Upbeat Southam eye pole position

Saints made it five out of five in their pre-season programme with a 3-2 win at Ardley United last Saturday to go into tomorrow’s opening league match at Bloxwich United in optimistic mood, writes David Hucker.

Saints had taken the lead in the 25th minute when Simeon Smith headed home a Craig Watkin corner and had plenty of chances to put the match to bed before Ardley equalised in the 70th.

The home side then grabbed the initiative, going into the lead from a powerful header from a left-wing cross and could have had a third, only to be denied by keeper Matt Oliver.

Saints struck back with Marc Passey heading in a Brad Rees cross from the right with eight minutes to go and then, in the 88th minute, a superb through ball from Michael Clough was latched onto by Passey, who smashed a shot across the keeper into the net.

Luke Fogarty’s side start their campaign looking to go one better than last season when they finished runners-up to Continental Star in the Midland Football Combination Premier Division and, with former Leamington striker Martin Thompson pairing up with leading scorer Simeon Smith, they should have the firepower to mount another challenge at the top.

Smith, who joined the club from Bolehall Swifts in January, scored 22 goals in just 17 appearances. Thompson started in 88 matches for Brakes, plus another 57 appearances as substitute, scoring 34 times.

Fogarty is mindful of last season’s encounter at Bloxwich when Saints led 3-1 with half an hour to go, but finished up on the wrong end of a 4-3 scoreline, a result that seriously dented their championship hopes.

“It’s a tough start to the season and we will be happy to come away with a point,” said Fogarty.

“We have looked sharp in pre-season and were dangerous on the counter-attack at Ardley. We will always score goals, so the key will be keeping clean sheets. Our aim is to make Banbury Road a fortress and pick up as many points as possible on our travels.”

Saints will be missing midfielder Simon Proctor, who is suspended for one match as a result of his sending-off at Castle Vale last season, as well as Adam Hart, who has a three-match ban for a red card at his previous club Whitnash Town.

Central defender Charlie Neale, who did not play in the pre-season matches due to work commitments, may come in to partner Quentin Townsend in the centre of defence.

Saints follow up with a home match against newly-promoted Littleton on Tuesday night (7.45pm).