Match Reports from Saturday 29th November
Ladies 1st XI 4-2 Edgbaston 1st XI
Goals: Sarah Brimyard (3), Dani Hagan.
The game started with penalty corners galore for Saints, however this early pressure couldn’t be converted into goals. Against the run of play Edgbaston took the lead with a swift counter-attack. However Saints immediately fought back with a well worked penalty corner routine which captain Sarah Brimyard converted, to make the score 1-1.
Saints were once again in the ascendancy, and another penalty corner resulted in Brimyard scoring her second. Shortly before half-time it was 3-1, following a slick passing move between Clare Petrie, Suzi Macken and Dani Hagan who found Brimyard in the D, who coolly struck goal with a reverse stick strike.
The second half saw Saints start strongly and scored goal number 4, as Dani Hagan scored on the rebound after Clare Petrie’s initial shot had been saved. A defensive error allowed Edge to sneak a goal back but Saints then comfortably saw the rest of the game out to leave the game finished at 4-2. This win sees Saints top off the league for Christmas break.
Men’s 2nd XI 4-3 Khalsa 2nd XI
Goals: Stephan Williams (2), Sam Mitchell, Chris Reid
After a long run of player unavailability, Saints had the rare pleasure of a 14 man squad for Saturday’s home match against Khalsa with Nick Card and Stephan Williams returning to the squad.
Saints took a deserved lead in the game as a penalty corner routine allowed Stephan Williams to deflect the ball into the goal. Minutes after the restart though a defensive lapse allowed Khalsa to equalise. Khalsa then took the lead shortly before half-time. But Saints soon equalised as Sam Mitchell slotted home from close range after skipper Dan Whittaker’s initial miss-hit shot (tickle).
The second half saw Saints fall behind following another defensive lapse. And with 10 minutes to go it looked like it was game over. However Chris Reid had other ideas as he scored a rare goal for Saints, as he found himself in front of goal with the keeper nowhere in sight. And with only minutes on the clock, Stephan Williams deflected the ball home to give the home side a deserved 4-3 victory. The win sees Saints climb out of the bottom 2 for the first time this season. Next week they face the unenviable task of travelling to Cannock.
MOTM: Sam Mitchell – some tireless running upfront and a well-deserved goal.
DOTD: A 3-way tie between Will Powell (for accidentally punching himself in training), Ben Northedge (for his horrendous reverse stick shot and all-round annoyingness) and Chris Reid for his slow-motion goal.
Squad: Will Powell (GK), Ben Northedge, Nick Card, George Roberts, Matt Gausden, Elliot Wilde, Ricard Pryce, Dan Whittaker, Dave Wennington, Harry Yorke, Sam Mitchell, Chris Reid, Stuart Clark, Stephan Williams.
Rugby & East Warwickshire 6th XI 2 – 1 Men’s 6th XI
Goals: Archie Darby
The Men’s 6s travelled to Rugby in high spirits following their win the previous week knowing if they could replicate their form from the previous week they had a good chance of another 3 points. Unfortunately, Jon Keep decided to announce on the journey over that the 6s would win and with that jinxed the game. First half started with Rugby having most of the possession but saints worked hard to keep them out and looked dangerous going forward. It was not until 5 mins before half time when the dead lock was broken with Charlie Graham chasing the ball from inside his own half, overtaking their defence and collecting the ball by the base line where he was able to play the ball into the D to a waiting Archie Darby to send the ball goal wards scoring via a deflection from a defenders stick. Half time 1-0 saints.
Unfortunately, half time gave Rugby a chance to regroup (and saints the opportunity to switch of) and Rugby were able to pull two goals back in quick succession after the ball made its way to unmarked Rugby players in the D. Saints didn’t let this set back get to them and were able to rally themselves and find the structure that was working for them in the first half. This led to the end to end nature of the game from the first half with saints looking dangerous, especially on the counter, but were unable to find the back of the net. The 6s however shouldn’t be too disheartened as, like the week before, played some good hockey and if they can carry this form on aren’t too far away from some more wins.
MOTM: Adam Powell for some fine saves
DOTD: Owain Mahoney mainly for not following up his short corner injection with a run to the post for the deflection (just as we’d been practising in training last week)
Squad: Adam Powell, Rob Frost, Ian Street, Russ Eichman, Charlie Boulton, Nigel Riches, Joe Cliffe, Jon Keep, Ben White, Mark Seward, Owain Mahoney, Archie Darby, Charlie Graham