Match Reports from 7th December 2013
Ladies 2ndXI 0-0 Matlock
After a previous victory of 7-3, Saints turned up on Saturday determined to once again beat Matlock in this re-match. They began the game positively after a focused warm up, Courtney Thorpe finally managing to arrive after being ‘stuck in traffic’.
The first half showed Saints to be much the better team as we passed the ball around and began to find our feet, even if they couldn’t quite manage to find the back of the goal. As the whistle blew for half time, Matlock won a short corner, giving Saints an uncomfortable last few seconds but a great save from Kathryn Wallace kept the score at 0-0.
Going into the second half, Saints continued to play well and pressure Matlock whose few chances at goal mostly came from some slightly controversial short corners. The second half saw Becky Mellor making some great runs up the right wing and the Saints forwards and midfield winning lots more short corners but unfortunately Northampton just couldn’t get them in. As the whistle blew for full time, another short corner was awarded but this time for Saints. Unfortunately they didn’t manage to capitalise on this last chance so, despite some brilliant support from the side-line, the game finished at 0-0.
Men’s 2ndXI 3-5 Birmingham University 2ndXI
Goals: Tom Hewitt, James Knibb, Tristan O’Connor.
Saints faced second in the table Birmingham University at Moulton College on Saturday.
They took a deserved lead following a quick counter-attack, with James Knibb tapping in from close range. However Birmingham came back strongly and finished the half leading 2-1.
The second half saw Birmingham strengthen their lead, however Tristan O’Connor pulled another one back for Saints after a swift passing move. Tom Hewitt then had the final goal of the game after superbly rounding the keeper. The game finished 5-3 to the students.
Squad: Jay Worsfold, Tom Lewington, Chris Reid, Ally Rose, Greg Summers, Matt Gausden, Dan Whittaker, Harry Yorke, Sam Mitchell, Tom Hewitt, Scott Mahoney, James Knibb, Jack Pogson, Tristan O’Connor.
Men’s 6thXI 2-3 Leicester Westleigh
Goals: Ben White, Charlie Graham.
Saints 6s development progressed further with a narrow loss at Moulton Sports Centre to Leicester Westleigh 4s. After a 3-1 loss at 3rdplace Coventryand NW the week before, the gap is closing to the sides above them in the table in terms of standard if not in terms of points.
The opening quarter was a tight affair with some good passing, running and encouragingly a lot more getting into space. The back four of was well marshalled by coach Finch and Riches, Eichmann and (MOTM) Dicken battled hard against generally older opposition.
Further up field Jenson, Shepherd, White, Orritt, Seward and Graham gave Westleigh a seriously tough afternoon. Leicester certainly had the better of the short corner count (about 10 -0) but with youth and pace in abundance, Saints hit Westleigh on the break time and again.
Halfway through the first half Saints took the lead after some good passing play and Ben White was on hand to punch the ball over the line.
After a spell of pressure Leicester committed numbers forward and outnumbered Saints at the top of the D and a simple through ball was enough for the equaliser just before half time.
Any thoughts of a serious half time team talk disappeared when Ben White attempted to sit down on the back board and was again successful in finding the back of the net, much to the amusement of the team (DOTD safely secured).
With the game opening up and visits to the Saints D increasing it was only a matter of time before more Westleigh goals happened, it was a case of how many Saints could respond with. Halfway through the 2ndhalf two quick goals decided the game. Keeper Gibsonhad a good game but ultimately had too much to do and was unlucky with the third as a spinning ball found it way over the line.
The goal of the game came for Saints at the end. The game had opened up completely and it was classic end to end stuff. Charlie Graham picked the ball up on half way and after some good interplay with the team was on had to hit the ball inside the post (I’m sure we practiced that all in training).
A proper game of hockey.
Saints look forward to the trip Coalville next week for the last game before the winter break.
Team: Dean Gibson, Tim Riches, Michael Dicken , Steve Finch, Russ Eichmann, Matthew Jenson, Mark Shepherd, Ben White, Mark Seward, Charlie Graham, Kyle Orritt, Ian Street
Men’s 7th XI 2-2 West Bridgford 10th XI
Goals: Harry Taylor-Brewin (PC), Ryan James
With strong team sheet this week, having the novelty of substitutes (for the first time this season!), the 7s made a confident start to the match. For the much of the first half the team held the ball well, passing cleanly, working hard for each other and moving the ball back and across between left and right side of pitch to keep West Bridgford under pressure for a long spell. An early short corner was taken well by Harry Taylor-Brewin and got the 7s off the mark.
As the half wore on and tiredness set in, the 7s started to give West Bridgford more space and allow them back into the game. A second goal was flicked in by Ryan James after the midfield practically bulldozed their way through the centre of defensive line up, and with that the level of play dropped significantly with Bridgford finding more space and starting to threaten the 7s D.
Half time warnings were made about the drop in concentration levels a point demonstrated well by captain Jon Keep who had appeared to have not been paying enough attention at the tail end of the second half and duly forgot the score.
In spite of this the 7s were lacklustre in the second half and were still giving Bridgford more space than they needed too. Bridgford won a short corner and keeper Pete Adey comfortably stopped the first shot, but the follow up shot was miss-hit and trickled under Pete’s arm to put Bridgford back in the game.
The 7s then went on the hunt for another goal and while they were putting the Bridgford D under a lot of pressure the team were over-committed and the inevitable happened. A breakdown in play to the left of the Bridford D lead to a fast passing move back through midfield leaving 7s midfield chasing play. Bridgford made good use of their numerical advantage and beat Pete Adey with a simple 2v1 move to bring themselves level.
Bridgford then defended hard against a series of determined attacks from the 7s, but try as they might a goal wasn’t going to come. Bridgford held out well to end the match with 2-2 draw.
MOTM: Charlie Boulton – some great defending and fantastic driving runs up the right of the pitch
DOTD: Jon Keep – for forgetting the score during half time team talk