Match Reports from Saturday 25th October

Ladies 1st XI 8-1 Olton 2nd XI

Goals:Claire Petrie (3), Sarah Brimyard (3),  Chloe Couzens, CJ Wilkins
 

On a beautiful sunny windy rainy day saints took on Olton on a algae drenched pitch. Saints had all the play in the first ten minutes and despite four very near misses, Saints couldn’t pot the first goal. Many chances came Saints way in the first 16 minutes but surely one must be a goal?

A short nap in the Saints defence led to a near miss by Olton but Saints shook themselves and got back on top! GOAL by Claire Petrie 1-0 to Saints.

Another penalty corner to Saints and a Sarah Brimyard potted one in the back of the net, despite during the previous attempt being shot by a rogue sniper! Saints 2-0. Saints in control despite a few wee cheeky breakouts and Dani ‘the giraffe’ Hagan nearly missed goal 3. Saints hold all the cards despite Hagan not being able to hit a barn door, or in the words of the umpire, “she needs a sat nav”. Saints leak a sneaky penalty corner advertised by a few expletives from KJ and Olton bang in their first. Half time score saints 2-1 Olton.

Second half started really well with Claire Petrie slotting s beautiful goal from a ball by Rachel Jones, an attacking right back who knew?? Seconds later saints win yet another short through the jungle skills of Hagan, which led to Brimyard diving touch scoring another goal. Saints 4-1. Hagan won another short and despite their better judgement saints follow instructions to “dork”, which narrowly missed a sliding in Chloe Couzens. Great pressure from saints in open play led to Claire Petrie striking top d scoring a perfect goal, 5-1 to Saints. Great pressure from saints in the last 15 minutes led to a bucket full of goal scoring activities and Hagan won another short, obviously not called from the dugout but a fantastic strike from KJ Wilkins taking the score 6-1 to saints. Saints continue to pile on the pressure and some top class skills in open play from Brim leads to a superb top d strike GOAL 7-1 saints. Chloe Cousins had been practicing her goal celebration for weeks and it was worth it, a bit of skill trickery from Dani passing to Chloe one on one with the keeper score!! Saints 8-1. Another short won by Saints but this time the back of the net eluded us.

Final score 8-1.

Warwick Uni 4th XI 3-1 Men’s 6th XI

Squad: Pete Adey (GK), Martin Skinner, Matt Coupe, Jawwad Latif, Jamie Cochrane, Rob Golding, Tommy Corbishley, Finn Ayres, Finlay Chacksfield, Elliot Atherton, Jon Keep, Jonathan Adey

Nottingham University 4th XI 6-0 Men’s 4th XI

The 4’s travelled to Nott’s Uni in hope of getting their season back on track. We hoped to see some of the 2’s game over the road at Beeston as inspiration but due to car gridlock on the approach to Beeston the only action we saw was the 2’s leaving their goal after their half time team talk.

We had 2 club debuts in James Legg “Leggy” and Kit Powe, not sure if club policy is obligatory ginger tint beards but a precedent may have been set!!

Saints had a squad of 12 including up and coming youngsters Alasdair Bowden and brothers James and Toby Clifton who helped keep the average age of the team respectable despite the continued effort of Ian ‘Macca’ McIllwaine and Nigel Down.

The game started with the 15 man Uni squad playing high tempo hockey, however the first chance fell to the away team as Nigel Down was able to get a quick shot off on our first attack, this was to be one of the high points in the game. Nott’s got on top with their pace and using their subs to rotate players took the lead midway thru the first half. Stout defending by Rich Say, James Ruse, Jim Phipps, James Legg and keeper Scott Bashford meant the score was only 1-0 down at half time.

Skipper Ed Arnold’s half time talk stated we were still in the game and we just needed to keep frustrating the opposition and we may get something out of the game.

The Uni had different ideas, and an early goal set the scene for a tough second half. Nott’s then got 2 quick goals and their squad and fitness meant they would create further chances as we tired in the final quarter.

The final score was a 6-0 defeat, though ironically we played better in the second half. Macca’s pre match thought of getting a result was confirmed as only a dream when news filtered through that the Uni had played their first 3 league matches without a keeper!!!

Onwards for the team, next week an easy 3 points guaranteed stroll against Birmingham University….. Or perhaps not!!!

MOTM: James Legg

DOTD: James Ruse – something on his mind – Sunderland’s defence the previous week against Southampton.

Squad: Scott Bashford (GK), Ed Arnold, Ian McIllwaine, Nigel Down, James Ruse, Kit Powe, Alasdair Bowden, James Legg, Rich Say, James Clifton, Jim Phipps, Toby Clifton

Men’s 2nd XI 1-5 Beeston 2nd XI

Goals: Stuart Clark (pc)

Saints had a very eventful journey to Beeston: Coach Tom Hewitt broke down in Northampton, keeper Sam Biddle got lost and ending up in West Bridgford, whilst Sam Mitchell (with George Roberts as passenger) played his own version of bumper cars whilst in Nottingham (sadly the opposing car wasn’t too impressed).

But some how the 12 man squad eventually arrived safely to start the game.

Saints started the stronger of the 2 teams, and took a deserved lead after 5 minutes through a Stuart Clark short corner strike. They continued to dominate without extending their lead and were made to suffer as Beeston scored twice in quick succession. 2 further unanswered goals saw the half finish 4-1 to Beeston.

The second half saw a much improved defensive performance from the Saints with Beeston only scoring 1 further goal, and again Saints couldnt quite finish off the chances they were creating at the other end leaving the game to finish 5-1.

A harsh score-line but a deserved win for the Bees.

Next week Saints have a real six-pointer against Rugby at Moulton.

MOTM: Alex Blunt – superb defensive effort.

DOTD: Alex Blunt – needless yellow card. And Sam Mitchell for lack of peripheral vision whilst driving.

Squad: Sam Biddle (GK), George Roberts, Matt Gausden, Ben Northedge, Alex Blunt, Harry York, Sam Mitchell, Dave Wennington, Dan Whittaker, Alex Clark, Stuart Clark, Joe Skinner.