was very evenly contested throughout, Saints continue to show improvement in their development as a team and showed they are not afraid to take the game to the opposition no matter what their position in the league. This worked well in the first period and lead to creating several chances in the first 20 minutes however it was Boots who took the lead with their second penalty corner and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the Saints goal. They doubled their lead in less than 3 minutes as a poorly cleared ball was scrambled in to the net by Boots. Saints continued to push Boots back and created several more chances but again failed to convert. During the second half Saints began to apply the pressure and spent most of the second period encamped in the Boots half reducing them to long ball hopeful counter-attacking. Saints again continued creating enough opportunities to win the game during this period it was however Boots who scored again from a penalty corner this time into the bottom right corner. Saints failure to convert attacking pressure into goals is where they need to concentrate if they are to move up the table.
This weekend Saints are at home to local rivals Towcester. Your support will be greatly appreciated.
Squad: Sophie Chambers (GK), Caroline Hossack, Sally Adlen, Claire Sibley, LA Chacksfield, Caz McCabe, Sarah Brimyard, Sally Trappit-Jones, Lottie Tulley, Ferne Sanders, Emma Cooper, Georgia Linnell
Men’s 2ndXI 4-1 Nottingham University 2ndXI
Goals: Andy Peters, Ian Tipples (2), James Knibb.
After the disappointment of Saturday’s game still fresh in their minds, the 2s squad arrived at Nottingham in a positive frame of mind. Knowing that 3 points today would put Saints in the driving seat of the league they set about a determined performance. The game plan was to keep it simple, let Saints dictate the play and everybody work hard off the ball. The latter was done to perfection, everyone worked hard for each other, sprinting to get back behind the ball and break down Nottingham’s attacks.
Saint’s started on a positive foot, defending well and breaking patiently. Some good play by Guy Roberts, Ally Rose and, Nick Beattie allowed Saints to move the ball out of defence. Dan Whittaker and Ben Northedge used the ball well when they got it, and moved it wide to Andy Peters and Tom Wightman, where the space was in abundance. Peters started with great endeavor, moving the ball forward well, looking for the space and off-loading it at the right times. His goal came after some more good Saints pressure, drifting onto the edge of the right side of the D, receiving the ball with his back to goal, managed to work some space and hit it low and hard into the corner.
With Saints in ascendancy and their press working a treat, Nottingham University’s play began to break down in the middle of the pitch. The second Saints goal came from more good pressure as they turned the ball over and moved it from front to back with high intensity, finding James Knibbs, who dribbled past a man, found Scott Mahoney who was able to feed Ian Tipples at the back post which the striker managed to lift over the keeper for the Saints second.
Another broken down Nottingham attack was picked up in midfield, some nice passing between Matt Gausden and Dan Whittaker ended with Knibbs receiving the ball on the 25, driving well into the D he attempted to keep it strong side, but Nottingham held him up that way, so pushing Knibbs onto his reverse is suicidal for any defensive team, and he promptly lashed the reverse into the back of the net.
This is how it stood at half time. As was to be expected Nottingham came out more aggressively, and created more chances, but Saints managed to keep their cool, and remained professional. More discipline against the odds paid off, and half way into the second half a good spell of possession with breaks involving Mahoney, Blunt, Knibbs, Sam Mitchell and Peters resulted in a series of penalty corners. The second in the series of corners ended with Tipples flicking the ball into the bottom right corner. That made it 4-0 and Saints were cruising. Nottingham managed to get a consolation goal, a penalty flick after a poor challenge from keeper Robin Sawyer. However all in all it was one of the best performances of the season.
MOM: Tough because everybody played well but it was awarded to Nick Beatttie for an excellent performance all round.
DOD: Interesting one as there were a few candidates: Ally Rose for crashing into the back of Sam’s car on the way to the game. Guy for losing his gum shield, which was actually in his mouth! Robin for a quite horrific tackle, through the back of the striker. Dan for being sent off in the game for one terrible tackle. However DOD is Sam Mitchell, for getting injured in the mixed game Saturday, meaning he was unavailable for the 2’s game that afternoon.
Men’s 3rd XI 3 – 1 Nottingham 3rd XI
Scorers: Moran (pc), Pibworth, Down
After the heights of the previous week, Saints had to keep the proverbial wagon rolling against Nottingham, where they had shared a 2-2 draw earlier in the season.
In truth the first half was nothing short of terrible. There was no fluidity in the game and passing was non-existence. Nottingham took the lead after a clearance went straight to the striker to score. As the half wore on Saints almost scored one of their own were it not for an alert Nottingham keeper. Just seconds before half time, Nottingham won a penalty corner. From this the away team thought they had doubled their lead, save for an Andy Dale goal line clearance.
McIlwainedemanded passing and patience at the break, and it seemed as if a completely different team appeared for the second half. Passing was outstanding, and after pressure, Moran scored from a penalty corner after the defender ducked on the line. From here Nottingham were reduced to 10 men after one of the midfielders wore the umpire’s patience too thin. The defence of Riches, Stobart, Dale and Miller, ran the defence like a well-disciplined army, and Saints went into the lead after a fine dribble from O’Donnell to Pibworth, who in turn found Down to score a rare goal. However the best was reserved for the 3rd goal, not for the finish so much as the team effort. What must have been 20 + passes among the whole team was tapped in by Pibworth. This passage of play was one of the finest Saints have managed all season. Nottingham tried to get back into the match, but 2 short corners came and went and the victory belonged to Saints.
Squad: Adam Powell (GK), Harry Stobart, Andy Dale, Ian McIlwaine, Lewis Moran, Luke Howard, Luke Pibworth, Pete Riches, Andy Wade, Lee O’Donnell, Nigel Down, James Miller
Men’s 4th XI 4-2 Belper 4th XI
Goals: Max Darby (4)
The men’s 4th team needed to bounce back after the tough loss against the men’s 5th XI last Sunday. It wasn’t a smooth start for the 4’s when Hugo Day failed to read the meet time. Down to 11 men we left for Belper. Dave Henry nearly made it slightly less than 11 when he attempted to remove Chris Godman’s arm using his electric windows. Steve Morris also struggled to arrive when he decided to appoint Rob Tee as navigator.
All 11 of us there we managed to start the match, the men’s 4th team started well pressuring the Belper side on a very bouncy pitch, several attempts on goal were made but Dave and Max Darby couldn’t quite force it in. The Belper side advanced rocketing the ball down our right side and causing our defence some problems, Chris Godman aided their attack with a waste high ball towards Rob Tee and Jim Phipps. Bash really did put his body on the line, and play had to be stopped for several minutes while he recovered. A clever side-line ball from Chris opened the scoring. A square ball to Richard ‘the wall’ Wharton was stopped perfectly and played into Max Darby who slotted it away confidently. Shortly after a short was played straight back to Max the injector and again he placed it past the keeper. Belper came back strongly and gave them hope for the second half with a goal.
An inspiring team talk lead by Dave Henry and the 4’s knew what they had to do for the second half. Northampton started well again with Gary Paterson and Steve Morris linking up well in the middle. Belper fought back well and if it wasn’t for Rob Tee’s excellent Gandalf impression on the goal line it could have been 2-2, playing it out quickly Will Gamble caught the Belper side napping and threaded a ball through to Dave Henry who had an easy job of playing it to Max Darby for his 3rd goal.
‘Winning 2-1 on the back foot they shoot Rob saves the day by clearing off the line then we go up the other end and score, standard!’ – source Rob Tee’s Facebook page
Unfortunately the designated match report writer Will Gamble went to a party on Saturday night and can’t remember much of the 4th goal for the men’s 4’s, but it was probably due to some amazing stick skill from Gamble and brilliant vision to pick out Max Darby for his 4th. Brilliant defending from everyone but especially Matt Candler and Jim Phipps wasn’t enough to stop the Belper attack scoring a second. Matt Candler then played a fantastic ball to their forward at the top of our D, with all the time in the world somehow he put the ball wide. Shaken by this Chris Godman forgot he had other players on his team for a minute or so and wound down the clock by dribbling in ever decreasing circles.
The game ended 4-2 a fantastic result for the 4’s who will be looking to carry on with their return to form next week against Lichfield 4’s.
MOTM – Max Darby for 4 well-earned goals.
DOTD – Chris Godman for quite a few reasons but my favourite is his inept windscreen washing.
Squad: Scott Bashford (GK), Richard Wharton, Matt Candler, Rob Tee, Jim Phipps, Steve Morris, Chris Godman, David Henry (C) Max Darby, Gary Paterson, Will Gamble.
Coalville 0-2 Men’s 6th XI
Goals: Harry Yorke, Sam McConnaghie
A hard thought and thoroughly entertaining game against a plucky Coalville side who never stopped grafting even if they rarely created any goal scoring chances with Jake Bennett only having to make one save in the first half.
The 6’s carried the greater goal threat in the game however the goals did not come until the final third of the game after a lacklustre first half. In that opening half the 6’s midfield were guilty of carrying the ball too much and getting caught in possession far too often. The whole team were also guilty of trying to force the play and possession was surrendered on a number of occasions. At half time captain Richard Smith managed to remember his child protection training and keep the anglo saxon out of his team talk for fear of a Mike Bassett style rant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4x05Z3MSkQ
The second half saw a total transformation, whether it was tired legs that made players pass the ball or the inspired half time talk but suddenly the movement on and off the ball was far crisper and the 6’s started to open up the Coalville side. A number of corners followed and from a deflection MotM Harry Yorke slotted away the first goal. The 6’s continued to press and a number of chances were created and with Joe Wightman and Ricard Pryce impressing on the defensive wings a second was soon to follow with Harry slipping a nice pass through to Sam McConnaghiewho scored his first goal for the team and then promptly started bleeding over the formerly pristine white shirt lent to him by the captain. A great victory and the team must now target a top 6 finish in the remaining games with a tough double header next weekend against top of the table Beeston and Rugby.
The DOTD award ended in a three way tie, Jack Knight managed to head-butt Dermot Cassidy’s car boot before the game, Elliot “safe hands” Wilde uttered the immortal words ” throw it (Harry’s phone) I will catch it”, words that Harry ruefully reflected upon as he tried to reassemble his phone and finally Harry managed to leave Dermot’s car door open for the whole game.
MotM Harry Yorke – one goal and one assist
DotD The three mousekateers Harry, Jack and Elliot.
Men’s 7th XI 1-4 Leicester Westleigh 4th XI
Goal: Tim Warburton
A tough match was on the cards when the 7s were host to league leaders Leicester Westleigh 4s. Having faced the 2nd and 3rd teams last weekend, the 7s went into the match expecting to be under siege once again. The match didn’t quite play out as expected. Leicester were playing a much more open game giving the 7s a lot more space going forwards than they had had last weekend. This allowed them to press for some early chances, but their ambitious play had also given the opposition much more space in the midfield and put the 7s defence under a lot more pressure than they should have been. With players not working back to defend the midfield lost its shape and gave Leicester the opportunity to run at the defence and pile the pressure onto Dean Gibson in goal. Dean responded by playing the best match of the season, putting in great saves and giving the Leicester forwards very little opportunity to score. As the half was drawing to a close it looked like the 7s might have escaped unscathed when a fast break from Leicester gave them the chance they needed and put the visitors up 1-0.
Halftime gave the 7s the chance to regroup and focus on maintaining shape and structure to the midfield and take the fight back to Leicester. The 7s were much stronger in the second half with some better defence in the midfield and some great surging runs from Adam Wright, but again the ambition to bring the score level was to be our undoing, with the ball being lost cheaply in midfield giving the opposition a great chance to break. A further goal was conceded to a well worked short corner to give the visitors a 3 goal advantage.
Adam Wrightand Tim Warburton took matters into their own hands on the restart and several fast breaks down the left side of pitch started to put pressure on the Leicester defensive line. A cross from Adam found Charlie Graham in space in the D. His first shot was saved, but Tim “you wouldn’t like me when I’m Angry” Warburton was straight in to collect the rebound and put it into the goal.
The game continued end to end, with neither midfield ever completely taking control of the match. A Leicester a short corner flicked goal wards had all the hallmarks of re-gaining the 3 goal advantage, but a cat-like leap from Dean Gibson and a phenomenal stick save put the ball over the goal and secured Dean’s well deserved man of the match award. (see photo)
Leicester did eventually score another goal – Leicester’s skilful young midfielder who had made a number of mazy runs into the D finally got a return pass from his forward and casually slipped the ball past Dean for a well-deserved goal and finishing the scoring for the match at 4-1.
MOTM: Dean Gibson
DOTD: Tim Riches (forgotten gum shield!)
Notable mention to Tim Warburton for getting very angry during the first half!
Squad: Dean Gibson, Tim Riches, Rob Golding, Ian Street, Connor Wright, Owain Mahoney, Jon Keep, Tim Warburton, Adam Wright, Michael Dicken, Charlie Graham, Nigel Riches