Free-scoring Church justifies Fogarty’s faith

Man-of-the-match Luke Church fired a hat-trick as Luke Fogarty’s free-scoring side maintained their 100 per cent start to the league campaign, writes David Hucker.

Fogarty was full of praise for Church’s all-round performance saying: “I am pleased for Luke as he is one of a number of young, local players who are beginning to show what they can do here.

“He found it hard to break into the team last year, starting half his matches on the bench. But, he came good at the end, scoring in the cup final at the Ricoh and has carried his form into this season.”

With 11 goals in the bag, Saints are the league’s highest scorers and the win moved them up to second place behind Bolehall Swifts, who inflicted the first defeat of the season on Coventry Copsewood to regain top spot from Castle Vale JKS.

Mark Briggs made his first start for the club in place of the suspended John Blunsom, with Quentin Townsend donning the captain’s armband.

Saints made a bright start, with Beard going close from a Jack Taylor corner after just two minutes.

Good runs by Church and Josh Cole also nearly ended in goals, but it only took until the 20th minute for Saints to get the opener when Church pounced after the Wood keeper Adam Dennant had fumbled a Taylor free-kick.

Saints claimed a penalty two minutes later when Robbie Beard went down in the box, but the referee waved play on.

They soon got their second, however, as Brad Rees headed on a cross from Tunde Ajibade to the feet of Beard and the former Leamington hitman made no mistake.

Ajibade was again involved in the third, setting up Church, whose powerful shot beat Dennant to give the home side a comfortable cushion at the interval.

Wood pulled a goal back through Mark Bandurak six minutes into the second half, but Church soon restored the three-goal advantage following good work by Ajibade and Beard.

With the Southam defence failing to clear the ball, Scott Cooper got Wood’s second in the 54th minute and Rees should have made it five for Saints, but shot tamely wide.

Tomorrow, Saints are away to Malvern Town in the FA Carlsberg Vase. Town play in the West Midland Regional League, the same level as Saints, and currently lie in 12th place.

A coach will be leaving the ground at noon and the fare is £5.

Bookings can be made through Charles Hill on 07802 949781.