Saints players as good as their text messages

After a disappointing run that saw them lose three of their last four matches, Saints bounced back to winning ways at Tiddington Road on Saturday with a comfortable 3-0 success that moved them back into the top half of the table.

In one of only three imoSports Midland Combination Premier matches played in a programme decimated by the weather, Southam needed to overcome some robust tackling from their struggling hosts to pick up a well-earned three points.

Reflecting on the win, manager Luke Fogarty said: “It was nice to bounce back after the recent defeats and I thought we played really well.

“We gave the lads time off after the last match and said to them to go away and think what they wanted to do with the rest of the season.

“We were bitterly disappointed with our performance against Continental Star, but I got a lot of text messages leading up to Saturday telling me that they were up for the match and would put things right.”

Saints took the lead in just the fourth minute when a great cross from the left by former Alveston winger Tunde Ajibade was headed home by Richard Robinson.

They doubled their advantage in the tenth minute as Andy Millan cut in from left and placed a low shot neatly into the far corner beyond the reach of debutant keeper Chris Sparrow.

It could have been three before half-time, as a good move involving captain John Blunsom and Ajibade down the left set up Tim Pole, but his shot was well saved by Sparrow.

Saints made it three in 63rd minute. A move started by James Hardie and man-of-the-match Mark Cheung saw Pole set up Millan for his second of the afternoon and 11th of the season in all competitions.

Alveston could have got one back as Saints took their foot off the pedal, but Quentin Townsend cleared off the line.

It should have been four for the visitors as, with three minutes remaining, Ajibade was brought down in the penalty area. However, his spot kick was saved just inside the post by Sparrow, with a defender completing the clearance.

Latest signing Luke Swinnerton, who joined in midweek from Racing Club Warwick, came on as a second-half substitute for Robinson. He had a good chance to make a dream start when finding himself in a shooting position 25 yards out but, leaning back, lifted his effort over the bar.

On the signing of Swinnerton, Fogarty said: “He’s been on my radar for over a year and I am really pleased to have signed him. He is the right stamp of player for us, is local and, at the age of 20, is young enough to learn and improve.”

Tomorrow, Saints travel to Coleshill for a tough match against second- placed Dosthill Colts, the first encounter between the two sides this season.

 Saints’ Coventry Telegraph semi-final against Kenilworth KH or Stockingford AAA will be played on Wednesday March 23 at the Allard Way ground of Coventry Copsewood (7.30pm).