Match Reports from 15th & 16th February
Ladies 2nd XI 6-0 Belper 2s
Goals: Claire Noble, Sally Cory (2), Emily Wilkins, Millie Denton, Annie Howard
The Ladies 2s looked to continue their recent return to form with a game against bottom of the table Belper. Despite the incredibly windy conditions Saints started brightly and pushed hard at the Belper defence.
Within the first 10 minutes Saints found themselves 2 goals to the good after 2 Great balls in from Claire Noble where converted, first by a Belper defender and 2nd by Annie Howard on the far post, who plays her first game for the 2s since almost a year away from the game. Having gone 2 goals up early on, Saints were guilty of taking their foot off the gas allowing Belper some opportunities in front of goal that were superbly saved by Freya Robinson but the game rolled on largely without incident to half time. Coach Colyn and Team Mascot Tunni gave the ladies a kick up the back side at half which pushed the girls to increase the intensity of the game from the start of the 2nd half.
Early in the half Saints won, and converted two well worked penalty corners. The first we well finished by Sally Cory and the second touched in on the post by MOM Millie Denton who was playing her final game of the season before jetting off to New Zealand. Saints 5th goal came from some wonderful team play between Nic Holton, Claire Noble, Sarah Edmunson and Sally Cory before being played through to Emily Wilkins who took it round the keeper and flicked it past the retreating defenders. Saints continued to press high and search for more goals for the remainder of the game. Sally Cory, the teams top goal scorer added the final goal of the game with some great individual skill which saw her pick up the rebound off her own reverse stick shot and flick it past the keeper.
Up next, top of the table Boots!!!
MOM- Millie Denton
DOD- Nic Holton for going onto the pitch with the wrong stick
Men’s 2nd XI 3-3 Rugby & East Warwick 2nd XI
Goals: Tom Hewitt (2), Sam Mitchell
The Men’s 2s played host to local rivals Rugby & East Warwick at a windy Moulton College on Saturday.
Pre-match plans were disrupted with midfielder Sam Mitchell stuck in traffic. This meant Saints started the game with only 10 players, whilst Rugby came with an impressive looking 14 man squad.
These pre-match disruptions clearly affected Northampton as they struggled to get any fluency into their game. Rugby took an early lead and soon doubled it to leave Saints in a state of shock.
Now Saints of old may have rolled over and handed them the match. However quite the opposite occurred as they continued to use the ball wisely, probing the opposition, testing their press. As ever, Saints best play came from good pressing, into counter attack.
From one breakdown of Rugby possession, the midfield worked it between them eventually feeding it into the forwards. Still about 30 yards from goal, the ball was worked wide, and back into the forwards, causing confusion in the Rugby defence. Tom Hewitt made good ground into the D hitting a reverse past the keeper to make it 2-1.
Saints pressure was mounting now, Rugby were struggling for space and Saints soon made it 2-2. Good work down the right, winning fouls and playing into space, the ball eventually finding its’ way across for Sam Mitchell to slap past the keeper from 6 yards.
Before the half Saints took the lead, similar counter attacking movement, midfield making opportunities, and the forwards leading high. The ball found its’ way again to Tom Hewitt at back post, taking two touches, tucking it under the on rushing keeper with the second.
A fired up Saints looked impenetrable, and finished the half 3-2 up.
Second half in a similar vein, Saints more defensive minded this time with the bare 11 in mind. This did invite pressure however, and as disciplined as the display remained, momentary lapses in concentration and Rugby managed to pick up another goal. 3-3.
Tom Hewitt had a chance to grab all 3 points at the back post after another excellent counter attack, but snatched at the chance, and the ball passes narrowly passed the post.
Full time 3-3. The points shared, though Saints deserved 3. The display remained consistent as it has in recent weeks, and the sort of performance that has seen Saints cement themselves in mid-table.
A great game for the neutral, and great amount of effort and determination from the Saints 11 to get something from the game.
MOTM: Tristan O’Connor. An all action display from the forward!
DOTD: Sam Mitchell – not arriving until 15 minutes into the game!
Squad: Jay Worsfold (GK), Matt Gausden, Tom Lewington, George Roberts, Ben Northedge, Chris Reid, Dan Whittaker, Sam Mitchell, Tom Hewitt, Tristan O’Connor, James Knibb.
Men’s 4th XI 0-0 Belper 4th XI
Twas a cold wet Saturday where the Saints 4’s travelled to Amber Valley of Derbyshire to face the Mighty Belper with a bare 11. The game started poorly for Saints with lacklustre passes and being out muscled, but testament to the defence they soaked up all the pressure from Belper to keep the game square at 0-0 with some fine saves from Will Powell and a superb block save from James Ruse.
Mid-way through the first half Saints began to rally and found some decent form and began to make some good forward breaks with great play from Skipper Rob Tee and Lloyd Atkinson creating chances, but to no avail. Lone ranger Ed Arnold was scouting for the ball and narrowly missing at the far post. The game became a battle of midfield with ‘Deaths door’ Chappers (Simon Chapman) commanding like a trooper, providing a much needed cushion for the defence.
Half time and Saints knew they had not performed as well as they should so they started the second half firing on all cylinders. Saints became the dominant team really pressing the Belper defence with some great runs from wingers Ali Townsend and Sam Robinson, not to mention the Right-back workhorse Richard Whorton!! Chances came and went with Tee missing two on the line, one of which was a fantastic save by the Ex-national league goal keeper ‘The Cat’. Unbelievably Jim Phipps made an astounding and rare run from the defence way into the stratosphere of Belper at which point his ‘nosebleed’ caused him to lose orientation and pass the ball to Arnold who narrowly missed the goal.
This set the precedent for the defensive players to move further up and really squeeze Belper, led by Debutant Matt Hill with fine skills and through balls. Unfortunately Saints were unable to capitalise on chances. The game came to a close at 0-0… A well-deserved point away at Belper gives Saints 25 points and some breathing space. A big game next week and a win should see Saints secure their place in the Prem.
Points of note: Ali was stalked by a Belper female player who he had umpired earlier in the morning, he was in high spirits thinking she was a belated valentines, but alas she was not, he had only forgotten to sign the match report!!! Good teas – Pizza and apple pie desert
MOTM – Matt Hill – Sterling debut performance at Left back with some fantastic leads going forward!
DOTD – Lloyd Atkinson – Makeshift shin pads constructed of a protective glove and page 3 of sun newspaper
Squad: Will Powell (GK), James Ruse, Matt Hill, Jim Phipps, Ali Townsend, Rob Tee (C), Lloyd Atkinson, Ed Arnold, Sam Robinson, Simon Chapman, Richard Whorton