Match Reports from 28th September
Ladies 1st XI 4-1 Worcester
Goals: Chloe Cozens (3), Dani Hagan
Northampton Saints Ladies 1stteam kicked off their season with an away game against Worcester.
Both teams were slightly on edge leading to a nervy slow start to the game but with saints starting the slightly stronger team. Some good link up play between the midfield and forwards and with Saints piling on the pressure they earned their first short corner of the game. Despite being unable to convert Saints followed this up with another attacking spell. the deadlock was broken with a well-placed cross by Sarah Brimyard in front of the keeper and an almost accidental first time strike by Chloe Cozens resulted in a goal! Saints soaked up a bit of pressure from Worcester and defended a short corner well with a clearance by Claire Leech. The saints extended their lead with a well drilled piece of attacking play by the forwards with their neat passing resulting in a cross from the right falling to Chloe Cozens who cheekily lobbed the keeper. Some strong defending by the Saints kept the score in their favour.
After some good attacking play an unfortunate deflection off a Worcester stick left Courtney Thorpe with an impressive bruise to her cheek (nice shiner!). 2-0 up at the break, the Saints were looking strong.
Following some re-organisation in the half time team talk Saints went into the second half feeling confident. They kept piling on the pressure with some great linkage play in the middle between Sarah Brimyard, Dani Hagan and Emma Cooper. After some great drives down the right from LA Checksfield, Dani Hagan won a short corner planting the ball on the defenders foot with some impressive stick skills. A well drilled short corner saw Hagan convert for a 3-0 lead. The Saints lead was cut short when a swift counter attack by Worcester caught them napping and a mix up in defence resulted in Leech being nutmegged! Saints refocused and produced some great attacking play from the defence to the forwards with the team linking well and supporting each other. With everyone working hard it was nice to see the Saints producing some slick play with the forwards leading out and picking up some fantastic balls.
The final goal game from a neat set of play with Dani Hagan passing to Brimyard who drove to the line and found Chloe Cozens who slotted it home for her hat-trick. A well-deserved win for the ladies who produced a strong start to their season.
Ladies 2ndXI 3-5 Ashbourbe
Goals: Sally Cory (2), Nic Holton,
The Ladies 2s began their season with a crack of dawn start as they made their way to deepest darkest Derbyshire for a 10.30 start against Ashbourne. After the obligatory early morning moans the game got underway.
As Saints struggled to settle into a rhythm Ashbourbe started strong and converted two early chances to take the game to 2-0. Saints regained their structure and pushed back creating good play down the wings. They were however undone once again by a great bit of individual play from the Ashbourne captain who fired a shot into the net giving our stand-in keeper Becky Lovatt no chance.
Saints did not allow their heads to drop, they pushed hard and continued to make in-roads into the opposition 23’ winning a number of Penalty Corners. A period of sustained pressure leading up to half time saw Saints convert a penalty corner, with Nic Holton following up a shot from Sally Trappit- Jones. Ashbourne pushed back with some quick counter attacks and scored a fourth goal but that was quickly cancelled out by Sally Cory who was put through on goal and chipped the keeper to take the teams into the break with the score at 4-2 Ashbourne.
Saints came into the second half all the more determined to push on and decrease the deficit. Barring a 5 minute period early in the half, in which Ashbourne broke through the defence, Saints had the majority of the play and continued to pile pressure on the Ashbourne defensive line. Sally Cory converted another penalty corner to take the scoreline to 5-3 and despite many more chances that was how the game finished. Despite the result there were many positive signs and the girls should look forward to a very exciting and successful season.
M.O.M: Laura Thomas
D.O.D: Jane Ogden
Men’s 2nd XI 3-4 Oxford City
Goals: Greg Summers, Tom Hewitt, Jack Pogson
In their last pre-season friendly, the 2ndXI travelled to Oxford City for an lunchtime push back.
They got off to the worst possible start as they were 2 goals down within 5 minutes courtesy of some wayward passing and dribbling in their own-half. Shortly after the nerves settled and Saints began to play their usual brand of fluent hockey, pegging Oxford back into their own half. Shortly before half-time Saints got a deserved goal through Greg Summers as he reacted superbly to a deflected ball in the D.
The start of the second half again saw Saints press the self-destruct button as they quickly shipped 2 goals. But as with the first half they then came back strongly with strikes from Tom Hewitt and Jack Pogson taking the score to 4-3 to Oxford. Had it not been for some heroic keeping from Oxfords no. 1 then Northampton would have got a deserved draw from the game.
Next week sees them host Belper in their first league game of the season, as they return to the 2ndXI Midlands Premier Division after a one season absence.
MOTM: Jack Pogson for a strong display on the wings, and a neatly taken goal.
DOTD: Jay Worsfield for his inability at bay parking.
Squad: Jay Worsfield (GK), Ally Rose, George Roberts, Matt Gausden, Tom Lewington, Chris Reid (c), Tom Hewitt, Sam Mitchell, Greg Summers, Scott Mahoney, Dan Rose, James Knibb, Jack Pogson
Saints Men’s 3rd XI 3-7 Oxford Hawks 3rd IX
Goals: Knight, Pibworth, Whittaker
Saints started the brighter looking to finish a tough pre-season with a solid performance. After good passing around the back, the attacks from Hawks were neutralised and Saints started to create opportunities of their own. A fine pass through to Jack Knight in the D was superbly controlled to score pass the keeper. The reset of the half was fairly even with both sides creating chances, but the equalizer finally came shortly before half time, as people stood still (save Bash) as the Oxford striker took three bites at the cherry before scoring.
The second half started similar to the first half, however Saints were rattled by a couple of quick fire tap ins and they started to lose their nerve. Hawks went onto score4 more without reply, the majority back post tap ins. At 7-1 Saints got back on the score sheet as what seemed to be a pass from Dan Whittaker was left by the keeper, thinking it was from outside the D, but deemed inside the goal was given. Saints scored their 3rd of the day when some good running from Luke Howard, found Pibworth unmarked in front of the keeper, allowing him to score from close range.
A good set of matches finished for pre-season, and while Saints can take heart that they were more than a match for Oxford, they will need to lead the lessons of composure to take into the league fixtures.
Squad: Scott Bashford (gk) Jason Hillier, Andy Dale, Steve Morris, James Miller, Ian McIIwaine, Lewis Moran, Harry Yorke, Luke Pibworth, Pete Comben, Jack Knight, Luke Howard, Dan Whittaker