Saints rally to down Woods

Saints  2    Haule 50, Haugh 53

Northwood  0

Evo-Stik League South East  (Monday 2 April)

Match photos at:  https://flic.kr/s/aHsmheFafU

A quick double strike early in the second half was enough for Saints to see off a Northwood side whose winless run now stretches to 11 games.

On a soggy Easter Monday that saw only three games survive the conditions, Chalfont's Mill Meadow pitch was in good shape, if a little heavy.

Both sides struggled in the early exchanges, with Northwood defending in numbers. Lacking any realincident the first half ended with Jake Cass being substituted, having picked up a dead leg.

Danny Edwards shook things up for the second half, with substitute Brian Haule in a more central role and Louis Stead pushing further forward.

The change achieved the desired result as Brian Haule swooped on a mishandled save by Comas to sweep in the opening goal. Hardly had the celebrations finished before Stead sent a shot across the goal after a strong solo run. Positive work by Alex Paine set up Ryan Haugh for the in-form full back to quickly double the Saints lead.

Northwood regrouped and continued to defend in numbers and, coming up blank against the dominant Saints defence, it was a damage limitation operation until full time, but Chalfont's dogged pursuit of a play off berth continues.  

Saints:  Carl Dennison, Mark Goodman, Ryan Haugh, George Fenton, Alan Hedley, Jack Mullan, Max Holland, Alex Paine, Jake Cass (Brian Haule 45), Louis Stead (Adam Kirby 83), Victor Osobu (Rob Hastings 86).

Attendance.  101

Saints lose at Bedford

Bedford Town  2     Hartley 24, Benson 68

Saints  0

Evo-Stik League South East  (Saturday 31 March)

Saints:  Carl Dennison, Mark Goodman, Ryan Haugh, George Fenton, Alan Hedley, Adam Kirby (Brian Haule 67), Frankie Jones (Max Holland 79), Alex Paine, Jake Cass, Louis Stead, Victor Osobu.

Attendance.  238

Heartbreak as Saints held by last gasp goal

Marlow  1     Welch 90+5

Saints  1     Cass 47

Evo-Sik League South East  (Saturday 24 March)

Having survived a first half from which their hosts might have taken the lead, Saints failed to build on a lead taken soon after the restart and were punished with an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

With games beginning to run out and other teams digging out victories, Saints just need to win games, ugly if necessary. The first half seemed to be living down to that requirement, with play dominated by the offside flag and wayward passing from both sides. The Saints defence handled some lively Marlow attacking and Alan Hedley made a stupendous block form one effort and Carl Dennison made another as the home side threatened to grab a lead. Kamaron English saw his shot blocked by a teammate. Without the missing Alex Paine in the midfield, Saints struggled to prise any opening and Jake Cass and Brian Haule were left to feed on scraps at the other end.

A delightful through ball by Frankie Jones opened the second half well as it set Jake Cass free and his strike on the run flew high into the Marlow net. This injected a new mood into the game and with Jones moving out to the right flank, Saints offered much more of an attacking threat. Adam Kirby came on to steady the middle of the field and with both Ryan Haugh and Victor Osobu enjoying success down the left, Saints looked likely to extend their narrow lead. With Marlow continuing to probe the stalwart Saints defence, it was ever more important that Saints did find that second goal. Frankie Jones was denied by an instinctive block by Grant in the home goal before Jones turned provider only for Osobu to somehow hit the bar from inside the six yard box.

Marlow pushed forward as the game moved into stoppage time but Saints had the opportunity to run down the clock as the continued to find time on the ball but a failure to manage the last seconds saw Jay Welch fire in a last gasp shot from distance that curled in off the far post to break Saints' hearts.

Saints need to regroup quickly as they face a tricky trip to Bedford Town next weekend and then entertain Northwood at Mill Meadow on Easter Monday.

Saints:  Carl Dennison, Mark Goodman, Ryan Haugh, George Fenton, Alan Hedley, Frankie Jones, Louis Stead (Alex Lafleur 90+4), Jack Mullan, Jake Cass, Brian Haule (Adam Kirby 60), Victor Osobu (Remmel Clarke 84).

Attendance.  107

All square as Saints miss penalty

Saints  1     Stead 4

Hayes & Yeading Utd  1     Duku 5

Evo-Stik League South East  (Saturday 17 March)

Fixtures & Reports

Saints overwhelm Uxbridge

Saints  3     Cass 57, Jones 90, Haule 90+2

Uxbridge  0

Evo-Stik League South East  (Saturday 10 March)

Match photos at:  https://flic.kr/s/aHsmeaVXbZ

Saints may have left it late but ultimately they scored the goals their dominant performance merited to ensure they stay in the promotion chase.

From the opening minute when Jake Cass flashed a shot across the Uxbridge goal, this was always a matter of whether Saints could convert their superiority into goals. In the Uxbridge goal, Paul McCarthy was quickly looking to eat up the clock to disrupt the flow of the game.

In a first half in which Carl Dennison had a single save to make in the Saints goal, McCarthy was constantly under pressure as Jake Cass might easily have had a hat trick to his name but only had a shot off the bar to look back on. Victor Osobu, full of running and threat, but nervous as a kitten in front of goal, Saints went into the break with the score goalless but knowing it should have been so uch more one-sided.

Luke Maguire, hoping for a performance on his return to Mill Meadow, and Uxbridge's top scorer, Dylan Kearney, were comfortably contained by George Fenton and Alan Hedley. Ryan Haugh draws all the plaudits as he continues to shine on the left side, and the best work Uxbridge did was down the right where Mark Goodman was returning to match sharpness yet was still too strong for the men in sky blue.

Having spurned so many chances, there was always the risk of a banana skin for Saints but a breakaway on the hour finally saw Jake Cass finish superbly to open the scoring.

Dennison did well to push a shot over the bar as Uxbridge tried to get back into the game but largely looked resigned to defeat and battled to limit the damage.

Late subustitutiions had the effect to mixing things up as Saints pushed to extned their lead. New signing Brian Haule immediately caused problems with his more direct style and obvious presence and Frankie Jones slipped nicely into midfield.

In the last minutes, Louis Stead broke into the Uxbridge area and was brought down to win a penalty. Jake Cass' spot kick was pushed on to the post by McCarthy but Frankie Jones was quickly in and netted the loose ball from close range.

Within seconds, Brian Haule justified his signing with a snatch finish from a loose ball to put the cherry on top of another excellent Saints performance.

With confidence buoyed by excellent recent performances, Saints can look forward to an important game next weekend when Hayes & Yeading visit Mill Meadow. Both sides are challenging for a play off spot and Saints were comfortable winners when they two sides met in December. 

Saints:  Carl Dennison, Mark Goodman, Ryan Haugh, George Fenton, Alan Hedley, Jack Mullan (Adam Kirby 76), Mahlondo Martin (Brian Haule 83), Alex Paine, Jake Cass, Louis Stead, Victor Osobu (Frankie Jones 87).

Attendance.  78

Saints back on track

Saints  3     Cass 8, Hedley 23, Haugh 72

Hartley Wintney  1     Smith 32

Evo-Stik League South East  (Saturday 24 February)

Leaders edge out Saints

AFC Rushden & Diamonds  1     Lorraine 34

Saints  0

Evo-Stik League South East  (Saturday 17 February)

Saints made to pay for poor finishing

Saints  1     Clarke 6

Moneyfields  2     Wooden 56, 62

Evo-Stik League South East  (Saturday 10 February)

Cass keeps Saints on course

Northwood  0

Saints  2     Cass 87, Hastings 90+4

Evo-Stik League South East  (Tuesday 6 February)

Saints:  Carl Dennison, Frankie Jones, Ryan Haugh, George Fenton, Alan Hedley, Jack Mullan (Remmel Clarke), Max Holland (Rob Hastings), Alex Paine, Mahlondo Martin (Louis Stead), Jake Cass, Victor Osobu.

Attendance.  91

Haugh screamer seals Saints' comeback

Hanwell Town  2     Turner 16, C Duffy 36

Saints  3     Cass 60, Fenton 78, Haugh 87

Evo-Stik League South East  (Saturday 3 February)

Match photos at:  https://flic.kr/s/aHskBw3FbV

An increasingly confident Chalfont left it late to secure the points against a Hanwell side that had surprised even themselves by taking a two goal lead into the interval. A screamer from distance by Ryan Haugh finished the game with a flourish as Saints provided more evidence that they are genuine challengers for a playoff spot.

On another wet and grey day, Hanwell did well to get their pitch into a playable condition and after ten minutes of defending a string of increasingly desperate Chalfont corners they might have muttered some thoughts about the efforts of their excellent groundstaff. However, in what was their first real challenge on the Saints goal, they found themselves in front. They packed the Saints six yard box for a corner and as the ball bounced loose, Nick Turner attempted an overhead kick and sent the ball looping back over the Saints defence into the far corner. 

Saints were unfazed by the early setback and continued to dominate play; Victor Osobu and Max Holland both constant threats with the differing styles. A flashing shot from Osobu was well saved by Sam Bunting but again, it was Hanwell who found the back of the net with another set piece. A free kick into the area by Wayne Carter seemed to be set to go out of play but somehow hit the back of Calum Duffy's head and rolled agonisingly slowly over the goalline.

By now Hanwell were playing the officials as much as their opponents and early in the second half, three further yellow cards led to the referee giving Carter a very obvious warning and, thereafter, much of the spirit went out of the Hanwell challenge.

Saints stayed true to their plan and played with a confidence in their ability to turn the game around. It started on the hour as Jake Cass sent a looping shot over the keeper from the edge of the area. Stronger and stronger, Saints were able to push players forward and George Fenton levelled the scores with his first goal of the season with a powerful header from a free kick.

The deciding goal seemed inevitable and it came in the final minutes with a perfectly struck shot from distance by Ryan Haugh.

Late appearances from the bench by Jack Mullan and Remmel Clarke, both returning from injury, were a boost as Chalfont face a run of challenging games against sides above them in coming weeks.

Saints travel to Northwood on Tuesday before taking on the stuttering Moneyfields at Mill Meadow next Saturday.

Saints:  Carl Dennison, Luke Appleton, Ryan Haugh, George Fenton, Alan Hedley, Frankie Jones, Max Holland (Remmel Clarke 90+1), Alex Paine, Mahlondo Martin (Rob Hastings 83), Jake Cass, Victor Osobu (Jack Mullan 90).

Attendance.  97