Half-time talking-to reinvigorates Saints

Saints boss Lee Knibbs was all smiles after his side staged another second-half comeback to beat Blackwood, but he had plenty to say to his players at half-time after a poor opening 45 minutes saw them two goals down, writes David Hucker.

“We weren’t at the races in the first half and had an open conversation at the break about what was expected of a Southam United player,” said Knibbs.

“The players responded brilliantly and we had so many chances in the second half, we should have won by more.”

Playing their first match for four weeks, Saints were quickly out of the blocks, with George Curry drawing a good save from visiting keeper Alastair Lewis.

However, they were being caught offside far too often by the Blackwood defence and the visitors took the lead in the ninth minute.

A throw from the left by Chris Milliard was not cleared and Gareth Evans reacted quickest to beat Ollie Manuel.

It could have been two when Sam Manoochehri sped down the wing to set up Evans who, with Martin Thompson slipping at the critical moment, had a clear shot on goal but put his effort over.

Saints almost got level when Lewis failed to hold a 17th-minute shot from Simeon Smith, but the ball was cleared.

Manuel then came out of his box and miskicked straight to Manoochehri, who shot wide of an open goal from 25 yards.

The lively Smith was brought down, but Casey Gaggini put his free-kick into the defensive wall, before a good run by Brad Rees set up Chris Murphy, who saw his rising shot go just over

With Blackwood looking the slicker side, it took a double save from Manuel to keep Saints in the match.

Gaggini then put a free-kick wide following a foul on Curry before Evans doubled the lead for Blackwood from the penalty spot in the 33rd.

Saints tried to respond and Murphy headed over from a Smith cross with Lewis stranded.

And as played switched to the other end, Marc Passey made a good saving tackle to deny Blackwood the chance of a third.

Saints were back in the match five minutes into the second half, Josh Cole drilling in the rebound after Smith’s header had come back off the bar.

Smith shot just wide soon after, but the scores were level in the 55th minute when Rees charged into the box and scored with the help of a post.

With Saints looking for a third, Smith side-footed just wide from close range on the hour and Lewis saved from Cole.

The introduction of the experienced Howard Forinton gave Saints a lift and Smith finally got his goal in the 73rd minute to put his side ahead for the first time.

Forinton went close from outside the box, while Cole was unable to prevent an anxious final few minutes for Saints when he shot straight at Lewis.

Tomorrow, Saints are at Brooklands Jaguar in the Coventry Charity Cup (1.45pm) and Knibbs is going all out to reach the next round.

“We are in it to win it and I’ll be taking a strong squad of 18. There will be no rotation because it’s a cup match and we will put out an attacking side,” he said.

Saints then travel to Bartley Green in the Birmingham County FA Midweek Floodlit Cup on Tuesday (7.30pm).