Southam have nothing to show 
from their opening two fixtures

Sporting put ten-man Saints to the sword on Tuesday night with a crushing 4-0 win that left Lee Knibbs’ team still looking for their first goal and first point of the new season, writes David Hucker.

“It’s been an awful start to season,” said Knibbs. “There are no excuses and no point in moaning. We need to deal with the situation and start putting things right.”

Saints had made a lively start, looking much sharper than in their opening match at Nuneaton Griff on Saturday, with Simeon Smith having the first chance in the 12th minute only to be denied by the legs of keeper Jake Bedford.

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Sporting could have gone ahead from a free-kick, but Andrew Skerratt saved at the second attempt. However, he was powerless to stop Will Tibbetts’ 28th-minute shot from 30 yards.

Hopes of a second-half comeback were effectively dashed in the 55th minute when defender Andy Wilson-King was shown red for a two-footed tackle and Sporting quickly doubled their lead through Jacob Snape.

Marc Passey was booked for a rash challenge on the edge of the box and the free-kick flew into the top far corner to put Sporting further ahead.

George Curry hit the outside of the post with a low curling shot, but the visitors were well in command and put the final nail in the Saints’ coffin with a fourth through Stefan Ashman.

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On Saturday, a goal at the end of each half consigned Saints to a 2-0 defeat at Nuneaton Griff.

Saints played the better football and created enough scoring opportunities to have taken at least a point from the match, but were given a lesson in finishing from a lively Griff side.

Tomorrow, Saints are away to Norton United in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup and on Tuesday they take on Coventry Copsewood at Banbury Road (7.45pm).