Saints miss chance to stun high-flying Colts

Not for the first time this season, missed chances cost Saints dear last Saturday as they slipped to defeat against second-placed Dosthill.

Manager Luke Fogarty admitted he was “disappointed with the result, but not with the performance”.

He added: “We were the better team for long periods, but couldn’t score when we were on top. Dosthill are a big team that play a direct game, but we should have made our chances count and come away with a result.”

After a bright opening, Saints found themselves a goal down. A needlessly conceded corner was only half-cleared and Steven Ruck rifled in a shot from the edge of the box.

They might have drawn level in the 14th minute when Richard Robinson was clear on goal, but the referee blew for a foul rather than play advantage.

From the free-kick, the ball fell to Robinson again, but he wasted the opportunity, pulling his shot wide.

Ross Jackson then had a great chance, but struck his shot over the bar and another went begging when Quentin Townsend met a Jack Taylor corner, only to put his header wide.

Captain John Blunsom, who had been struggling with an injury, did not reappear for the second half, being replaced at left-back by Marc Passey.

Within seven minutes of the restart, Saints had another chance on goal when a move involving James Hardie and Robinson set up Tunde Ajibade, but he also failed to hit the target.

Jack Taylor’s cross-shot in the 59th was cleared for a corner and Saints were to rue the missed chances as they fell two behind in the 67th minutes from another half-cleared corner, Sam Wilson the scorer this time.

Dosthill then hit the bar before getting their third from a free-kick that was headed on to Rob Seal, who scored unchallenged.

Substitute Andy Millan headed just wide for Saints from a Robinson cross in the 83rd minute and, with time running out, Ajibade glanced in a header from Taylor’s corner to pull a goal back.

However, it was only a consolation as Dosthill closed the gap on leaders Heather St John’s to six points.

Saints take on Heather at Banbury Road tomorrow (3pm) with Fogarty looking to gain revenge for a 2-0 defeat earlier in the season.

“Heather are a side that like to play football and give you a chance to do the same,” he said.

They follow up with a trip to Castle Vale JKS on Tuesday night