Teddington Athletic 1 Guildford Saints 10

Wow - another fantastic win for the Saints made it a bumper weekend for the boys. Here's Kevin's Match Report;

"Where to start with this match report? Saints lost Ben to injury overnight but were boosted by the return of Ross for this game (thanks to Julie and Dave for their understanding over this!). Mike D was still carrying an injury, which meant poor old Matt had to cover the centre back role which he did with great discipline - I don’t know what we would do without our Mr Versatile sometimes... special thanks to Matt who has been a great addition to our squad this season.

Maybe due to yesterdays game we looked really out of sorts to start with or maybe credit to Teddington who worked extremely hard to deny us time and space on the ball right from the first whistle. Within eight minutes we went 1-0 down when we failed to clear our lines and the ball was worked back out to the edge of our box for a Teddington player to rattle a shot past Josh. Even this goal did nothing to spark us to life with misplaced passes continuing to go astray, poor decisions being made and a total lack of any rhythm. Tom R was lively but was having no joy at all and, to be honest, it looked like another upset was on the cards. Nathan picked up an injury midway through the half which meant Mike D having to come on and anchor the midfield. Slowly we started to put moves together but without any cutting edge. Josh kept us in the game with a couple of fine saves. Saints did however eventually work an opening and Alex M fired in to level after half an hour. Towards the end of the half Saints were awarded a penalty when Julien tried to lift the ball over a defender's head which resulted in the Teddington player hand balling it. Alex stepped up and fired in to make it 2-1 - in all honesty a lead that was not really deserved at half time!

A tough half time team talk about playing against a team trying to deny time and space by using the ball much quicker with one touch passing and making the opposition chase shadows had a desired effect and we suddenly looked much stronger. Joe came on for Chris at right back but within minutes had to move to right midfield as Seb pulled up with cramp, meaning the return of Chris to right back. Suddenly we looked really bright. Connor was putting in a huge shift in midfield, Ross was raiding down the left, Julien was starting to take his man on more and Joe was showing a real turn of pace on the right which was rewarded when he raced onto a through ball after giving the defender a 10m start and finished well for 3-1. This goal seemed to deflate Teddington and we started to rattle the goals home. Alex M completed his hat trick with a great header from a Matt Burton corner. Ross stroked one home after a Julien dummy. Joe got his second and then a third for his hat trick. Ross then volleyed into the top right corner before Tommy R got into the act with a late goal. And there was still time for Martin to add the team's tenth when he finished a flowing move with a stunning left foot shot into the top of the net. Josh made a couple of smart saves right at the death as we looked a bit gung ho and Ross also cleared one off the line when Josh dropped a corner but really we totally outplayed Teddington in the second half.

I don’t really know if was a bit of left over’s from yesterday but we need to recognise when we should change tactics. The boys also need to believe in themselves more, they are all great footballers with good touch and vision, in fact we are a team full of football, and when we play like we did second half there are not many teams that can live with us. Having this belief will take us keep in the running for a league and plate double.

Special mention must be made for the displays of Matt and Connor today. Matt again playing out of position but doing so with discipline and Connor who, at last, today showed just what a fine footballer he is - his clever juggle and volley was worthy of a goal! Well played lads."

Man (Men) of the Match: Joe Richards & Alex Mattock

Guildford Saints 4 Knaphill Wanderers 0

A great win for the Saints puts them right back in contention at the top of the Premier Division. This is Kevin's match report;

"Saints played their first league game since mid November and, after last week’s match where we were a bit rusty and with a Plate game on Sunday, this was going to be a pivotal weekend. A win against Knaphill would increase the gap between us to 6 points and close the gap on Staines - putting us back in contention for a possible league and plate double.

However we were missing a few players through injury and unavailability and we only had 11 players plus Alex Oldland from the Blues to start the game (Joe Richards would turn up at half time). Despite this the boys settled to the task well and took the game to Knaphill with Tom R and Seb looking particularly lively and it was Tom who had the first chance but unfortunately he screwed his shot wide. Moments later it was Seb who opened the account when collecting a neat pass from Connor he turned, took his defender on and buried his shot past the 'keeper. Knaphill tried to play football but the Saints midfield and defence looked really solid with Nathan Barnes was having an excellent game.

Saints pushed on but a number of chances went begging. Eventually though a great shot from Tom pinged back off the post to Seb who scorched shot past the 'keeper for 2-0. Matt then started to adventure up field a bit more from left back and from the corner of the box he unleashed a shot which was handled by a Knaphill defender. Usual spot kick taker Alex M let Seb take the penalty for his hat trick which he duly converted and it was 3-0. Seb then got injured and Alex O came on to cover for a few minutes before half time.

In the second half the Saints looked to be in complete control with Martin, Ben, Chris and Matt dealing with everything comfortably at the back. Nathan, Alex, Julien and Connor were controlling midfield - although at times we were dwelling on the pass after doing the hard work. Knaphill though did manage a couple of clear chances but Josh stood up well and maintained a deserved clean sheet. We had a great chance too but Martin flashed a header just wide. Joe came on for Connor and looked to run the right back which he did a couple of times to good effect and with five minutes left we were treated to a great goal by Saints. From a Knaphill set piece Matt picked the ball up and played a neat pass to Tom R who combined superbly with Alex on the half way line to spring the offside trap before a surging run down the left before an inch perfect pull back for Alex to shoot home. This was a delightful goal with passes being played first time to feet and at speed.

This was a good solid display today - but this is only half the target for weekend completed. We need to carry this form into tomorrow’s Plate match and then we can look forward to a quarter final against either Fleet Town Colts or Perrywood Sports at home."

Man (Men) of the Match: Nathan Barnes & Seb Edwards

Tough draw for Blues

Guildford Saints Blues have been drawn away to runaway Division Four leaders Feltham Blues in the Quarter Finals of the SPL Junior Cup. Ties to be played on Sunday 7th February 2010.

Guildford Saints Blues 2 St Francis Sports 0

How good to finally get back to playing football again after all the recent postponements!!

The conditions today, however, were excellent as the Blues looked to continue their recent good form against local rivals St Francis. For most of the lads this was the first time that they had kicked a ball in six weeks and as you would expect the first half was a bit scrappy. Ellis was the exception - the young Nigerian took up some excellent positions and was the fulcrum of some of our best attacking play until he was injured midway through the half. Scott was lively upfront and should have scored when put through but was clearly caught in two minds before fumbling his shot straight at the 'keeper and Jack could have given us a deserved lead late in the half but a poor first touch saw the ball again softly played into the 'keepers arms. To be fair St Francis looked quite lively themselves, quite often stretching us through the midfield with some excellent one touch play in triangles but they will rue their poor final balls because essentially Nathan had very little to do in the first half.

In the second half Nathan was called into action as he excellently tipped over a great St Francis free kick and Tyler, who came on as a second half sub, slotted in nicely beside Jacob who was his usual commanding self. Midway through the half we eventually broke the deadlock when the returning Ellis capped a Man of the Match performance with a superb finish from the right hand corner of the area, curling a shot passed a despairing St Francis goalkeeper. Ten minutes later Ed Davis converted a penalty - awarded for hand ball - to wrap the match up 2-0. St Francis did put the ball in the back of our net right at the death but it was ruled out for offside.

Overall - an A+ result for a B+ performance. At times we looked very comfortable and attacked with some pace and good variety but at other times we gave the ball away cheaply and left our defenders stranded and at times outnumbered. Against the stronger teams in the division we would probably have conceded but fortunately we got away with it a bit today. We must defend better as a unit and keep good shape... no doubt this will start to come back as we start to play more regularly again. I was very pleased with Ellis today but also Chris Smith who played very confidently at left back as is beginning to supply some dangerous set piece ball as well as tackle more strongly. Well done boys!

Man of the Match - Ellis Wilcox

Rushmoor Saints 1 Guildford Saints 1 - Saints win 3-1 on penalties

A close call for the Saints today but they eventually ran out winners in the SPL Senior Plate after a penalty shoot out. Kevin recaps on a very nervy Cup tie;

"This was the first match for longer than I can remember... and it had to be a Cup match against a side whose league position mirrored ours in, and in full knowledge of what happened last time in the Cup against opposition from a lower division!!!

This time, however, even though we looked rusty, we still moved the ball well and were camped in Rushmoor’s half for most of the first 40 minutes and created a number of chances to open the scoring through Tom R, Nathan, Julien and Alex M but we either pulled the shot, shot at the 'keeper or were a little wayward. Then we got a shock as for the first time Rushmoor spilt our defence and as is typical in Cup football they got one chance... one goal!

Frustration began to set in - Seb was raiding down the right (after Jamie came off injured), Julien down the left, Alex, Mike and Nathan were pulling the strings in midfield and still we could find no way through. Chris, Ben, Martin and Matt were really comfortable in defence and Josh had little to do.

The second half had more of the same - waves of pressure and still no return. Connor had come on for Nathan and had a cracking shot that hit the post but rolled to safety. Joe R - on for Chris - had a couple of efforts on goal but with no luck and with time running out it looked like it was just not going to our day. Still though the boys kept plugging away and creating chances and Rushmoor just kept sticking a leg in the way or a chest in the way or the 'keeper making fine saves. Finally, with just eight minutes to go Tom was played in and this time kept his shot low and gave the 'keeper no chance. 1-1 and extra time.

In extra time the play began to slow down but I think we still looked the stronger and so it was again we wasted good efforts and only had one scare when Josh stood up to the shot and turned it round the post. Towards the end we were camped in their penalty box, taking corner after corner but we still could not force the winner, so it was on to penalties to decide the result.

First up Alex M who stuck his away with his usual aplomb even though it brushed the post. 1-0 Saints
Rushmoor then scored giving Josh no chance 1-1
Up stepped Tom R who lashed his in 2-1 Saints
Rushmoor again but this time Josh got both hands to it and turned it away 2-1
Matt Burton then took a great penalty giving 'keeper no chance 3-1
Rushmoor again and again Josh saved. Still 3-1 Saints
Mike D up next but he slipped and his shot went wide. 3-1
Finally Rushmoor with the "must score" penalty but Josh completed a goalkeepers "hat trick" with a marvellous save and it was final result 3-1 Saints.

Overall a bit laboured today but under the circumstances of not having played or trained it was a fine performance and good result."

Man of The Match - Josh Betts

Training Off - Thursday 21st January

Training is OFF again this Thursday, I'm afraid. The RGS have deemed the surface to still be dangerous despite the recent thaw. We are hopeful that we will be able to train again the following week - Thursday 28th January - which is a BLUES training session.

This weekend's matches should go ahead though - please check back for match details from Thursday.

Matches Postponed

BOTH of Sunday's matches have been postponed due to the unplayable pitch conditions at the moment.

Training at RGS on Thursday 6.00-7.00pm for the SAINTS squad.

Training Off - Thursday 14th January

Due to the continuing icy conditions this Thursday's training session for the Blues squad at the RGS has been cancelled.

The next training session will be on Thursday 21st January at the RGS from 6.00-7.00pm and is for the SAINTS squad.

Kick off times have now been confirmed for Sunday. Saints play at Rushmoor with a Midday KO and the Blues play at City with a 2.00pm KO.

Keep checking back to make sure that the games are on!!

Snow Go!

It's no go for the Under 15s in 2010 so far! This weekend's matches have been postponed and with a prolonged cold spell forecast we may not see any football for some time. Keep checking back for updates...