Match Reports from 1st February
Ladies 2nd XI 2-1 Ashborne
Goals: Emily Wilkins, Sally Cory.
A tough first half for Saints, playing into the wind and sun, which left the score at 1-0 to Ashbourne at half time. However after a motivating half time talk from coach Emily, Saints headed back out feeling stronger and more determined. Saints equalised through forward play from Emily Wilkins onto a defender who swept the ball straight into the goal. The second goal was through a well worked and trained penalty corner routine from Sally Cory. Saints came off the pitch very happy with a well-deserved win.
MOM- Lachan
DOD- Nic
Men’s 2ndXI 3-2 Leek 2ndXI
Goals: Greg Summers, James Knibb (2)
Following their gracious defeat by Loughborough the week before the saints 2nd team arrived at the bitter and windy pitch to face Leek at home… bar Jay Worsfold of course who had far more important things to be doing at that time of morning. The match began with Chris Reid’s inspiring words echoing in their ears, “they will fall for it… because they are…” The wind took the last of the sentence away but I’m sure it was inspiring. Saints got off to a somewhat sleepy start with an early goal from leek; however they soon snapped back into action with excellent movement from the midfield and forwards. Employing Dan Whittaker’s legendary shopping techniques saints won a short corner resulting in an excellent bottom corner drag flick from James Knibb bringing the score to evens. The onslaught began after this and following one of Tom Lewington’s majestic anti-skill aerials the ball once again ending up with the forward Tristan O’Connor who’s leads earned him the title of MOM. After a great run from Tristan and support from Atiq Thambey Saints struck again making the score 2-1.
Beginning the second half of the game 2-1 saints returned to the pitch and despite excellent defence from Ben ‘pikey’ Northredge, Greg Summers, Tom Lewington, George Roberts and Matt Gausden Leek struck back equalising the game. Captain Greg Summers was having none of this however, and following a great play between Tom Hewitt and Chris Reid decided he would go on one of his death defying runs up the pitch to bring the score to 3-2. Saints comfortably saw out the rest of the game with Jay Worsfold making some great saves and an incredibly daring yet effective clearing method from George Roberts, whose calculated risk unfairly won him DOD, safely saving the day.
MOTM: Tristan O’Connor for some great leads and generally dominating upfront play
DOTD: George Roberts for majestically clearing the ball across the goal and making everyone jealous that they are not as composed as him in the D.
Squad: Jay Worsfold (GK), Greg Summers (c), George Roberts, Tom Lewington, Ben Northedge, Dan Whittaker, Chris Reid, Matt Gausden, Sam Mitchell, Athiq Thamby, Harry Yorke, Tom Hewitt, James Knibb, Tristan O’Connor.
Men’s 3rd XI 5-0 Khalsa 3rd XI
Scorers: Beattie (2), Knight, Howard, Roberts
The Khalsa reverse match was, for several reasons, the one that got away. Saints, particularly Hillier had been chomping at the bit all week. This reflected on the Saints as they made a barnstorming start. Are a couple of early attacks, Rose stumbled into the D enabling Knight to lash home. Soon after it was 2-0. Nick Beattie with his back to goal swivelling the ball delightfully into the corner. Saints were in the mood, Hiller not for the first time sliding into a tackle but taking the player out. The third goal came through a lovely aerial from Beattie, which Howard took down in the D to score from the tightest of angles, once umpires had consulted to whether it was legal. Although not called upon often, Bash in goal made a clinical tackle from a one on one to once again help himself to a clean sheet. Meanwhile Saints scored their 4th, once again Beattie storming into the D to score on the reverse in emphatic style. The first half was topped of as Guy Roberts stroked home from the top of the D.
The second half never really got going. Saints tried almost too hard to score the perfect goal. Rose went close with a couple of shots, and Beattie managed to sky the ball over the 30ft fence. Despite this, and Jack Knights shoes exploding, Saints will be happy with the 3 points to once again go back to the top. Next weeks’ trip to 3rd placed Burton is now a critical match as Burton along with Boots look to be the only teams now in the running for promotion.
MOTM: Nick Beattie – 2 cracking goals
DOTD: Jack Knight – Tapped trainers are not the new fashion
Squad: Scott Bashford (gk), Steve Morris, Harry Stobart, James Miller, Jason Hillier, Ian McIlwaine (c), Luke Pibworth, Jack Knight, Dan Rose, Nick Beattie, Guy Roberts, Lewis Moran, Luke Howard
Men’s 4thXI 4-3 Edgbaston 4thXI
Goals: Simon Chapman (3), Rob Tee
After surrendering a 4-1 lead to Beeston last week, Saints 4thXI travelled to Birmingham University to take on Edgbaston, under the clock tower, looking to continue their fine recent away form, knowing three points would be essential in shaping the rest of their season. Captain Rob Teecertainly understood the importance of the fixture, rallying his troops with a blow by blow account of his previous unsuccessful visits to Birmingham; he sought a different outcome this time round.
The opening exchanges saw Saints struggle to keep hold of the ball with the Edgbaston midfield creating a lot of space with some excellent movement. Thankfully for the Saints, this was backed up with some wasteful finishing. However, against the run of play, centre back Chris Boyd, stepped up into the midfield and placed a perfect disguised pass into the D for Simon Chapman to get the deftest of touches, which saw the ball (wind assisted) trickle over the line for the game’s first goal. The game was becoming increasingly more even and Edgbaston replied shortly afterwards despite some excellent defending from the Saints back four; Whorton, Boyd, Phipps and Ruse. Yet with the half petering out, Chris Clarkson spotted the run of Chapman and fired another pass into the D, in which Chapman claimed his second goal via a deflection through the hapless Edgbaston goalkeeper’s legs.
The ding-dong battle continued throughout the second half but the nerves of the Saints held firm. 2-1 swiftly became 2-2 before Rob Tee finished off an wonderfully crafted counter attack by the Saints by viciously slapping the ball into the roof of the net (via the backboard) to see their one goal lead deservedly restored. Edgbaston rallied and after a period of sustained pressure, which saw Goalkeeper Will Powell pull of a string of fine saves, they levelled once more to make the score 3-3. With time running out, and the light drizzle continuing to fall, Saints looked for the winner they needed. It duly arrived as Tee found himself with the ball in the D once more; his shot taking two outrageous deflections, the last of which was a glancing touch from Chapman’s stick to complete his hat-trick. Saints then kept hold of the ball well in the final stages to secure an extremely important win in the context of their season.
Saints 4thXI now find themselves sat firmly in the middle of the table ahead of next week’s clash against Worcester.
Team: Will Powell (GK) Richard Whorton, Chris Boyd, Jim Phipps, Ali Townsend, Ed Arnold, Naison Dehghani, Simon Chapman, Sam Robinson, Rob Tee, Chris Clarkson, James Ruse
MOTM: Simon Chapman – Hat-trick
DOTD: Simon Chapman – ‘Worst Hat-trick in History of Hockey’ with the three shots travelling a combined distance of around 11 feet (3.66 feet per goal!)