Southam boss is down...and out

“You get what you deserve and we let ourselves down,” said Knibbs. “To say I am disappointed would be an understatement - we just weren’t strong enough when it mattered.”

Despite taking the lead through a Joss Holford free-kick, Saints were undone by missed chances at one end and mistakes at the other.

They could have opened the scoring in the first five minutes but both Holford and Andy Wilson-King were denied.

Lee Salmon brought down Brad Rees outside the penalty area and Holford drove his free-kick towards the corner, only for keeper Matthew Jones to push the ball on to the post and away.

Then, a cross from Adam Spalding was met by Wilson-King, whose header was just saved by Jones.

Simeon Smith outpaced the home defence but Jones denied him and, at the other end, a low cross from the right was not dealt with by the Saints rearguard and keeper Andrew Skerratt clutched on to the ball at the second attempt.

Skerratt then saved well from Bladen, who picked up the loose ball, but crashed his shot against the bar.

Ben Tennant set up Holford, who sent a shot just over before James Welnitshuk brought another save from Skerratt.

Holford found the target in the 27th minute with a thunderous free-kick from well outside the penalty area to put Saints into the lead but the advantage lasted just seven minutes.

Saints conceded an unnecessary throw-in and Matthew Vaughan launched it into the goalmouth where Salmon headed on and Bladen finished off from close range.

Rees then latched on to a Tom Muldoon cross to send a shot across the face of goal in the last real action of the half.

Five minutes into the second period Holford shot over from a good position, while Bladen again went close for Town, hitting the bar and Salmon put another chance over.

Spalding sent a low cross into the area but Holford was not able to connect at full-stretch.

Saints were made to pay for missing their chances when, with four minutes to go, Simon Hicks brought down Scott Devlin and, with the ball not being cleared, Bladen was left unmarked at the far post to win the tie for Town.

Tomorrow, Saints are at home to Alvis Sporting in the Coventry Telegraph Challenge Cup (3pm).