Match Reports from 22.02.14
Ladies 2nd XI 2-2 Boots 2nd XI
Goals: Sally Cory, Jenny Schanshieff
Saints started this crucial league game against top of the table team Boots brightly, playing with great intensity and enthusiasm. The new defensive midfield combination of Claire Noble and Lachan Read proved a formidable force. Youngsters Eloise Blincow and Sarah Edmondson controlled the right hand side with dynamic attacking and solid defending. Despite total domination in the first half, saints conceded 2 sloppy goals. Heroic effects from Jo Askew in goal prevented a third goal.
Saints did not lose their focus at half time and they were still on top of the game at the start of the 2nd half and took the game to Boots. New girl Jenny Schanshieff showed great composure and was very controlled in centre midfield, creating plenty of attacking opportunities for Saints. Annie Howard ran tirelessly to open up the Boots defence. Finally, a break-through came from Sally Cory who drove into the D, was fouled but continued playing and powered the ball into the net making the score 2-1. Saints now increased the intensity and passion even more by not allowing Boots to have any opportunity of attacking. Brilliant defensive efforts from Emily Wilkins and Laura Thomas on the left, along with solid tackling from the ever reliable Sally Trappit meant that Boots became increasingly frustrated. Claire Sibley and Nic Holton worked tirelessly to break down the play to force Boots to make mistakes. Saints levelled the score with a well worked short corner, which saw Emily Wilkins’ great shot rebounded off the keeper, then Jenny Schanshieff casually lifted the ball over the Boots keeper into the back of the net, making the score 2-2. Saints were unlucky not to win the game as Sophie Herring drove into the D and was robbed of a goal by a great save form the Boots keeper.
Voted by the team the man of the match was Sarah Edmondson and the DOTD was Sally Trappit.
Warwick 3rd XI 2-3 Men’s 3rd XI
Scorers: Pibworth, Rose, Moran
Controversy before the match began with the umpire leaving to umpire another match. With Hillier fuming, Miller was sitting on the bench filling out the paperwork as insisted upon by the other umpire.
Soon into the match, once a replacement umpire was found, James Miller again was found debating the rules with the umpire. Only going to be one winner (the one with the whistle).
At 0-0 and saints would have been satisfied with the start, however Warwick were showing signs of the threat they posed. Bash was called upon to pull out a top draw save on to the cross bar, but soon after Warwick did take the lead thanks to a lovely drag flick. Half time brought out Mr Angry man Miller. Too many stray passes the blame and no one could argue with that.
Saints leapt into action in the second half to equalise. A preside pass by Pete Riches allowed Pibworth to pick up the ball and round the keeper to score. Soon after Saints took the lead. At the penalty corner, Hillier’s pass found Rose to lift over the keeper. There were questions or the shot being too high but the goal stood. After Warwick caused a couple of scared Saints got the breathing space they desired, not before Rose had blazed over with the goal at his mercy. Riches again turning provider finding Lewis Moran on the post for a simple tap in. Nerves were temporarily jangling after Warwick score a penalty flick before the final whistle went soon after.
Several players after the match went to watch near rivals Boot lose to Khalsa, meaning Saints once again have the title within their hands.
MOTM: Scott Bashford – for a match winning save
DOTD: Dan Rose – For an open goal miss
Squad: Scott Bashford (gk), Steve Morris, James Miller, Jason Hillier, Luke Pibworth, Dan Rose, Nigel Down, Pete Riches, James Ruse, Lewis Moran, Pete Comben, Naisan Dehghani
Men’s 7th XI 2-6 Burton 7th XI
Goals: Lee Barter, Jawwad Latif
With half term ski holidays in full swing the 7s were reduced to a bare minimum 8 players. Fortunately the opposition only had 10 in their line up so the game wasn’t as badly balanced as it could have been. Burton took advantage of their numbers early, with the sparse 7s midfield finding themselves too stretched to fill the gaps. Within the first 10 minutes the burton midfield had forced in two goals and the match was looking a little like one way traffic. As the match settled the 7s managed to get their heads around defending with a reduced team. Some strong work up the left and right sides of the pitch by Lee Barter and James Clifton gave the defence some much needed respite and forced the burton opposition to realise they still needed to have some players behind the ball.
After the break the 7s were much stronger in defence. The team all trying to get back behind play and hinder Burton’s progress into the D. Unfortunately 7s gave away a number of short corners and some solid shots strengthened Burtons lead. The 7s were undeterred and James Clifton once again lead the charge up the right hand side of the pitch. He took on two defenders with a good combination of skill and pace before drawing a third and slipping the ball to Jonathan Adey. The keeper closed down Jonathan very quickly but he cooly slipped the ball into the path of a fast charging Lee Barter who cleanly slapped the ball into the goal. Several minutes later Jawwad Latif picked up the ball on the 7s 23metre line and made phenomenal solo run up the left hand side of the pitch culminating in a fantastic shot into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Burton realised they had got complacent and dug in hard to ensure they didn’t end up on the back of an embarrassing scoreline. As tiredness set in they managed a couple more goals from open play to finish the match 6-2 up.
MOTM – shared between Nigel Riches for valiant defending throughout and Jawwad Latif, both for his goal effort and his share of solid defending.
DOTD – given the level of effort displayed by the team it was decided that no one playing deserved to be nominated as DoD.
Team: Pete Adey, Charlie Boulton, Nigel Riches, Jawwad Latif, Lee Barter, Jon Keep, James Clifton,
Jonathan Adey