NORTHAMPTON LIONS 2 NUNEATON 1

Nuneaton put in a spirited performance that almost earned them a valuable Coaching Solutions East Midlands Premier league point against high flying Northampton Lions before eventually losing 2 -1.

A draw would have been a fair result as Nuneaton matched the home team in every aspect of the game with what was actually an under strength Nuns first team.

Changes meant a new look defence for Nuneaton but it was well organised and kept the Northampton forwards at bay. This was backed up in midfield by tireless work from Dave Holmes amongst others. Although Northampton had the lion’s share of the ball, Nuneaton looked dangerous when they broke and the passing was fluid and caused the home side some problems although Nuneaton were ultimately finding it difficult to create shooting chances.

Half time saw the game still goalless and the second half continued in the same vein with both teams pressing and defending equally well. Eventually Northampton cruelly took the lead when they capitalised on a slip by a Nuns player that led to them breaking quickly with the away team out of position.

However, Nuneaton bounced straight back and won themselves a short corner. This was duly despatched by Ally JONES with a thunderous strike to bring the game back on level terms.

Unfortunately for Nuneaton this was not the final goal and in the last ten minutes they conceded a needless short corner that Northampton scored despite the attempts of the Nuneaton defence. Goalkeeper Hubbard almost saved it which would have added to several other good saves he had made already.

Nuneaton has a free week before their final league game and could still survive if the teams above them don’t get points from their game in hand. On this performance Nuneaton could still have a chance, although they are now relying on other results to go their way.

NUNEATON II 7 TAMWORTH II 1

This Coaching Solutions East Midlands Division One game proved a comfortable win for Nuneaton who played some really great hockey to maintain their fourth spot in the league.

Nuneaton took the lead after good work on the right from Roger Stokes who crossed for Jason TAPLIN to shoot low into the corner of the goal, and before long it was two nil, as the same player was again on hand to convert a right wing cross.

Chris JESSON thrashed home a third goal from a short corner, and Tamworth had no answer against a well drilled Nuneaton side whose fourth goal came from skipper Alan OWENS who received the ball from Taplin and slotted the ball through the keeper’s legs.

A fifth goal was added just before the break when Owens found Roger STOKES in the “D” and he smashed the ball past a diving keeper.

The second half saw Tamworth start much better and although they gave the home defence a few problems, they were unable trouble the home keeper.

Nuneaton continued pressing themselves and Chris JESSON found himself in the “D” and flicked the ball past the advancing keeper.

Tamworth did finally find the net themselves after a lucky deflection beat the home keeper, but Nuneaton's seventh and final goal came ten minutes from time with yet more good work on the right and Roger STOKES scoring his second goal of the game.

WARWICK UNIVERSITY III 4 NUNEATON III 1

Nuneaton made the short journey to second placed Warwick with only ten players but with more heart and desire than previous weeks and they made the home side work hard for their victory in this Coaching Solutions East Midlands Division One game.

The visitors fell behind after only five minutes when skipper Entecott was unable to stop a well struck penalty corner on the line, but they soon responded positively as Lapsley up front caused havoc in the students' defence to create several chances, forcing the University keeper into action.

The slick play and the extra player of the home side told eventually and despite excellent goalkeeping from Loveless, Nuns were three down at the break. In previous weeks the visitors would have accepted their fate but this week they tackled and ran for all they were worth and Warwick struggled to break them down.

From front to back the Nuneaton players did themselves proud, playing some excellent hockey in the process.

With the last hit of the game Nuns pulled a deserved goal back as Ken LAPSLEY slid the ball under the keeper and the visitors were left to consider what might have happened if they had competed with a full team.

NUNEATON IV 0 BEESTON VI 3

Nuneaton entertained old Coaching Solutions East Midlands Premier rivals Beeston in what is usually a close fought match.

For the majority of the game, this proved to be the case as both sides scrapped for midfield supremacy with the visitors just edging ahead at key times.

An early goal gave the home side the worst possible start, but urged on by a storming performance from Peter Sidwell, Nuneaton more than matched their opponents in most areas.

Unfortunately, there was little offensive penetration against a shaky Beeston back line and this proved costly as Nuneaton were unable to turn attacks into goals despite a hard working performance from the indefatigable Sid Orpin.

Ian Mason made some fine saves in his season’s debut for the fourths and the defence was solidly shepherded by Nev Holmes at sweeper. However, two careless errors presented Beeston with gift goals and gave the final scoreline a mildly flattering appearance.

As in previous games, Matt Pegg and Richard Morris showed great endeavour and no little ability against stronger more experienced players and are certainly benefiting from facing high quality opposition each week.

LEICESTER WESTLEIGH IV 5 NUNEATON V 1

As in the first fixture earlier in the season Nuneaton once again found themselves starting this Coaching Solutions South East Division Two match with ten men.

This time they were up against a Westleigh side heavily reinforced with players from higher sides in order to honour the fixture. Some early Westleigh pressure eventually led to a short corner which was converted with a good shot.

Five minutes later and the fifth team once again made a contribution with yet another own goal when a speculative cross was turned past Henry Casement by one of his own defenders. Shortly after this Nuneaton went to full strength but it made little difference to the play.

Just like the England Rugby team too many basic errors gave the ball away and it was no surprise that the home side added two more before half time.

Nuneaton did try to raise their game and despite an injury once again reducing them to ten men, they pulled a goal back from a well-struck shot by Jonathan TATUM. Five minutes later, Westleigh restored the difference with a very similar strike.

With just over ten minutes left four of the Westleigh players left the pitch to go to another game. Despite this, the hosts’ seven still managed to have more possession than Nuneaton’s ten. Instead of using the extra men to play the ball around Nuneaton insisted on running with the ball at the home defenders who simply took it off them and then hung on to it.

Such was Nuneaton’s ineptitude that Westleigh even had an extra man over in midfield at one point! Instead of capitalising on the opposition’s shortage, Nuneaton made it easy for them to hang on to what they had got and allow two more of their players to treat it as warm up for their next match immediately afterwards.

NUNEATON VI 1 BELPER VII 0

A terrific win for Nuneaton in this Coaching Solutions South East Division Two league match, against the side that were second in the table and needing a win to keep their promotion push on track.

In the earlier away game Nuneaton were well beaten and could have expected a similar result, especially as they were missing two of their most experienced players.

The match started with the home side in control and during the first ten minutes Belper hardly had a touch of the ball. During this time and in fact for all of the game acting captain, Troy Burton, put in an outstanding display breaking up opposition attacks and launching Nuneaton forward.

As the half wore on, the away side started to show their class and forced Nuneaton to concede much of their early possession, but with defences on top the half ended scoreless.

As the second half began Nuneaton managed to earn a couple of short corners and from the second, Andy Parker found Josh WAGG with a well struck shot and he deflected the ball past the keeper and over the line to take the lead.

This seemed to be the wake up call that Belper needed and they threw everything they had at Nuneaton, but time after time were beaten back by the combined efforts of the home defence. It seemed impossible but when the final whistle went Belper were still on the attack and Nuneaton succeeded in shutting them out to earn their best win of the season.

Throughout the match Tom Costello proved a constant thorn in the side of Belper, until his early departure. Sam Marston, Mark Lawton and Luke Horvath all put in sterling performances ably supported by Mike Parker and Chris Lynch, who almost made it two nil in the closing minutes