Scott Mahoney and Ian Tipples scored the goals as Saints IIs wrapped up their league campaign for 2012 with a 2-1 win over Bournville IIs.
Saints travelled for their last away game before the Christmas break. Conditions were tricky as a 3.45pm push back meant the pitch was starting to freeze over so players from both sides were struggling to keep on their feet.
Bournville opened the scoring somewhat against the run of play as a penalty corner routine was inadvertently deflected in by Saints defender Ally Rose. This really fired up Northampton as they then proceeded to dominate the rest of the half. The well earnt equaliser came shortly before half-time as midfielder Scott Mahoney drag-flicked the ball in directly from a short corner.
Other chances came and went for Northampton but half-time arrived with the scores level.
The second half saw Saints continue to press for the lead with midfielder and man of the match Sam Mitchell looking particularly menacing. Several chances came and went before the all important winner was scored by returning centre forward Ian Tipples, as he unleashed a rocket of a shot from into the bottom left corner of the goal, from another short corner.
This win leaves Saints placed nicely in second place, only missing out on top spot because of a inferior goal difference to league leaders Nottingham University.
Squad: Robin Sawyer, Ben Northedge, Tom Wightman, Lewis Ward , Ally Rose, Matt Gausden, Chris Reid, Dan Whittaker, Sam Mitchell, Jack Pogson, Dan Rose, Ian Tipples, Alex Blunt.
Saints IIIs 8 Coventry & North Warwick IIIs 2
Saints cruised to an emphatic victory with their highest goal tally of the season so far. Playing a rock bottom Coventry & North Warwick team who had beaten the second placed team, Boots, the previous week, Saints were aware that anything could happen.
Saints set the scoring going with Down scoring a rare goal, thumping in from the top of the D.
Not to be outdone, captain McIlwaine doubled the lead, knocking in from close range after some fantastic triangular passing.
In the second half, Gamble on a self-acknowledged goal drought was on hand to score the third.
The visitors got back into the game with a goal, and came close to an immediate second, after hitting the inside of the post. After weathering this period, mainly thanks to some superb saves from Powell, Saints got back into gear, Pibworth combining well with Gamble to finish. This was just seconds after missing a seemingly open goal. Gamble them grabbed his second of the match, scoring from close range. Just as Saints were cruising, Whitfield decided to try and take on the forward. Not a good idea when you are the last defender, and the Coventry player was grateful to take the ball and score his teams’ second. Whitfield did however redeem himself with two quickfire rockets from penalty corners.
Both accurate drag flicks too hot for the keeper.
Inbetween this, Pibworth was able to grab his second albeit via a large deflection off the defender.
Squad: Adam Powell, James Miller, Andy Dale, Andy Wade, Harry Stobart, Ian McIlwaine, Lewis Moran, Hugo Day, Luke Pibworth, Will Gamble, Nigel Down, Pete Riches, Danny Whitfield, Jon Noble, George Rockell
Belper IVs 1 Saints Vs 1
The first half was an even but very scrappy affair.
Both teams went into the break level with no goals despite various chances for both teams.
Saints started on the back foot in the second half and spent much of the earlier period in their own half, after soaking up much pressure from Belper Saints conceded a succession of penalty corners, one of which was saved of the line magnificently by Rob Tee.
Eventually one found its way though as the Belper forward rifled into the goal through Phil Preen’s legs.
After conceding saints seemed to kick up a gear and again enjoyed large amounts of possession using Harry ‘player of tomorrow today’ York lying in a holding midfield role to spread the play well.
They drew level with a goal that was scored by Rob Cary, after a few passes involving Dysko then Fin who played it through to Ed Arnold, whose shot was saved by the keeper and the ball fell to Cary who scored far post from a tight angle.
The remainder of the game was fairly even, but it can be argued that Saints had more opportunities to win the game, however the game ended at 1-1 which was well received by the players as a good result against Belper who are further up the league
Squad: Phil Preen, James Ruse, Ali Townsend, Rob Tee, Alex, Jeffery, Ed Arnold, Rob Cary, Jeremy Wan, Harry York, Fin Pickard, Tom Dysko
Ashby 2 Saints VIs 2
It is hard to say whether this game can be viewed as a point earned or two points lost as Saints fought back from a disastrous start to recover a two goal deficit and draw with bottom of the table Ashby who remain nine points below Saints - however that gap could easily have been 12. The team started well retaining possession and attacking down the left however what can only be described as school boy defending by a few school boys and others who should know better and Saints showed some early festive spirit by gifting Ashby a goal from their first foray into our half.
Worse was to follow as defenders over committed and a quick break saw Ashby go 2-0 up. To their credit Saints did not panic and continued to play possession hockey, not helped by the ice rink-like pitch, and as the half wore on the forwards started to make the runs that the sideline coach was demanding and chances started to be created with Gareth Voss and Darren Thorpe prompting from midfield.
From a corner the ball was slipped to Patrick Rowntree who, as he rounded the keeper, was bought down. However, despite the appeals for a flick the umpire played an excellent advantage to allow Mark Shepherd to slot home the ball. The second half again started with Saints dominating and an equaliser soon came when Jack slotted home a power shot from the edge of the D.
The second half was one way traffic with Ashby only getting into the Saints D once in the half but chance after chance went begging despite some good efforts from Joshua Pibworth and Patrick Rowntree.
In the end this was a win that got away but some of the attacking play in the second half was a joy to watch.
Saints VIIs 2 Belper VIIs 2
Saints travelled up to Belper for their final league match of the year.
Belper were just behind Saints on points in the league, so a close match was on the cards.
That wasn’t how it looked from the start.
The thirds had warned us of the ‘bobbly’ nature of the new pitch, and it definitely delivered.
Saints spent much of the first 10 minutes struggling to get hold of the ball and keep it under control.
Belper seized the advantage and piled on the pressure. Keeper Will Powell managed to get in on the act trying to deflect a ball away with his hand, sent it straight up in the air in front of him.
He then tried to kick it as is came back down but missed this too, eventually the ball bobbled in front of Belper forward who drew a conclusion to the comedy of errors by mis hitting the lively ball off the baseline.
A couple of minutes later Belper found space in a chaotic D to put away their first goal.
At this point Saints started to get a little more control of the ball and the game and started to make their own forays into the Belper half, with some great runs from both Michael Dicken and Owain Mahoney, supported very well by Tim Warburton.
Warburton had been working well to win the ball back from the midfield and was starting to find some space to lead some attacks.
A quick move down the right side of pitch found Rob Ellis near the top of the D, he drew the defence well and slipped the ball straight to Charlie Graham who finished well to bring the score level.
Going into the second half Saints started much more confidently, and Tim Warburton was pushing hard in attack to try to break the deadlock.
Having picked up the ball from midfield he was initially berated by his team for not releasing the ball early to Charlie who was waiting unmarked on the top right of the pitch, however Tim’s driving run into the D opened up the defence for the Saints forwards and Tim slipped a great pass through to Graham to give Saints the lead with his second goal of the afternoon.
Saints knew they needed to hold on to their lead and were trying to keep the Belper attacks out of the D, but some strong work from the Belper midfield found them in an attacking position and a mis-hit shot bobbled straight over the top of Will Powell as he ran out to make the clearance.
Saints worked hard to try and regain the advantage and had several good chances as the game wore on, the most significant was a shot that hit the post from debutant Rob Ellis.
Team: Will Powell, Tom Woodhouse, Martin Skinner, Nigel Riches, Tim Riches, Micheal Dicken, Tim Warburton, Jon Keep, Owain Mahoney, Charlie Graham, Rob Ellis
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