Further dampener for Saints

Although playable 48 hours earlier, the Banbury Road pitch was deluged by the storm that hit the country on Friday night, making the decision to call off the match inevitable.

Manager Lee Knibbs called in his players for training on the Southam College all-weather pitch ahead of the reserves’ Stratford Nursing Home Cup tie in the afternoon.

Saints were due to visit Bolehall Swifts for a Les James Memorial Cup quarter-final on Tuesday, but the hosts were involved in a much-postponed County Midweek Floodlit tie and, weather permitting, Southam will now go to Tamworth next Tuesday.

But, before that, they travel to Blackwood tomorrow, hoping to complete the double after the 4-1 win at Banbury Road back in September.

The Southam College pitch again proved its worth as the reserves’ match was the only one of eight Nursing Home Cup ties to survive and Ian Ray’s team progressed to the quarter-final with a 6-2 win over PNT Royal Oak.

Although they ran out comfortable winners in the end, the visitors made Saints pull out all the stops after proving more than a match for the opening half-hour.

Saints eventually broke down the Royal Oak defence in the 33rd minute, Luke Mason meeting Ryan Isherwood’s free-kick with a header which went in off the far post.

It was nearly two when a shot by Robbie Stephens grazed the outside of the post, but the second duly came when a great ball by captain Joe Williams set up the speedy Isherwood who gave keeper Anthony Swain no chance.

Manager Ray made three substitutions as the second half got underway and it took a while for the team to regain their momentum.

However, three more goals in seven minutes put the match to bed.

The first came in the 63rd minute when a cracking strike by Jamie Delahunty left Swain rooted to the spot, before a move involving Lee Thomas and Delahunty was finished off by Isherwood for his second.

Thomas hit the post and then Matty Wyatt scored the most spectacular goal of the match from even further out than Delahunty.

Adam Hill pulled one back in the 73rd minute from close range, but Suki Nijjar rounded Swain to make it six for Saints before Delahunty sent another fierce shot against the bar.

With three minutes remaining, Michael Mackenzie was left unmarked at the far post to get a second consolation for the visitors.