Women’s 2s Shine on Tough Weekend for Saints

The Women’s 2s were the bright spark on a challenging weekend for the club, securing an impressive 4–1 home win over Wisbech 2s. Elsewhere, narrow defeats and heavy losses proved frustrating, with both first teams beaten despite spirited performances.

It was a difficult weekend across the club, but the Women’s 2s provided a welcome highlight with a convincing 4–1 victory over Wisbech 2s at Northstowe College.

Wisbech struck first, taking the lead ten minutes into the contest, but Saints responded well. Sue Glover levelled the scores, before Ness Wilson fired Saints ahead to give the hosts a 2–1 advantage at the break. The second half saw Saints take control, with Glover adding her second of the afternoon early on. Hayley Doyle then wrapped up a deserved win to cap a strong all-round performance.

The Men’s 2s saw their impressive unbeaten run come to an end in a dramatic encounter with fellow promotion contenders Bourne Deeping 2s. After a tight, goalless first half, Saints made the breakthrough early in the second period when Chris Butterworth converted from a short corner. Pressure continued to build, and captain Owen Edwards reacted quickest in the D to make it 2–0.

However, Bourne Deeping responded with two goals in quick succession to level the scores. Both sides pushed hard for a winner, but it was the visitors who struck late, scoring with just two minutes remaining before adding a fourth from a short corner at the death to seal a 4–2 victory and move clear at the top of the table.

Both first teams endured heavy defeats. The Men’s 1s went down 7–3 at home to Bourne Deeping 1s. Saints found themselves three goals down early on before Nick Hipwell pulled one back. Bourne continued to punish Saints from short corners, but quick goals from Brad Forsdick and Jake French brought Saints back to 4–3 at half time. Despite the fightback, Bourne’s short-corner efficiency told in the second half as they added three more goals.

The Women’s 1s were beaten 5–2 away at Spalding 1s. The hosts raced into an early two-goal lead, but a penalty corner strike from Amy Wilkinson either side of the break, along with a Spalding third, kept Saints in contention. Two late goals from Spalding eventually sealed the result.

Away from home, both third teams suffered heavy defeats without scoring. The Men’s 3s lost 5–0 to Cambridge City 5s, while the Women’s 3s were beaten 8–0 by Oundle 1s.

In the final home match of the day, the Women’s 4s were narrowly edged out 3–2 by City of Peterborough 5s. Ness Wilson and Sue Glover were again on target, but Saints were unable to find an equaliser despite a strong finish.