Saints lose ground on leaders after surprising home defeat

With Midlands Combination Premier leaders Brocton surprisingly held to a 2-2 home draw by strugglers Castle Vale JKS, Saints missed an opportunity to close the gap at the top of the table on Tuesday night when going down 3-0 at home to Studley, writes David Hucker.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Oct 2013, 15:04 BST
Ben Tennant scored Southam Uniteds opener in their 2-0 win over Pilkington XXX on Saturday.Ben Tennant scored Southam Uniteds opener in their 2-0 win over Pilkington XXX on Saturday.
Ben Tennant scored Southam Uniteds opener in their 2-0 win over Pilkington XXX on Saturday.

After a bright start in which both Joss Holford and Marc Passey went close, Reece Hewitt put Studley ahead against the run of play from close range in the 21st minute.

He was unlucky not to double his tally on the stroke of half-time when his shot came back off the post and it took a good stop with his legs from Andrew Skerratt to deny Connor Deards, who was quickly on to the rebound.

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Saints started the second half the livelier of the sides and visiting keeper Richard Taylor twice denied Holford from well-struck free-kicks.

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But, as in the first, Saints faded badly and Deards beat Skerratt to the ball on the edge of the area to double the lead in the 82nd minute and Elliott Nash completed the scoring with penalty.

On Saturday, youth team graduate Ben Tennant set Saints on their way to a 2-0 victory over Pilkington XXX with a 21st-minute strike.

The visitors arrived at Banbury Road on the back of a big win over Nuneaton Griff the week before, but it was Saints who made the brighter start with Chris Wilson-King cutting in from the right and shooting across the face of goal in the second minute.

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Tennant opened the scoring when twisting and turning past the defence and cutting in to unleash a right-foot shot into the corner.

Wilson-King then shot straight at keeper Chris Mole from the edge of the area before Tom Muldoon’s driven cross was turned in by Simeon Smith after Mole had got a hand to the ball.

Smith was sent off shortly after for an alleged elbow but it was not until the second half that Pilkington piled on the pressure, with Grant Baker putting a shot wide in the 52nd minute and captain Gareth Davies chipping over from a free-kick.

Wilson-King then rattled the post for Saints and, at the other end, Andrew Skerratt saved Craig Oldfield’s free-kick.

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Mole had to be alert to keep out a Brad Rees shot, just tipping the ball over but Saints ran out worthy winners.

Tomorrow, Saints visit Littleton looking to repeat their recent 6-3 victory over the Worcestershire side in the Les James Memorial Challenge Cup.