Saints Implode as Vets Take Charge

Despite losing last week, Saints were buoyant due to a phenomenal second half performance, netting three goals in the space of 15 minutes. Head Coach Jamie Cluer shook things up with a change of positions for virtually everyone in the starting XI saying "we're a team of fantastic players who can play in any position; we're good enough to beat this Vets team and I believe this is the starting line up to do it. It is important, though, that we don't try and beat them with stick skills as they're a crafty bunch - we need to beat them with good position discipline and effective passing".

The first half was end to end hockey; City drew first blood scoring from a well placed drag flick at the first penalty corner of the game. Not long after, Saints too converted from their first penalty corner as Garth Mooney slotted home for a well worked routine. Once again City upped the ante as they went ahead again; and again it was from another penalty corner - flicking to the left corner as Rob Morris could only deflect it in from the underside of his stick. As play opened up towards the end of the half, Saints began to pile on the pressure and soon had their rewards. A swift and penetrating run down the right wing by right back Garth Mooney got Saints behind enemy lines, Mooney swept the ball across goal to find Bradley Forsdick who slotted home from 2 meters out. The City defense were up in arms to the umpire that it had come off his foot but the umpire was unmoved.

The second half couldn't have been more of a juxtaposition to the first for Saints. Whilst the first half St. Neots played good passing hockey, building up pressure before selecting the right time to attack; the second half saw Saints gift City the ball on a regular basis as well as miss many vital tackles. And when City went 3-2 controversially from yet another penalty corner Saints imploded. At one stage Saints were even down to 9 men as Garth Mooney and David Humphrey received green cards (Mooney for verbal dissent, Humphrey for hitting the ball away after a decision) sending them to the bin for 2 minutes each.

Time wound down on a frustrated St. Neots side. Once again they had lost a game in which for so much of it they were on top and for so many reasons felt should have won. 'Brave New St. Neots' didn't appear to brave or new today. However, Man of the Match was a bright spark in an otherwise disappointing performance.

Coach Cluer said after the game "yes we are a better team, but we played their hockey rather than our own. We responded negatively when things didn't go our way and started blaming everyone and everything but ourselves. Next week we must look after the ball better! However we do have Anthony Holmes, Darren Coles and veteran Nathan Read returning next week so despite today, prospects are good at SNHC".