Match Reports from 25th January
Men’s 1st XI 5-1 Telford & Wrekin
Goals: Ben Scott (2), Christian Howard (2), Scott Mahoney.
Men’s 4th XI 4-5 Beeston 4th XI
Goals: Ed Arnold (2), James Askew, Chris Clarkson.
Saints suffered a Cannock hangover as they were well and truly stung by the Bees. Showing little of the control and composure evident the previous week – Saints were fortunate to take the lead through Ed Arnold even though most of the early chances went to the youthful Beeston side.
Unfortunately the lead was soon wiped as Beeston equalised from a short corner and continued to look the side more likely. However Saints with Chris Clarkson and James Askew up front were always likely to score goals and so it was. First James Askew restored the lead with a deft finish, Ed Arnold soon made it 3 – 1 and then Chris Clarkson with his revered drag flick powered in a 4th from a short corner. There was a short delay as running repairs to the back board after Chris’s finish – such was the power.
4-1 up not playing well – what on earth could go wrong….two quick goals before half time kept Beeston well in the hunt at 4-3!
The half time team talk was all about possession, control and ball pace…unfortunately the wind was obviously too strong and the words of wisdom were lost across fortress Moulton fields. The next breach of the fortress gave Beeston parity and the tenseness showed in both sides as the game inched towards the 60 minute mark – when Beeston struck once again from open play to take the lead. The last 10 minutes the Saints woke up and threw everything at the Beeston goal …alas to no avail. Chances came and went along with the 4ths chances of notching a second National league scalp !!
Edgbaston will have studied the footage from the previous two matches and will wonder which side can they expect to face next week…… Jeckyl or Hyde….. tune in next week.
MOTM….Ed Arnold – two great goals and enough chances to have the jug avoidance question raised
DOTD …Ali Townsend – proudly announcing to all that it was a good point (nobody was sure which one though)
Coalville 3rd XI 2-4 Men’s 3rd XI
Scorers: Rose (2), Knight, Pibworth
Typical, you know a massive storm is coming yet it has to wait until seconds into the match to erupt. Amongst the blizzard conditions and painful hail, Saints took the lead, with Comben’s ball evading all bar Jack Knight, who thanks to the Coalville keeper being stuck on the M1, had an empty net to contend with. All this within the first 50 seconds. Seconds later it was every man for himself as everyone raced to the changing rooms to get out of the painful hail.
20 minutes later play resumed and it was Coalville who scored next thanks to an accurate penalty corner. Minutes later, Dan Rose with space in the D smashed home for Saints to regain the lead. Rather than go on from here, once again Saints let Coalville back in thanks to another well worked penalty corner.
Saints were being frustrated by the opposition and weather and were just not playing a passing game. Into the second half and with about 15 minutes left, James Miller played a fantastic ball to Pibworth who running past the defender cracked home for his first of the match. Soon after it was done and dusted. Rose this time the scorer on the reverse, Hillier the provider from a arrow like pass.
It wasn’t pretty, but 3 points and sitting top of the league certainly is. Over 10 wins on the bounce and with Khalsa the visitors next week,things are hotting up nicely for the rest of the season.
MOTM: Mr Dan Rose – working hard around the pitch
DOTD: Pete Comben – “weekend revelations”
Scott Bashford (gk), Steve Morris, Harry Stobart, James Miller, Jason Hillier, Ian McIlwaine (c), Luke Pibworth, Jack Knight, Dan Rose, Tom Wightman, Nick, Pete Comben
Men’s 7th XI 0-1 Nuneaton 4th XI
The 7s travelled to league leaders Nuneaton for this weeks’ match. Things were not looking great with a number of items forgotten across the team. Rob Frost managed to forget his trainers/astros. Nigel Riches forgot his shin pads (he improvised shin pads from some card that was lying in his car) and most importantly we only had 10 players. As we lined up ready to get started a hailstorm rolled in just before the umpire could start time. The intensity of hail, and the amount of lightning visible meant the umpires postponed the start until the storm had moved on. Both teams dashed for cover!
Once the match finally got underway, Nuneaton were quick to put the 7s under pressure. The 7s midfield were being a little too timid and allowing the Nuneaton players too much space. Nuneaton were keen to rely on crashing a hard ball into the D and hoping one of their players got onto the end of it. Keeper Pete Adey denied Nuneaton a number of great attempts at goal. Eventually Nuneaton managed to deflect the ball past Pete Adey and get their one and only goal of the match.
After the restart the tempo of the game changed a little and the 7s started to find their way back into the match. In the closing minutes of the half the 7s were holding possession for longer periods and forcing the Nuneaton players to defend hard. In the second half the 7s gained more and more confidence and were taking more and more of the game into the Nuneaton half. A number of short corners were won, but unfortunately there was no equalizer coming. The 7s still had to defend a few breaks, but with solid performances from Martin Skinner, Charlie Boulton and Matthew Jenson, Nuneaton had very few scoring opportunities in the second half. Final score 1-0 to Nuneaton. Fantastically determined performance from the 7s.
MoM – Pete Adey – superb goalkeeping throughout the match
DoD – Rob Frost – for forgetting his astros
Team: Pete Adey (GK), Charlie Boulton, Nigel Riches, Martin Skinner, Matthew Jenson, Rob Frost,
Lee Barter, Jon Keep, James Clifton, Jonathan Adey.
Men’s 5thXI 1-2 West Bridgford
Goals: Ricard Pryce
The 5’s travelled to West Bridgford with just a bare 11, and only 3 adults in the team. However the team spirit was good, and the team well balanced.
Saints started strongly against an experienced West Bridgford side, lying 4th in the league.
The ball retention was fantastic, and decision making generally very good. Bridgford relied on getting the ball forward early, and this was competently dealt with by Jamie Cochrane and Elliot Wilde down the middle, and Charlie Harte and Tim Riches on the flanks. Whilst enjoying most of the possession, saints lacked the bit of magic to create or convert the chances created. Just before half time, Bridgford launched a long ball in to the D from their own half, and the ball having been only partly stopped by Elliot Wilde, trickled towards the line. Phil Preen in goal fell on the ball, but a Brigdford forward managed to poke it under him and over the line.
The game was then interrupted as lightening and hail caused the umpires to lead the teams off for safety.
It was deemed to be half time, and on the resumption Saints continued to dominate the possession, and a good spell of pressure, led to Ricard Pryce guiding the ball past the keeper with a good reverse stick shot.
Saints continued to dominate, however with 10 minutes to go got caught on the break when the Bridgford centre forward picked up a clearance in space line and ran in on goal to score.
The 5’s were unlucky to come away with no points, but with the satisfaction of having been the better side.
Men’s 2ndXI 0-7 Loughborough Students 2ndXI
The 2s faced an early morning start at Loughborough on Saturday, as their game pushed back at 10.30am! Surprisingly, the team seemed very fresh faced, and disappointingly for Saints, the students were the same! After some very impressive performances this season, Greg Summers was rewarded with the match day captaincy, and by doing so became the youngest Men’s captain for many years!
The game started at great speed, with Loughborough showing exactly why they’re unbeaten this season, as they moved the ball around at pace. The first half finished 4-0, with Saints spending the majority of this period defending.
The second half continued in the same vain as Loughborough scored another 3, however this time Saints did show more of their attacking intent, and did at times cause the Students some concern.