Quentin breaches Castle defences

Saints’ good form continued at the weekend, with Quentin Townsend’s second-half goal giving them victory over third-placed Castle Vale, much to the delight of manager Luke Fogarty.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Jan 2011, 12:12 BST

“That was a good performance against a side that had beaten Coventry Copeswood away the week before.” said Fogarty.

“It has taken a while to build the squad we wanted, but the players are really coming together now and the team spirit is fantastic. Winning the league is beyond us, but we want to finish as high as possible and lift at least one of the cups we are still in.”

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The start of the match was delayed due to urgent pitch repairs and there were chances for both sides in a even opening 25 minutes.

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Andy Millan came close to grabbing the first goal for Saints in the 33rd minute, forcing a good save from Peter Maguire, and Vale also had a chance when beating the offside trap, but Marc Passey and Jim Stott cleared the danger.

There was a scare for Saints when Stott was injured with four minutes of the half remaining, but he recovered to stop a goalbound header from Danny O’Callaghan and keep the match goalless at the interval.

Mark Anderson shot just wide within six minutes of the restart before being forced off with an injury.

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Captain John Blunsom saw his 25-yard free-kick pushed over the bar by Maguire before Millan’s bicycle kick from a David Wilson cross was also saved.

Saints had appeals for a penalty waved away, but they soon got the goal they were looking for.

A Jack Taylor corner was only partially cleared, and when the defender returned the ball to the far post, Townsend stole to head the ball over Maguire and in off the woodwork.

Vale laid siege to the Southam goal in the last ten minutes, but Saints defended stoutly to make it three league wins in a row and eight games unbeaten in all competitions.

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Saints’ scheduled tie at Cradley Town in the Birmingham County FA Midweek Floodlit Cup last Tuesday was called off after the visitors could not raise a side.

Manager Russell Dodd has left Beeches View Avenue to join Lichfield City and is believed to have taken a number of the team with him, leaving Cradley without enough eligible players.

Saints’ match against league leaders Heather St John’s at Banbury Road tomorrow has been postponed as the Leicestershire side have a re-arranged FA Carlsberg Vase tie at Dunston UTS.

Southam will instead travel to Brocton. Tim Pole is still unavailable as he completes the last game of a three-match suspension.