Match reports from 30th November 2013
Men’s 1st XI 4-1 Sutton Coldfield
Goals: Christian Howard, Joe Kopka, Ben Scott, Alex Press
Saints enjoyed a comfortable victory at Moulton, in their last league match before the winter break.
Goals fromChristian Howard, Joe Kopka, Ben Scott, Alex Press were enough to seal all 3 points and see Northampton hold onto fourth spot.
Ladies 1st XI 5-1 Wellingborough
The ladies 1s got over the disappointment of last week’s defeat to fellow title contenders North Notts, with a convincing win away to Wellingborough. Captain Sarah Brimyard was amongst the scorers in a result that sees them move back up to second in the table, and only 3 points off top spot.
Derby 2-0 Ladies 2nd XI
Northampton Saints began the day well with an intensive warm up with positive encouragement from Tunni on the sideline. We started the game with good intensity and attacked down the left and won a short corner. The goalkeeper saved Sally Trappit’s straight strike. We maintained good pressure throughout the first half but Derby scored against the run of play. They attacked along the baseline and put the ball across the D to the back post. Derby kept the pressure up for the rest of the 1st half and won lots of penalty corners but failed to score. The score remained 1-0 for the rest of the first half.
The 2nd half began and again Saints started strongly and applied pressure on the Derby defence. We won more penalty corners but failed to score. Derby pushed back and they won penalty corners but with some good defence and a fantastic save from Sally Trappit’s face on the line (earning her MOM), they failed to convert. She also earned herself DOD by bringing her dog that then escaped and ran on the pitch. Saints kept up the pressure but Derby scored with 5 minutes to go and Saints were unfortunately able to win it back.
Men’s 4th XI 3-2 Rugby & East Warwick
Goals: Lloyd Atkinson
Saints lined up at home against a strong Rugby side needing redemption after the previous weeks thrashing at Notts Uni. The first 15 minutes saw Rugby dictate the play with Saints trying to force the ball too much and being too sloppy in possession. As the first half settled down Saints started to control the ball more and with Simon Chapman taking control in midfield a break through seemed iminent. Indeed Saints first short corner saw a well worked drill ending with Lloyd Atkinson slapping the ball home from close range. Almost completely against the run of play Rugby equalised shortly after after a defensive mix up gifted the ball to the Rugby centre forward yards out. With minutes to go to half time a quick break saw Lloyd Atkinson tap in after a fine move down the right. Skipper Rob Tee just had time to see yellow for the second week running just before half time for a touch of petulance – 2-1 Saints at half time.
The second half saw a real cat and mouse affair Saints always looking dangerous going forward and Rugby looking to inflict damage on the counter attack. The next goal was going to be vital and unfortunately it went to Rugby who scored the equaliser from a short corner. The tension mounted in a game where both sides needed the win and it was Lloyd ‘the hat trick man’ Atkinson who put a drag flick into the roof of the net with 10 minutes remaining advantage Saints at 3-2. The remaining 10 minutes were seen out comfortably by the Saints defensive line who had grown in stature from the opening exchanges. A really important win and a strong team performance all round bode well for the visit next week of West Bridgford.
MOTM: Simon Chapman
DOTD: Rob “yellow card and where is my stick ” Tee