Bedworth United  0

Saints  2     Strutton 36, 87

Division One Central  (Saturday 21 January)

There was a brave Saints response to recent results as they bounced back to secure a remarkable win at the home of title-challengers Bedworth United. And none was braver than match winner Charlie Strutton who played for most of the game with a bloodied mouth and concussion after having a tooth knocked out after a particularly heavy early challenge.

Bedworth were Chalfont’s first opponents of the season back in August and were well worth the three goal win they took away from Mill Meadow. This was a good test of how much Saints have learned since then.

For the first 20 minutes Saints barely touched the ball as Bedworth, in only their second start of the new year, moved the ball around cleanly and pleasantly, without ever really threatening a resolute Saints defence. A good team is built from the back, and this was a day that found big Mark Oliver in imperious form in goal: assured handling and complete dominance of his area. This fed confidence to the back line and with Lewis Cumber giving a powerful performance despite the cloud of an early booking hanging over him, the four man line proved impregnable. Attacking from the back and defending from the front, Saints dragged themselves back into the game. Alan Hedley and Chris Mills at last exerted their influence in midfield and the somewhat basic Bedworth central defenders were often stretched and tormented by the mobile Charlie Strutton and Jamie O’Donaghue.

Bedworth were made to rue missing a simple headed chance after just 4 minutes as Saints were still settling in when a long ball down the left on 36 minutes turned the game on its head. Charlie Strutton took off like a scalded cat in pursuit, leaving Bedworth’s somewhat rotund skipper trailing in his wake, and gathered the ball before cutting inside and unleashed a powerful shot that flew into the far top corner.

Saints were in the ascendancy now but further misses by Strutton and Terrell Lewis before the break kept the home side interested.

Bedworth were forced to make changes to their frontline after the break but hardened resolve was the order of the day for the Saints defence. Anything in the air was comfortably dealt with by Oliver and with John Carroll and Jerome Okimo faultless on the left side, Cumber and Kyle Jeffery snuffed out any threat from the right. As the home side pushed forward in desperation Strutton beat their offside trap on 69 minutes but shot wide. Another break set up Chris Mills who found only the side netting. In between Mark Oliver pushed a shot over the bar.

A string of substitutions didn’t change things and Adam Louth shot just over. In the final minutes, Charlie Strutton was left in acres of space outside the area and he took advantage with a wonderful shot low into the corner that the keeper did well to touch for his second of the day to secure an unexpected but hugely impressive win for the improving Saints.

The lessons learned from opening day have been many and on this display, Chalfont have been excellent students.

Saints:  Mark Oliver, Lewis Cumber, Jerome Okimo, Kyle Jeffery, John Carroll, Alan Hedley, Terrell Lewis (Glenn Yala 76), Chris Mills (Luke Brook-Smith 82), Charlie Strutton, Jamie O'Donaghue (Daniel Tomlin 76), Adam Louth.

Star Player:  Lewis Cumber     Attendance:  140 

Saints  3   Ajayi 55, Guei 66, O'Donaghue 90+3

Northwood  3     Constant 27, 65p Walker 29

Division One Central (Saturday 14 January)

Saints had to come back twice from a two-goal deficit before snatching a late, late equaliser to share the points on Saturday.

The first 45 minutes saw the effects of an emotional hangover from Tuesday night's heroics against Wycombe Wanderers. Saints were lethargic, unable to string any moves together and were given the chase around by a Northwood side that were as lively as their colourful kit in the bright sunshine.

After having to reorganise following the early departure of Jerome Okimo, Saints failed to clear an aerial threat and Jonathan Constant headed the visitors ahead after 27 minutes. Still wobbling from that setback, Saints were again undone minutes later as Northwood showed just how a short corner can be worked and Romaine Walker wriggled free and scored from a narrow angle.

The break couldn't come soon enough for the punch drunk Saints, giving them a chance to re-group and get their game together.

Whatever Danny and his team imparted, Saints hit the ground running and they were soon back in the game as some brisk passing across the Northwood area picked out Adamson Ajayi in the area and a smart shot found it's target. Hints of the smooth passing started to show through as Saints turned up the wick but it looked as though they had self-destructed on 65 minutes as Walker broke through and was hauled down for a straightforward penalty award. Jonathan Constant made no mistake from the spot to restore the two-goal lead.

It didn't lasted only seconds as a defence splitting pass found Charlie Strutton who took the ball to the byline before crossing for Bedel Guei to squeeze a header inside the near post. The balance of play was swiftly moving towards the home side and as Chalfont pressed forward in search of an equaliser, so Northwood started to collect yellow cards, culminating in captain Ronayne Marsh-Brown seeing red after picking up two yellows for a minor offence, and then arguing over-enthusiastically.

Saints didn't give up the chase and with just 40 seconds remaining and 3 minutes of stoppage time alreadyplayed, a flurry of shots, blocks and saves finally saw Jamie O'Donaghue force the ball over the line to rescue an important point for Chalfont. 

Saints:  Mark Oliver, Lewis Cumber, Jerome Okimo (Kyle Jeffery 20 ), John Carroll, Bedel Guei, Adamson Ajayi, Alan Hedley, Daniel Hughes (Jamie O'Donaghue 64), Charlie Strutton, Chris Mills (Glenn Yala 71).

Star Player: Lewis Cumber      Attendance:  88