Saints signed off their pre-Christmas league campaign with a 2-1 win at Edgbaston.
The Northampton side travelled to Birmingham knowing that a win would be enough to secure seventh place going into the mid-season break.
After disappointing results against West Bridgford and Rugb,y Saints were hoping for a better result against their nearest rivals.
Saints dominated Edgbaston from the start creating many chances while Croutear, Cory and Scott held firm at the back.
Saints were very unlucky not to go ahead after Christian Howard had a goal disallowed but kept pressing until the half time whistle.
It was disappointing to go into half time level, however Saints knew a similar performance in the second half would be good enough for the win.
Saints took the lead after they won their second short corner of the game after good work by Martyn Cory. Ben Scott drag flicked home for 1-0.
Five minutes later Saints doubled their lead after Steve Williams made some space for himself in the D before firing into the bottom corner.
Edgbaston started to pressure Saints for the first time with 15 minutes to go, but found it hard to break the Saints back line.
Tireless work from Kopka, Saunders and Press meant Edgbaston had to rely in firing balls into the D in order to win short corners.
With five minutes to go Edgbaston pulled a goal back though a deflected short corner which meant a nervy end of the game for Saints.
Paul Madeley in the Saints goal made some vital clearances as the ball was pinged into the Saints D before the away side eased the pressure with some well places aerials.
The result leaves Saints in seventh with five wins, one draw and five losses going into the mid season break.
They are four points better off than this time last year.
Saints IIs 3 Warwick University IIs 1
Saturday’s game was a must win.
That isn’t because we wanted to continue a winning streak, nor was it because we so desperately want to not only get promoted, but top the table.
Neither was it because we wanted to just beat Warwick University so much!
This match carried high emotional value to the club and players, for this day marked a decade since the tragic death of one of former Saints and Lions player and coach; Clive Terrett. Saints initially found themselves on the back foot of an energetic student side.
The one reason why they did not concede in those decisive opening minutes of the match was due to our verbal feedback that was consistent throughout the entire team.
Lewis Ward organised the defence of Tom Wightman and Ben Pikey Northedge. It was then our turn to capitalise on an important 10 minutes of the match where Saints seemed to dominate.
Three short corners were gifted to the team, two of which were comfortably slotted home by James Knibbs.
Needless to say the short corners looked highly drilled and incredibly choreographed beginning with Dan Whittaker’s injections all the way through to Alex Blunt and Dan Rose’s manoeuvres timed to perfection. Other notable chances came and went throughout the first half, whether it being Dan Rose in his attempt to lob the keeper or Scott Mahoney weaving the ball in and out of the University defence. The defence and goalkeeper Sawyer were yet to experience the opposition’s short corner routines and were riding high on 35 minutes with a clean sheet. The second half came and Warwick were enjoying a prolonged period of pressure, however Saints defence held firm, despite losing centre back Lewis Ward to injury. The final nail went in the coffin when Sam Mitchell confidently picked the ball up just shy of the half way line and ran the ball, with the help of a few one-twos here and there, all the way up to the ‘D’ and slotted a precise and devastating final blow to the opposition’s pride and morale. Whilst Warwick attempted a comeback with a late short corner goal, the fate of this match was nothing but over.
Squad: Robin Sawyer (GK), Ben Northedge, Tom Wightman, Lewis Ward, Chris Reid, Dan Whittaker (c), Matt Gausden, Sam Mitchell, Scott Mahoney, James Knibb, Jack Pogson, Dan Rose, Alex Blunt
Belper IIIs 4 Saints IIIs 2
Saints needed to be on top form as the travelled to Belper, the league leaders.
A fast start from both team showed promise for a hotly contested match. Belper were down to 10 soon in to the match, and Saints were able to create a couple of half chances.
Despite fighting hard Belper took the lead with a well taken penalty corner.
Soon after this Belper doubled their lead with a shot deflecting in off Hillier’s stick.
Saints went close to pulling a goal back but Nick Beattie in front goal pulled the shot wide. Powell had to be alert with multiple saves and clearances required to keep the score down.
In the second half Saints struck first. Whitfield’s penalty corner was saved into the path of Beattie who gratefully lifted the ball into the goal. As Saints pushed for the equaliser, a few mistakes started to creep in.
During a five-minute period, Belper struck twice, one via the helmet of Powell.
Saints then started to dominate the Belper half, O’Donnell in particular showing great skills. Saints were finally rewarded with Riches taking a quick free hit and launching the ball at the goal for Luke Pibworth to deflect in.
Time finally ran out and despite losing, Saints will be greatly heartened by a much improved performance.
Special mention to Nigel Down who distributed well throughout the game and also to the umpires for a great performance.
Squad: Adam Powell (GK), George Rockell, James Miller, Jason Hillier, Andy Wade, Harry Stobart, Ian McIlwaine, Lewis moran, Hugo Day, Luke Pibworth, Lee O’Donnell, Nigel Down, Pete Riches, Danny Whitfield, Nick Beattie
Saints IVs 1 Leek IVs 1
The game against Leek was the furthest away match that Saints have to play this season.
On arrival the team seemed in good spirits but with a wee hint of nerves, as they knew this was a big match as it was league leaders versus second.
Right from the off it could be seen that this was to be a titanic struggle, with both teams exchanging attacks.
The first chance for Saints fell to Chris Godman who received a deflected cross from the agile work of Elliott Wilde to only blast the ball well wide.
The first half ended in stale mate due to some resilient defending from the stern back four of Rob Tee, Steve Morris, Jim Phipps and Matt Candler and the spritely saves of Scott Bashford.
The second half started in much the same fashion with both teams almost cancelling one another out in the middle of the field.
Deadlock was broken when Saints went 1-0 up.
The move started when one of the Leek midfielders lost the ball in the middle of the park and for the skills of Luke Howard to carry the ball up to towards the D.
He then slotted an inch perfect ball through to the on rushing Dave Henry who hit a first time reverse stick shot underneath the Leek keeper.
Saints unfortunately went down to 10 men for about five minutes due to an appallingly lifted ball into the D that struck the hand of Steve Morris. This incident lead to the build-up that allowed Leek back into the game. With a scramble in the D Leek managed to level the score.
All in all a fair result 1-1 and this leaves Saints unbeaten but dropping their first two points of the season.
Saints IVs 1 West Bridgford 6 West Bridgford stormed into an early 3-0 lead in this morning match at Caroline Chisholm.
Just before half time they added a fourth.
Saints did threaten the Bridgford goal however they failed to take the chances that came about.
The second half saw Saints playing for pride which they did in fine style and despite conceding a fifth goal they mounted some excellent attacks and from one nice passing move started by Ricard Pryce the ball was moved into the D and slotted home for his debut goal by Jack Knight.
More pressure followed however a good break saw West Bridgford score a sixth.
Saints VIIs 2 Derby Asterdale 2
A cold wet saturday afternoon greeted the Saints.
The match was already a win as far as the league were concerned as Derby Asterdale were unable to raise a full side.
Several players from the Saints VIs stayed on to play a second game and give a good healthy boost to the Derby side making for a tough game for the VIIs.
Saints started shakily, with Derby running rampant in the midfield for the opposition.
This early pressure gave them a clear chance to get the first goal for the visitors.
Saints woke up at this point and started working together to start moving the ball up the pitch.
Owain Mahoney worked very hard on the left, to pick up the defensive effort from midfield and start creating some attacking moves.
Michael Dicken on the right side of the pitch was gaining confidence by the minute and started making some fantastic attacking runs and crosses into the D.
Eventually one of these runs found Nigel Riches with some space to place a clean shot and and bring Saints level.
On the break Derby managed to work his way into space in the Saints D and struck a fantastic shot into the bottom corner of the goal just a few minutes before half time.
The second half saw quite a lot of end to end action, with both teams stringing together good penetrating attacks, but neither able to find the finish, until Owain Mahoney found space at the top of the D to wind up a big strike straight through to the back board. The scoreline remained at 2-2 until the final whistle.
Team: Jake Bennett (GK), John Bennett, Ian Street, Martin Skinner, Lee Thompson, Jon Keep, Rob Scott, Micheal Dicken, Owain Mahoney, Paul Yates, Nigel Riches
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