Ladies 1st XI 3-1 Cannock

 

Goals: Sarah Brimyard, Chloe Cozens (2)

The Ladies 1s continued their unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable 3-1 victory at home against Cannock. Chloe Cozens continued her goal-scoring form with a brace, whilst Captain Sarah Brimyard sealed the win with a reverse stick shot. This result sees the ladies remain top of the table, and the only remaining team in the league with a 100% record. Next weekend sees this record tested as they travel to Loughborough Students.

 

Alternative 1st team report…..

Once upon a time in a land not far away Northampton Saints had their first home game against Cannock.

Sarah Brimyard continued her losing streak and gave the centre pass to Cannock! Despite this the shoreline went the other way (3-1 win) so she can be forgiven! The first half started well with some magical passes, dream-like team work and Chloe Cozen-tactic goals.

 

The play was interactive and fast, passes went player to player, stick to stick (most of the time) with some silky skills thrown in amongst. There were a few oooh’s and ahhhh’s as a few chances went begging. It was a physical game with both Chloe and Sophie being man handled to the ground. Brimyard scored a beautiful (reverse) goal after she showed some unusual skill (cheers KJ,) and Ellie blocked the goalies view! It was a real team effort in the second half. As fitness started to show we dug deep and kept our shape.

The ‘elderly/oap’ found the heat and pace tough going and welcomed the arrival of LA (with 20 to go) and some fresh legs. A few minor lapses resulted in a Cannock goal and the umpires view being blocked by KJ’s behind! All in all a good game for the ladies securing their place at the top of the league!

 

MOM – Emma Cave

DOTM- Ellie Bleech (for coming dressed in her pjs and forgetting shoes) 

 

 

 

Ladies 2nd XI Matlock 2nd XI

 

Goals: Sally Cory (4), Emily Wilkins (3).  

 

Saints took the lead after 10 minutes, courtesy of a Sally Cory penalty corner.  Moments later a great passage of team led to the ball being passed through to Emily Wilkins who scored with a straight strike it ended up in the goal! Feeling confident and working well together, Saints managed to win another Penalty Corner; which although wasn’t converted at first, Sally Cory followed up with a rebound to take us 3 – 0 up! Although Matlock were coming back into the game at this point, Becky Mellor won Saints yet another short corner and with a well-practiced/worked ‘In and Out’ routine from Sally Trappitt and Emily Wilkins, Wilkins scored again! A couple of quick counter-attacks from Matlock mean that nearing half time Saints were 4-2 up, but the half finished with another Saints goal from a Penalty Corner, the ‘In and Out’ routine working for a second time – and earning Sally Cory her hat-trick!

Into the second half and Clare Sibley made a brilliant pass to Sally Cory, who drove the ball to the bass-line and then pulled it back to find Emily Wilkins, who hit it into the goal – earning her a hat-trick as well! Saints kept on pushing up the pitch, with Annie Toman, Winnie Jones and Laura Thomas transferring the ball round the back and driving up the left half of the pitch. Becky Mellor made a brilliant run out to the side-line and then carried the ball into the D, finding Sally Cory who flicked it over the keeper to score yet again!

Matlock worked hard in the end few minutes to earn them another goal, but overall Saints gave a fantastic team performance, and the game ended 7-3. Let the competition for Top Goal-Scorer begin!

 

 

 

 

Men’s 1st XI 4-2 Bournville 1st XI

 

Goals: Joe Kopka (2)

 

A brace from Joe Kopka wasn’t enough to see Saints through to victory in their away match against league leaders Bournville as they ran out 4-2 winners. A much improved team performance should see them filled with confidence as they head into next weekends’ fixture at home to Telford & Wrekin.   

 

 

 

Men’s 2nd XI 3-4 Belper 2nd XI

 

Goals: James Knibb (2), Scott Mahoney.

 

As the new boys to the top division, Saints began their new league campaign with a home match against Belper. The opposition started off very strongly, moving the ball around at pace as Saints struggled to get a foothold on the match. It was no great surprise to see Belper open the scoring during this spell. In fact it took Northampton a good 15 minutes to work their way into this match but when they did things began to click.

With the match reporters memory being very sketchy at best, there was then a 3 goal sequence (in no particular order!) of James Knibb and Scott Mahoney scoring for Saints, and Belper having a goal of their own. Making the score 2-2.

 

Midway through the second half and Northampton took the lead courtesy of a quick counter-attack. Centre Back Tom Lewington carried the ball out from his own 23, meandering his way into the Belper half, and effortlessly picking out forward James Knibb at the top of the D. Knibb then took the ball around the keeper and from the most acute angle on the left of the D, reverse hit the ball into an open net.

 

With Saints leading 3-2 into the last 10 minutes they were looking confortable but a lapse in concentration saw them concede a penalty flick, from which Belper equalised. And with almost the last touch of the game Belper won it with a direct hit from a penalty corner. A very harsh result on Saints, but a very positive performance against one of the stronger teams in the Midlands Premier Division.  

Next week the 2s face the tough task of playing Loughborough Students away, who recorded a 13-0 victory in their opening game of the season!

 

 

MOTM: James Knibb, 2 goals and an all-round mature performance from the young forward.

DOTD: George Roberts – superb land mine moment during the match.

 

Squad: Jay Worsfield (GK), Tom Lewington, George Roberts, Ally Rose, Chris Reid (c), Ben Northedge, Matt Gausden, Dan Whittaker, Scott Mahoney, Greg Summers, Jack Pogson, James Knibb, Tom Hewitt, Nick Beattie.

 

Boots 3rd XI  1-1  Saints 3rd XI

 

Goals: York

 

Saints went into their first league match of the year with the youngest team average in living memory. This new batch of youth blended with the older experience provided a solid start with some create creative play, particularly from the defenders moving the ball around. The lead for Saints came after Pibworth turned the defender and the keeper. The shot was saved on the line but York expertly picked up the ball to finish. Saints pushed hard for the second goal and Pete Comben when agonisingly close with a quick shot just inside the D. Boots however pegged Saints back before the break, the attacker passing the oncoming Bashford, with Hillier sliding and failing to keep the ball out.

 

The second half was complete Saints dominance bar a goal. The Boots keeper made several smart stops, and Luke Howard looked like a man possessed passing by defenders for fun. Knight went millimetres from scoring when his shot hit the inside of the post and you started to sense this would be as close as it got. This proved true and despite being disappointed on not getting the win, the visitors can take heart from upping the tempo in the second half.

 

DOTD: Gareth– Having to ask a truck driver to help him fill up with oil

MOTD: Howard – Great running and play

 

Squad: Scott Bashford (gk) Jason Hillier, Steve Morris, James Miller, Nigel Down, Harry Yorke, Luke Pibworth, Pete Comben, Jack Knight, Luke Howard, Gareth Voss, Harry Stobart

 

 

Men’s 4th XI 5-5 Cannock 4th XI

 

Goals: Lloyd Atkinson (3), Sam Robinson, Rob Tee

 

Newly promoted Saints 4ths took to the pitch for their first league game in the Premier Division against reigning champions Cannock. Buoyed by a positive warm up, the Saints tore into Cannock in the early exchanges and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring with a route one goal; a superb aerial from Andy Dale was picked up and smashed past the keeper by Lloyd Atkinson. Saints continued to hold their own and it was only towards the end of the first half that Cannock midfield started to assert their authority with 2 goals in 3 minutes meant they led 2- 1 at half time.

Not dispirited at all, the Saints defended manfully across the pitch and put together some impressive passing moves when they had the ball. Atkinson equalised but Cannock immediately responded to go 3-2 up. The turning point of the half was a “Barnes Wallace” goal by young Sam Robinson making his 4th team debut as he drew the Saints level.

Further goals from Atkinson and skipper Rob Tee made the score 5-3 to the Saints with 10 minutes left! What on earth could go wrong?………. 2 goals from Cannock, that’s what! Making the final score 5-5. This was a fantastic game full of goals, skill and no quarter was given. Can the 4ths cope with the big boys?? On this performance they certainly can. A great all round team performance.

 

MOTM: Lloyd Atkinson     

DOTD: Tom Dysko   

 

 

 

Men’s 5th XI 0-16 Leek 4th XI

 

After a tough week for selection, captain Jon Keep had managed to finally assemble 11 players for the long journey to Leek. Unfortunately Tom Woodhouse’s car was being serviced so 10 players squeezed into 2 cars! James ‘cliffy’ Clifton made an early bid for DOTD by scattering minstrels all over the back of keeper Phil Preens car. The other car had nothing like the same level of excitement – except rubic’s cube demostrations from Owain Mahoney….It was a long drive!

On arrival Saints realised the average age of the team they were facing was older than the oldest player on our side (Jon Keep at 38!) – this was going to be a tough match. Saints started fairly well with some good attacking play, but they were unable to keep this standard up. An early break lead to a short corner for Leek which they promptly put away. This was followed by another short corner effort that was blasted into the backboard. Keeper Phil Preen worked tirelessly trying to keep the score down, making a number of spectacular saves. A heavy shot to the right shoulder temporarily winded Phil – this gave a short pause to play and gave some respite to the beleaguered team. With promises of a half time masseuse (who clearly must have got lost on the way) Phil re-took his position in goal.

 

Leek were fully into their stride with some very strong breaks, dominating the youthful Saints side with some very nice simple passing hockey, easily finding the holes in our defence.

 

Half time came and went and more of the same carried on through the second half, and while we never managed to challenge the Leek keeper the play wasn’t completely in one direction. The final score-line was 16-0. As frustrating such a score-line was, none of the young team gave up and all of them fought hard right to the final whistle – no one had anything to be ashamed of; every single player had put everything they had into the match, but were just faced with a far stronger opposition.

 

Having thought such a dreadful result would leave 5s well and truly stuck to the bottom of the league, they were cheered up to see that Burton 4s had actually had a worse weekend than Saints – as they faced Loughborough students 4s on two consecutive days and lost 19-0 on Saturday and 18-0 on Sunday!

 

MOTM – Phil Preen – without his efforts the score might have been an awful lot worse.

 

DOTD – Michael Dicken

Note: Owain Mahoney was voted as DOTD, but Michael managed to make a late steal for the crown by leaving his kit bag in Leek – good thing it isn’t far to go to collect it again eh Michael!

 

 

 

Mixed v Old Moults, and Welford

 

The early mixed side narrowly lost out to Old Moults, 4-3 the final score. Whilst the evening mixed side earned a credible 3-3 draw with last seasons’ champions, Welford. A great result considering Saints were 3-0 down after 25 minutes!