Chris Ashton enjoyed a winning return to Franklin’s Gardens as Saracens took advantage of Saints’ injury woe to win 16-6.

Northampton, already without the likes of Ben Foden and Christian Day, lost England stars Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley as well as Stephen Myler during the 80 minutes.

And Sarries profited from Saints’ own production of Casualty, as Alex Goode’s try and 11 points from the boot of Owen Farrell saw them home.

Penalties from Myler and Ryan Lamb, starting again at 10, kept the home side in it but they were knocked off the top of the Aviva Premiership table as they didn’t have enough for victory.

All the pre-match focus had been on Ashton’s first return to the Gardens since his summer move to Sarries, but instead of taking the post-match headlines, he played his part in a fine team effort.

The away side soaked up punch after punch, and launched a number of dangerous counter-attacks, one of which resulted in Goode’s first-half try.

That put Saracens in the ascendancy and they never looked back, despite some determined attacking from Saints during the second 40 minutes, meaning Ashton and Co had the win they desired.

The match had started in frantic fashion with Saracens taking the early impetus and on seven minutes they earned a penalty on halfway, which Farrell slotted it to give his side the lead.

Saints were stunned into life and they started to make the ball stick as a good move, which involved most of the 15, resulted in a penalty that Myler kicked to level things up.

The home side were upping the tempo, and desire was coursing through the veins as the forwards started to get the green, black and gold on the front foot.

On 20 minutes, emotions nearly spilled over as Ashton smashed Vasily Artemyev into the boards after the Russian had kicked on and the home fans were baying for blood.

Referee Andrew Small refused to answer the calls, though it looked like blatant obstruction, and Lee Dickson made his feelings known, shoving Ashton and exchanging views.

Saints were showing all the necessary desire but they were failing to make territory count and Saracens launched a stunning counter-attack to retake the lead.

Fine work from centre Joel Tomkins was key in Goode adding the finishing touches in front of the Burrda Stand.

Farrell converted and to add injury to insult, Myler and Lawes were both forced off with knocks immediately after; Samu Manoa and Tom May on in their place.

The game continued to be played at 100mph, but Saints couldn’t turn pace into points as Saracens held their seven-point lead into half-time.

And Northampton were hit by a further blow at the break as captain Hartley was forced off with a foot injury, meaning Mike Haywood started the second half at hooker.

Despite the hat-trick of injury woe, Saints started the second half in determined style, forcing Saracens back and though they couldn’t quite get over the line, a penalty was awarded, allowing Lamb to bring his side back to within four points.

But Saracens didn’t waste time in restoring their advantage as Farrell was handed an easy chance in front of the posts, which he refused to pass up.

The away side were certainly not having it their own way in the second half, though, and referee Small was punishing them on a regular basis.

Saints’ scrum was standing tall, providing a good platform to build on, but still the elusive try wouldn’t come.

And Saracens looked set to get another score against the run of play as Tomkins latched on to a misplaced pass from Lamb and kicked through, but as the centre ran towards the line, he was overtaken by team-mate Ashton, who slipped and subsequently stopped his side from scoring.

But the men in white soon had the points they needed to take the possibility of a losing bonus point away from Saints, as Small awarded a penalty in front of the posts and Farrell again nailed it.

Jim Mallinder’s men continued to show fight until the final whistle, but Saracens shut up shop and knocked Saints off their Premiership perch.

Saints: Myler (May 28); K Pisi, G Pisi, Waldouck (Burrell 79), Artemyev; Lamb, Dickson (Roberts 79); Tonga’uiha (A Waller 62), Hartley (Haywood 40), Doran-Jones (Mujati 52), Lawes (Manoa 28), Sorenson, Dowson, Wood, van Velze (Oakley 74).

Saracens: Goode; Ashton, Tomkins, Barritt, Strettle; Farrell (Hodgson 79), de Kock (Wigglesworth 52); Gill, Brits (Smit 59), Stevens (Nieto 56); Borthwick, Hargreaves (Botha 59); Brown, Fraser, Wray (Joubert 52).

Replacements: Auterac, Wyles.

Referee: Andrew Small

Attendance: 13,475

Boss Jim Mallinder admitted the triple first-half injury blow hindered Saints’ chances in their 16-6 defeat to Saracens.

But the director of rugby was pleased with the way his team reacted to losing three influential players.

Mallinder was forced to replace England duo Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley along with third choice full-back and first choice kicker Stephen Myler.

It meant Saints had to play the full second half without any of the trio in the side and Saracens shut the door to record a fine win at Franklin’s Gardens.

The home team failed to register a try during the game, failing to find the spark needed to get over the try line.

And Mallinder said: “It doesn’t help when you’ve got two key England lads plus Stephen Myler at full-back going off with injuries.

“That doesn’t help but, having said that, I thought we played well in the first half. It was into a big gale, we played some good rugby.

“It was of course disappointing to concede that try when we were in attack, they turned it over and scored a cracking counter-attack.

“We were probably unlucky to turn round in that deficit and I was confident about the second half.”

Alex Goode’s first-half score, allied with 11 points from the boot of Owen Farrell got the job done for Saracens and saw Saints knocked off the top of the Aviva Premiership.

They were set to lose their England contingent to international duty on Monday anyway, but it is now uncertain just how long Lawes and Hartley will be missing for Saints.

“Both knee injuries, both unable to carry on,” said Mallinder when quizzed about the nature of the knocks. “Both have done something and we’ll find out later.

“Lawes and Hartley are characters that if they had just got a knock and they were going to be running around on Monday, they wouldn’t have come off.

“It was disappointing they had to go off.”

Cheryl Gutteridge, aged 37, of Clifton Square, Corby, admitted fraudulently taking money from residents at Oakfields care home between January 2001 and March. She was bailed.

The deputy manager of a care home in Easton Maudit, near Cogenhoe, stole £1,800 from 17 elderly residents.

Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd said he was delighted with his side’s performance in their 2-0 victory over port vale and paid particular tribute to three youngsters who share the same name.

It was Louis Moult who scored the decisive goal but Lewis Wilson and Lewis Hornby both earned plaudits for their displays at the heart of the Cobblers midfield.

Boothroyd sprung a surprise by switching to a 5-3-2 formation which put a huge onus on an inexperience midfield trio and he was delighted with how they responded.

He said: “It was all about the three Lewises today wasn’t it? Louis Moult is from Stoke and he would have enjoyed that. He is a goalscorer, he was a child star who lost his way a little bit.

“We have given him an opportunity and took his goal very, very well. He’s got a real chance. Sometimes when things like this happen you look to people to step up and he certainly did that.

“Lewis Hornby is someone I’ve certainly had some stern words with because I think he’s a very good player and I think he’s talented and can go on and play regularly for us.

“I wanted him to improve on the defensive, aggressive side of his game and he did that today. He showed he can play men’s football and I’m delighted for him. It’s easy for managers to point fingers at young players and say they’re not reasdy but he was and I’m pleased for him.”

The Cobblers performance was light years away from the previous back-to-back defeats and fans will be hoping it can be a turning point and a catalyst for a good run at a crucial stage of the season.

Boothroyd added: “I thought we were strong. Despite throwing a different formation at the players I thought it suited the personnel we had available.

“Maybe we could have been better and a bit more cutting in the last third of the pitch but overall I thought we responded well and deserved what we got.”

Saints paid the price for their profligacy as they fell victim to the Saracens sucker punch on Saturday.

Jim Mallinder’s men had enough territory in the clash at Franklin’s Gardens, but failed to turn possession into points.

Sarries shut up shop brilliantly in an extremely streetwise showing, which illustrates why they will be extremely hard to stop this season.

And they took one of the few opportunities presented to them, launching a searing counter-attack that saw full-back Alex Goode score the only try of the game.

Saracens had already edged a tight game at Harlequins this season and it was easy to see why as their impregnable defence shut Saints out.

Northampton got to within five metres on a number of occasions but just couldn’t find the creative spark needed to break down the opposition barriers.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Mallinder and his management team as not only did they see the game slip away, but they endured the disruption of injuries to more key players.

Courtney Lawes, Stephen Myler and Dylan Hartley played no part in the push for points as they were forced off before the second half began.

Whether their presence would have made the difference is, of course, unknown, but the fact so many changes were made so early didn’t help the home side’s flow.

That said, you can’t take anything away from Saracens who know how to do something Saints don’t: win games against top-four rivals on the road.

The nomadic outfit will no doubt be in the mix for the title when the season draws towards its conclusion, but Saints have got work to do to show they can be there, too.

How they rated...

Stephen Myler

Only lasted 28 minutes before being forced off with a hamstring injury. Was given little chance of stopping Saracens’ opening try as he found himself isolated against two men 5

Ken Pisi

Again showed flashes of flair and is a very good attacking tool for Saints. Linked up with his brother well again, but couldn’t find a way through the resilient Saracens backline 6

George Pisi

Looked most likely to break the Sarries resistance but like his team-mates could find no way through. Still Saints’ most potent attacking threat 6

Dom Waldouck

Put himself in where it hurt once again, as showcased by the wounds on his face after the game, but saw opposition centres Joel Tomkins and Brad Barritt win the day 6

Vasily Artemyev

Showed glimpses of regaining some form, with a couple of bursts, one of which was stopped by a no arms tackle from Chris Ashton, but couldn’t make his mark 5

Ryan Lamb

Opted to kick far too much during the first half and looked a little lost at times, but was better in the second period when Saints chose to run the ball when given the chance 5

Lee Dickson

Tried to cajole his team-mates through the opposition defence, but couldn’t manage it. He kept the tempo up well but the bullets he provided weren’t fired accurately 6

Soane Tonga’uiha

Played his part in a fairly good forward effort from Saints, but they couldn’t get the all-out dominance they desired throughout the game 6

Dylan Hartley

The skipper was forced off at half-time and his absence, as ever, was a big blow. Though replacement Mike Haywood did put in a creditable display in his place 6

Paul Doran-Jones

Was handed the chance to impress and didn’t do much wrong, helping Saints at least get parity in the scrum 6

Courtney Lawes

Went off injured on 28 minutes and hadn’t really been able to impose himself on the game before that moment 5

Mark Sorenson

Showed his strength in the second row and put in a good performance that justified Jim Mallinder’s decision to start him 6

Phil Dowson

Tried his best to get Saints over the gainline and was probably the pick of the home team as he gritted his teeth and tried to punch holes in the Saracens backline 7

Tom Wood

Is having, by his own admission, a mixed campaign, but the flanker doesn’t shy away from the physical stuff and he did his best to get his team on top 6

Gerrit-Jan van Velze

A first start for Saints since being banned after the game against Exeter last month. Performed well, showing aggression and determination 6

Replacements (who played more than 20 minutes)

Tom May

Really staked his case for a start against Leicester on Saturday after performing well at full-back following his introduction for Myler 7

Samu Manoa

Was brought into the action earlier than expected and it was a like-for-like replacement for Lawes as he maintained the physicality levels 6

Mike Haywood

Extremely creditable performance from the youngster, who ensured Saints didn’t suffer too much from skipper Hartley’s withdrawal 7

Brian Mujati

Has been off the boil at the start of this season, but showed signs of improvement in this game. The real Brian Mujati looks to be standing up again 6

Northampton Spencer recorded their biggest victory in years as they hammered Finedon 14-0 in a one-sided NFA Junior Cup clash at Kingsthorpe Mill.

Paul Pickering saw the first two Spencer goals after 10 and thirty minutes and Matt Long added the next two on 40 and 45.

The visitors collapsed in the last half hour. Jordan Sweeney scored after 61 and 67 minutes with Dan London joining the spree after 69.

Pickering scored the next two goals after 70 and 76 minutes.

Sileby Rangers also progressed against a side from the Northants Combination as they beat Earls Barton 4-2.

A great start from the visitors saw them open up a two goal lead through a second minute Wayne Richardson opener and Greg Ling effort five minutes later.

Sileby made it three after 64 minutes, Shaun Goodall the marksman.

Barton fought back with a Kris Hill goal after 72 minutes and Adam Bridgford penalty two minutes later.

But Rob Foster sealed Sileby’s progress a minute into added time.

Junior Cup holders Bugbrooke made it through to the last 16, but needed extra time to subdue Welford, their victims in last season’s semi-finals.

A 31st-minute Pete Smith goal had the Badgers ahead at the break, but Hilliard equalised six minutes into the second half.

Damon Black put Bugbrooke back in front after five of the extra 30 minutes but five minutes later Edge squared the tie for a second time.

Lance Allen gave Bugbrooke the lead for a third time after 114 minutes and their passage to the next round was sealed by Ryan Waldock four minutes later, making it 4-2.

In the UCL Premier Division, Long Buckby secured their fourth victory in six outings as they edged out Newport Pagnell 1-0 at Station Road.

A 19th-minute goal by skipper Mike Houghton won the contest for the reigning champions.

In division one, two second-half goals gave Bourne a much-needed first league win in 10 at the expense of ON Chenecks.

Chenecks looked the more dangerous side early on with Dan Cotton’s header from a corner cleared off the line and Elliot Muddiman’s dipping volley forcing Aaron Bellairs in the Bourne goal to tip over.

Craig Rook raced onto a clever Ben Easson pass to fire a cross shot just wide of the far post when Bourne replied.

Max Gray headed wide from Graham Cottle’s free kick while at the other end Jimmy McDonnell’s free kick was glanced home by Easson only to be flagged offside.

Tom Liversedge scored twice as Cogenhoe United saw off lower grade Potton in the UCL Knockout Cup.

Chris Reeves put Potton ahead 12 minutes in but they were pegged back five minutes later by a Chris Davies reply.

The Cooks took a 31st-minute lead through Liversedge, but a 42nd-minute Graham Tibbals goal had the sides on terms at the break.

Josh Urquhart gave Cogenhoe the lead again on the hour and five minutes later Liversedge scored his second to wreck the prospects of an upset.

Micky Adams defended John McCombe after a tackle from the Port Vale captain left Northampton’s Alex Nicholls with a broken leg.

“All my thoughts are with Alex Nicholls at the moment and everyone connected with Port Vale wishes Alex a speedy recovery,” said Valiants boss Adams.

“But I’ve just seen the tackle and it’s a genuine attempt by John McCombe to win the ball and it’s an unfortunate accident.

“John is distraught about it. He is as honest as the day is long and it was genuine attempt to clear the ball after Robert Taylor has put Chris Neal in trouble with the back pass.”

The game was delayed by 12 minutes while Nicholls received lengthy treatment in the six yard box in front of the Vale fans, a minority of whom could, disappointingly, be heard abusing the forward before he was taken to Northampton General Hospital in an ambulance which was allowed on the pitch.

Nicholls suffered a double compound fracture of his left leg, breaking both his fibula and tibia, and is set to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

It is a similar injury to that suffered by former Arsenal striker Eduardo

Tom Wood has urged Saints not to let their season fall apart after the 16-6 defeat to Premiership title rivals Saracens on Saturday.

Alex Goode’s first-half try and 11 points from the boot of Owen Farrell saw Sarries to victory at Franklin’s Gardens, knocking Northampton off the top of the table in the process.

It was a huge disappointment for Jim Mallinder’s men as they had enough possession to have won the game.

But they couldn’t make it count as Saracens showed their defensive steel, and Wood admits the loss was tough to take.

“We’re pretty disappointed on the basis we played a lot of rugby, put them under pressure and perhaps didn’t get our rewards,” said the flanker, who has now joined up with England ahead of the autumn internationals.

“But you’ve got to give credit to them. They defended well and put us under sufficient pressure for us to cough the ball up at crucial moments.”

And he added: “I guess we’ve got to try to stay positive, on the back of Saturday it’s pretty difficult. We feel like we’ve given that one away and choked a little bit on it because we had the run of play and so many positive things, especially in the first half.

“Although we were down at half-time, we were actually pretty positive in there. We thought this was going to come our way if we kept doing the right things. One counter-attack had killed us but we’ve got to keep our chins up, stay positive.

“It doesn’t get any easier away to Leicester this week but that’s the nature of the game. This is where we want to be: top flight, challenging at the top, so we’ve just got to keep our heads, keep working and not let it all fall apart on the back of one tough result.”

Saints were hit by first-half injuries to England stars Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes as well as Stephen Myler.

Wood acknowledged the loss of those players was a big blow, but insists Saints should still have had enough quality to claim victory.

“They’re pretty crucial to the way we want to play,” he said. “It does stretch your resources when you want to make tactical substitutions at the right times and when you’re forced into it that early in the game, it does affect things.

“But we’ve got strength in our side, we’ve got faith in that and we’ve got to play better in those circumstances.”

Northampton Town striker Alex Nicholls is recovering well in hospital after suffering a double compound fracture of his left leg in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Port Vale.

Nicholls, who was visited by club staff on Sunday, underwent surgery on Saturday evening to have an intramedullary nail inserted into his tibia, and that operation was a success.

He may need a skin graft later this week, but doctors will need to assess the wound before deciding how to proceed.

A Cobblers spokesman said: “We would like to thank supporters of all clubs for their kind messages towards Alex that have been posted on our official Facebook page, we will make sure they are passed on to Alex.”

Nichols sustained the injury scoring the opening goal when he was on the receiving end of a late lunge from Port Vale captain John McCombe which earned him a straight red card.

Nicholls is likely to miss the rest of the season.

His strike partner Adebayo Akinfenwa revealed on social networking site Twitter today he had spoken to the forward in hospital.

He tweeted: “Just spoke to Alex, op went well, still in some discomfort but his spirits are still high and he said to thank you all for the love and support he has received.”

Jim Mallinder has confirmed James Wilson is a ‘few weeks’ away from a return to action.

Wilson picked up a calf injury in the 24-15 Heineken Cup win against Glasgow earlier this month, forcing him to miss the recent games against Castres and Saracens.

The full-back’s absence, allied with Ben Foden’s ankle problem, had led to fly-half Stephen Myler starting at 15 for the previous two encounters.

But with Myler picking up a hamstring injury in the 16-6 defeat to Saracens on Saturday, Saints are likely to turn to Tom May for the east midlands derby at Leicester on Saturday.

“He’s a few weeks off,” said Mallinder of Wilson.

And on the subject of Myler, the Saints boss said: “Hamstring. Couldn’t continue. Sore, so we’ll see.”

England star Foden remains on the sidelines after damaging ankle ligaments in the win at Bath last month and he is expected back in mid-December.

And Mallinder says his first-choice full-back is continuing to make good progress after having surgery on the problem.

“(He’s) a few weeks away,” said the director of rugby. “He’s improving well and he’s making a good improvement.”

Cobblers boss Aidy Boothroyd has admitted he may be forced to delve back in the loan market to beef up his threadbare squad and add some much-needed experience to his young squad.

Saturday’s win over Port Vale came at a cost, with striker Alex Nicholls set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines having suffered a double compound fracture of his left leg.

With the squad already looking thin, and West Brom loanee Kemar Roofe heading back to the Hawthorns, boss Boothroyd said he is looking for some older heads to come in and guide his young team through a tricky period for the club.

He said: “I’ve got to have a look at things and see what we’ve got coming back. I think I’m right in saying we’re going to have both Chris Hackett and John Johnson back next weekend which is a big plus for us but we also need to make sure we can bolster other positions.

“Kemar Roofe has gone back and I didn’t really want to lose him but I had to free up a loan to get a more senior player in because we are quite youthful at the moment.

“I like to have a balance of seniority and young players as well as a balance of footballers and athletes.”
Some supporters expressed surprise at Roofe’s departure given the West Brom youngster has featured more than fellow loanee Henoc Mukendi, but Boothroyd explained the circumstances surrounding the Liverpool man’s stay at Sixfields were different.

He said: “Mukendi is on a different type of loan, they’re not the same arrangement so we’re keeping him and he’ll get his chance.”

With fixtures now coming thick and fast there is huge pressure on Boothroyd’s young squad to pick up points wherever possible and hang onto the coat tails of the division’s leading lights.

A winning run will see them there or thereabouts but a run of defeats could leave them looking precariously over their shoulders rather than onwards and upwards.

Boothroyd said: “It’s about hanging on to January to the pack and that result against Port Vale has gone a long way to doing that.

“We’ve got a break now and play Bradford in the cup next week which I’m really looking forward to and then we have got tough away games in the league at Accrington and York.

“Our away form in the league has been really poor for the standard of the player we have got now and it’s important we get some results, pick up some points and stay with the pack during what it going to be a hectic November and December period. We’ll dig in and get on with it.”

To help do that Boothroyd is looking to recruit an experienced player who can help add steel and knowledge to his crop of talented youngsters.

He said: “We need to get the senior players right and get some more in. We have got some good characters at the club and they are going to have to help the kids along and everyone’s going to have to step up that little bit more.

“Any player that comes in will be older than what we’ve got, but that’s not difficult because we are very young.

“We’ve got some decent players and we just need to get that blend and that toughness to get us through.”

A Mercedes driver with three passengers crashed in Northampton after police tried to pull him over.

Joshim Chowdhury, 19, lost control of the car in Wellingborough Road after a police chase of just 350 yards.

Rachel Law, prosecuting at Northampton Crown Court, said officers spotted the Mercedes in Billing Road at 2am on Sunday, July 8, and followed it before signalling for it to pull over. However, Chowdhury sped off before pulling over by the Abington Park Hotel and the occupants fled.

Chowdhury was arrested in the rear garden of a house near the County Ground after being tracked by police dog Guinness.

The teenager, of Margaret Street, The Mounts, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without a licence or insurance and failing to stop after an accident. He was sentenced to a total of 10 months’ detention and banned from driving for two years.

A motorist was held on suspicion of drink-driving after crashing his car into a Northampton pub, only to see his passenger also taken into custody after she allegedly lashed out at a police officer who came to their aid.

The 24-year-old man was arrested at the scene of the crash outside the White Elephant in Kettering Road at 2am on Monday. The motorist had lost control of a soft-top Renault vehicle and careered into a lamppost and traffic lights before colliding with the wall of the pub.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: “The two people involved were not too badly injured, they were a bit shocked and had cuts and bruises.

“The road was closed for a while and the traffic lights were out. Both people, a man and a woman, both aged 24, were arrested. The man was held on suspicion of being drunk in charge of a vehicle and the woman was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.”

The road was reopened after the wreckage was cleared.

A large rave was broken up in a barn in a village on the Northamptonshire border on Sunday afternoon.

Thames Valley Police, supported by Northamptonshire Police, stopped the large rave in Weston Underwood, near Olney.

Police were called to the event shortly before 1pm, following reports that around 1,000 people had gathered in large barn in the village.

Superintendant Barry Halliday, the Milton Keynes Local Police Area Commander, said: “As soon as we became aware of the rave together with our colleagues from Northamptonshire Police we responded promptly with a significant number of officers to ensure those numbers did not increase and we utilised our powers available to us to minimise disruption.

“Police do not consider this type of activity to be acceptable. It has caused a lot of concern among local residents as well as considerable traffic and parking issues.

“We fully understand the impact these types of events cause to our communities and will review the event and seek to investigate fully any offences disclosed.

“I am very grateful for the assistance provided by Northamptonshire Police and also the local community who have been effected by this unlawful activity.”

It is understood that a large number of people attended the rave after police had dispersed a second rave near Irchester Country Park just hours earlier.

The housing market in Northampton is still relatively buoyant .There are definitely some offices and areas of the market which are busier than others.

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An inquest due to be held this week will hear details of the final moments of a 30-year-old woman who died in a car crash in Northamptonshire.

Jessica Jeffels, from Daventry, died after her blue BMW Mini - which was travelling west along the A45 - crossed the road and then travelled down a grass bank before overturning and rolling into a ditch in the early hours of Saturday, April 28.

The crash happened close to the notorious Newnham turn-off of the A45. The car was found by a member of the public the following morning, and then the police and emergency services were called.

Police do not believe any other vehicles are believed to have been involved with the crash.

The inquest will be held at Northampton General Hospital on Wednesday morning and is expected to confirm that Mrs jeffels died as a result of multiple injuries sustained in the crash.

A bus driver was punched in the face during a vicious attack at Greyfriars bus station.

The driver was attacked while he was walking across the concourse of the bus station, close to bay seven, at around 2.40pm last Wednesday afternoon.

Three black men walked up to him and one became “extremely aggressive” towards him and shoulder barged into him, causing him to stumble backwards.
He then punched the man to the face, causing the him to fall over.

Police today said the two friends of the man then tried to restrain him while the victim got up, but the attacker then punched him in the face again before running off.
The bus driver, who was wearing his bus uniform, sustained a cut to the arm and bruising to his face.
The attacker was black, aged in his late teens and of thin build.

Back in the 1990’s, turn based strategy games were everywhere on consoles but most predominantly on the PC. They were 2D cartoony style due to the hardware limitations and lack of technological advancements available in that era.

One title that ruled the roost was XCOM: Enemy Unknown released back in 1993.

Developers Firaxis Games and publishers 2K Games have brought the game into current times upgrading graphics, strategic elements, upgrades and locations without compromising too much of the gameplay resulting in one of the best yet most frustrating strategy titles available.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown’s story remains the same, Earth is being invaded by extra-terrestrials complete with their UFOs and little green men and Earth has devised an elite unit to defend it called XCOM (extra-terrestrial combat).

After a walkthrough mission to help find the players feet, the game soon leaves you to your own devices which is where things become confusing and difficult.

The difficulty spikes with intelligent AI and difficult enemy types that at first you will know nothing about and what attacks they have in their arsenal.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown isn’t all about the field combat however, base management and global defence is key to success in this game.

Your starting base is but a few rooms including a hangar, engineer’s workshop, research lab and communications room among others to which you can visit each room at any time.

Research labs allow you to research new equipment, study alien life forms you encounter, create new weaponry and armour.

The engineer workshop then create these researched weapons and armour or health kits as well as build new rooms or labs.

Hangers allow management of your fleet of fighters which enable them to be kitted out with new payloads and the communications room allows you to view each country and monitor their panic levels and how much they are co-operating to your efforts.

On top of monitoring the world, you also have to sort out your squad of soldiers who you will be taking on missions.

It’s this micromanagement that brings the game down significantly, it’s stupidly easy to forget about some elements as you’re having too much fun going on missions.

It all requires a serious amount of thinking and management skills in order to go far in XCOM.

Going all out gunplay is cementing a course for failure, researching and building and helping other countries is important if you are to go far.

Missions range from rescuing abducted humans, taking out invaders to infiltrating and searching shot down UFOs and capturing a live alien to place in your newly built containment room and every mission is different which makes XCOM a wonder-what’s-next kind of game urging players to continue on.

You begin each mission from your ship directing each unit where to go and what to do.

If you direct a unit to go to a specific location and the patch runs through a door or a window, your soldier will burst right through it triggering a short cut scene.

Another cut scene is triggered when discovering a group of aliens and also when the player’s last turn is taken.

This makes missions more fun as it gives each mission a cinematic feel and highlights the games graphics.

The turn based gameplay remains and the aliens are very smart, luckily though the battlefields don’t grow to huge sizes so it’s easy to keep track.

The biggest frustration in XCOM is the levelling up system, you can level up a soldier to make them super soldiers and they will have all special abilities.

They can kill aliens with a single shot, they will be able to move greater distances and provide better cover, only to be shot by a single enemy and killed and once a soldier dies, they are gone for good.

This induces serious gamer rage at first but then you become less bothered about it and levelling up becomes less of an achievement.

The graphics could be better, they are by no means amazing but strategy games have not been known for their outstanding visuals.

Soldiers look bold and bland and only differ by their faces. You can alter how they look but this feature is useless, aliens look stereotypical as little grey men with lasers and the games locations don’t provide any detail.

Buildings are just blocks with doors and windows and vehicles are just obstacles providing nothing more than cover and explosions are not very exciting.

Air battles are shown as little illustrations rather than full on combat.

The visuals disappointed me profusely.

Summary

Firaxis and 2K Games have managed to bring a 1990s classic to present day with well thought out gameplay elements and updated visuals.

However, frustrations bring this game down somewhat along with its drab visuals.

Levelling up soldiers and customisation options are pointless time wasting activities and micromanagement is a pain.

Overally, the XCOM experience remains intact making alien busting a blast.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Developers: Firaxis Games

Publishers: 2K Games

Xbox 360®

Playstation 3®

PC

Genre: Turn Based Tactics

Release Date: 12th October 2012

Story – 3/5

Gameplay – 4/5

Graphics – 2/5

Overall – 3.5/5

A “significant” number of weapons, including hunting knives and crossbows, were stolen during a break-in in Moulton Park, police have revealed.

The weapon were stolen from a premises in Stafford Place, Moulton Park, sometime between 1.45am and 2.35am on Saturday.

The weapons included BB Guns, crossbows and hunting knives.

A police spokesman said: “Offenders broke into the property and stole the items, before making off in what is believed to be a white Ford Luton style transit van.

“They are unique items and are all traceable and officers are appealing for anyone with information about the burglary to contact them.

“They are also appealing for anyone who may have been offered any of the items for sale to contact them.”

Witnesses can contact police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.