Saints’ run ends after Fife is left scot-free

Saints went to Brocton looking for their fourth league win in a row, but were undone by an 85th-minute goal by Gary Fife, after a hotly disputed free-kick.

Playing into a strong wind, Southam could have gone behind in the 26th minute when Fife drove a good effort goalwards, only for keeper James Stott to fling himself across goal to tip the ball away for a corner.

Tunde Ajibade got on the end of a long throw from John Blunsom, but put his shot over the bar and, with chances few and far between for both sides, the match remained goalless at the interval.

Saints had a scare in the 51st minute when a dangerous cross from Fife was cleared away for a corner, but came back strongly with Marc Passey and Andy Millan having shots saved by home keeper Mark Fleming.

Millan had another chance, but shot across the goal, and a good move involving Richard Robinson and Dave Wilson saw Millan’s shot blocked for a corner.

The game turned when Blunsom was adjudged to have committed a foul. With several Southam players still contesting the award, Brocton took the free-kick quickly. Saints were exposed and spare man Fife had all the time in the world to notch his 25th goal of the season, becoming the Combination’s joint-leading scorer in the process.

Manager Luke Fogarty was disappointed not to come away with at least a point, saying: “We rested a couple of players and Jack Taylor wasn’t available, but there wasn’t much to choose between the two sides and it always looked as if one goal could settle it.

“We didn’t create many chances against the wind in the first half, but I was happy to go in at the break all-square and we had enough of the play in the second period to have got a result.”

The Birmingham County FA have confirmed that, as a result of Cradley Town failing to fulfil their second round Midweek Floodlit Cup fixture, Saints have been granted a bye into the next round, with Cradley expelled from the competition.

However, due to the circumstances surrounding Cradley’s inability to raise a team of eligible players, no financial penalty was imposed.

Saints have beaten off competition from league leaders Heather St John’s to sign midfielder/forward Matthias Blake, who will be in contention for tomorrow’s visit to Pilkington XXX.