After four seasons, over twenty players used and endless journeys home in despair, No Saints have finally rose up from the ashes and are promoted to League One after last night’s heroic performance against The Players resulting in a 4-2 win.
The stage was set early on as The Closers failed to turn up for their game against Red Star Five, meaning that we only needed to win and hope that Posh slipped up against bottom club Kashima Antlers. We focused on getting our win first though and in a hard fought game came out on top.
Andy was missing through a stomach upset while Will and Phil are long term absentees though both are coming along well in their recoveries. Phil was there to cheer us on with Martha and Kerry and they witnessed the greatest night in No Saints history unfold in front of their eyes.
Abib got the ball rolling with a superb strike from just inside The Players’ half but our skilful opponents equalised soon after. Dave was back in the goals to put us 2-1 ahead before Nathan struck for 3-1. The Players got one back just before half time though to set up the most nervy of second halves,
The Players pushed us back with No Saints happy to play on the break and goalkeeper Aaron had to be alert with a string of good saves and some that flashed off him and trickled wide. I sliced a clearance just past my own post as the nerves really kicked in but we knew what we were playing for and dug in late on. With four minutes to go, the final breakthrough came as I fed a quickly taken free kick into Abib’s path and he coolly finished to make it 4-2 and send our fans and players into raptures! Abib’s new celebration was again on show before we stuck out the final few minutes against a demoralised Players side.
Just before full-time I got cramp and had to be replaced and I was on the floor in agony as the final whistle went and we confirmed a fine win. What we didn’t know was what was around the corner when we asked for the other result.
Kashima had beaten Posh 4-3. We had done it! After for long seasons of battling it out on cold evenings in Eastleigh, meeting many a new face and not quite getting it right we have done it! We now have a settled squad that will be even stronger when Will and Phil return and the team spirit before, after and during the game couldn’t be better. Promotion is ours and it’s a testament to the strength of the players that stayed and the players that arrived and stuck with us despite our status in the lower part of the league to begin with.
We now head into next weeks potential title decider with Red Star Five full of confidence and with absolutely nothing to lose. We would still have to win both our remaining games to take home the title but it’s in our hands and promotion was the main thing.
A new and exciting chapter began a few weeks ago for No Saints but the story, I feel, is just getting started!
The stage was set early on as The Closers failed to turn up for their game against Red Star Five, meaning that we only needed to win and hope that Posh slipped up against bottom club Kashima Antlers. We focused on getting our win first though and in a hard fought game came out on top.
Andy was missing through a stomach upset while Will and Phil are long term absentees though both are coming along well in their recoveries. Phil was there to cheer us on with Martha and Kerry and they witnessed the greatest night in No Saints history unfold in front of their eyes.
Abib got the ball rolling with a superb strike from just inside The Players’ half but our skilful opponents equalised soon after. Dave was back in the goals to put us 2-1 ahead before Nathan struck for 3-1. The Players got one back just before half time though to set up the most nervy of second halves,
The Players pushed us back with No Saints happy to play on the break and goalkeeper Aaron had to be alert with a string of good saves and some that flashed off him and trickled wide. I sliced a clearance just past my own post as the nerves really kicked in but we knew what we were playing for and dug in late on. With four minutes to go, the final breakthrough came as I fed a quickly taken free kick into Abib’s path and he coolly finished to make it 4-2 and send our fans and players into raptures! Abib’s new celebration was again on show before we stuck out the final few minutes against a demoralised Players side.
Just before full-time I got cramp and had to be replaced and I was on the floor in agony as the final whistle went and we confirmed a fine win. What we didn’t know was what was around the corner when we asked for the other result.
Kashima had beaten Posh 4-3. We had done it! After for long seasons of battling it out on cold evenings in Eastleigh, meeting many a new face and not quite getting it right we have done it! We now have a settled squad that will be even stronger when Will and Phil return and the team spirit before, after and during the game couldn’t be better. Promotion is ours and it’s a testament to the strength of the players that stayed and the players that arrived and stuck with us despite our status in the lower part of the league to begin with.
We now head into next weeks potential title decider with Red Star Five full of confidence and with absolutely nothing to lose. We would still have to win both our remaining games to take home the title but it’s in our hands and promotion was the main thing.
A new and exciting chapter began a few weeks ago for No Saints but the story, I feel, is just getting started!
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