As No Saints celebrate a year in existence today, I take a quick look at some of the classic encounters over the five and a bit seasons so far. From own goals, tense encounters and more own goals it’s been a hell of a year. So here’s some of my personal favourites from the collection…
No Saints 4-12 B and Q
In only our second game in existence, this game will forever be remembered for my two own goals. I did manage two at the right end but they were quickly overshadowed by the two at the other, past goalkeeper at the time Sean. A week before I had scored an own goal in our first ever game, so these took my tally to three in two games! I still don’t hear the end of it…
No Saints 2-8 Southampton Allstars
Another heavy defeat in Season One but the bank holiday game saw as much guts and fighting spirit as you’re likely to see. With the game finely in the balance after just a couple of minutes, Sean suffered his injury and we were down to four men for around three quarters of the game as we had no subs! Me, Dave, Jamie and Rich, the original members of No Saints plugged together and even got a couple of goals. Unfortunately we never got our revenge on those pesky Allstars as they dropped out a season later.
No Saints 5-4 Stones
The first game in Season Two saw a titanic battle with Stones. We had been relegated after not picking up a single point from the first season but after going 3-1 down we pulled the game back in our favour to lead 5-3. A late goal for Stones and a couple of agonising goal mouth moments in front of new keeper Jamie tested the nerves but we held out for our first ever victory in jdfives!
No Saints 7-2 Unathletico
A landmark moment for No Saints after a dismal third season up until this point. With low numbers, we struggled to find five players every week until the arrival for this game of Abib and Andy from Skandia Towers. Both slotted in very nicely and Abib got a couple of goals on his debut to seal a first win of the season. We went on to finish very well in that season, seeing off league leaders TBA United 3-2 the following week as we departed from the Monday league.
No Saints 4-2 Kashima Antlers
The first game of a momentus season, our first in the Wednesday league. Kitted out in our new white strip, we took a 2-0 lead through Andy and Abib. Antlers fought back to 2-2 but the one more for Abib and one for Andy meant we started the season in style.
No Saints 4-2 The Players
Going into this game, No Saints knew that four points from the remaining three games would see us promoted in our first season of the Wednesday league. Abib, Dave and Nathan saw us lead 3-1. A fourth from Abib sealed the win and despite a late goal from The Players we held on and recorded a win that we thought would take us to within a point of promotion. Little did we know that Posh had slipped up against Kashima and we were there already! So after three seasons of struggle we finally had a moment of glory!
No Saints 5-4 Red Star Five
The week after promotion saw us come up against leaders Red Star Five. We knew a win would take us to the unthinkable position of top spot and in an epic encounter we led 1-0 and 2-1 before Red Star turned it back in their favour. Andy scored to make it 3-3 but Red Star hit back quickly with a fourth. But with all the spirit of seasons past, we fought back and Aaron scored from his 110th effort from his goal kicks to set up a frantic finale. Abib was put through with two minutes to go and his shot rebounded off the keeper, giving me the easiest of tap ins to make it 5-4! We held out to win and momentarily went top before the Posh hoodoo struck again in an agonising final day defeat that meant we had to settle for second place.
No Saints 2-1 Red Star Five
This was our last recorded victory apart from a friendly win handed to us as a late goal from Jamie saw us see off Red Star five again. They would get their revenge later in the season though by putting the final nail in our relegation coffin.
So it’s been a roller coaster ride in the past year but from murky beginnings we’ve got together a fantastic group of lads with the right balance of speed, skill and guts as we look to bounce back at the first attempt back into League One. I didn’t have a clue a year ago how we would improve so much and how much we would grow to love the weekly battles of jdfives.
We’re hopefully gathering for a drink or two following tonight’s’ clash with Athletico Norfolk to celebrate twelve months of No Saints and here’s hoping we toast the evening with our first win of 2008!
No Saints 4-12 B and Q
In only our second game in existence, this game will forever be remembered for my two own goals. I did manage two at the right end but they were quickly overshadowed by the two at the other, past goalkeeper at the time Sean. A week before I had scored an own goal in our first ever game, so these took my tally to three in two games! I still don’t hear the end of it…
No Saints 2-8 Southampton Allstars
Another heavy defeat in Season One but the bank holiday game saw as much guts and fighting spirit as you’re likely to see. With the game finely in the balance after just a couple of minutes, Sean suffered his injury and we were down to four men for around three quarters of the game as we had no subs! Me, Dave, Jamie and Rich, the original members of No Saints plugged together and even got a couple of goals. Unfortunately we never got our revenge on those pesky Allstars as they dropped out a season later.
No Saints 5-4 Stones
The first game in Season Two saw a titanic battle with Stones. We had been relegated after not picking up a single point from the first season but after going 3-1 down we pulled the game back in our favour to lead 5-3. A late goal for Stones and a couple of agonising goal mouth moments in front of new keeper Jamie tested the nerves but we held out for our first ever victory in jdfives!
No Saints 7-2 Unathletico
A landmark moment for No Saints after a dismal third season up until this point. With low numbers, we struggled to find five players every week until the arrival for this game of Abib and Andy from Skandia Towers. Both slotted in very nicely and Abib got a couple of goals on his debut to seal a first win of the season. We went on to finish very well in that season, seeing off league leaders TBA United 3-2 the following week as we departed from the Monday league.
No Saints 4-2 Kashima Antlers
The first game of a momentus season, our first in the Wednesday league. Kitted out in our new white strip, we took a 2-0 lead through Andy and Abib. Antlers fought back to 2-2 but the one more for Abib and one for Andy meant we started the season in style.
No Saints 4-2 The Players
Going into this game, No Saints knew that four points from the remaining three games would see us promoted in our first season of the Wednesday league. Abib, Dave and Nathan saw us lead 3-1. A fourth from Abib sealed the win and despite a late goal from The Players we held on and recorded a win that we thought would take us to within a point of promotion. Little did we know that Posh had slipped up against Kashima and we were there already! So after three seasons of struggle we finally had a moment of glory!
No Saints 5-4 Red Star FiveThe week after promotion saw us come up against leaders Red Star Five. We knew a win would take us to the unthinkable position of top spot and in an epic encounter we led 1-0 and 2-1 before Red Star turned it back in their favour. Andy scored to make it 3-3 but Red Star hit back quickly with a fourth. But with all the spirit of seasons past, we fought back and Aaron scored from his 110th effort from his goal kicks to set up a frantic finale. Abib was put through with two minutes to go and his shot rebounded off the keeper, giving me the easiest of tap ins to make it 5-4! We held out to win and momentarily went top before the Posh hoodoo struck again in an agonising final day defeat that meant we had to settle for second place.
No Saints 2-1 Red Star Five
This was our last recorded victory apart from a friendly win handed to us as a late goal from Jamie saw us see off Red Star five again. They would get their revenge later in the season though by putting the final nail in our relegation coffin.
So it’s been a roller coaster ride in the past year but from murky beginnings we’ve got together a fantastic group of lads with the right balance of speed, skill and guts as we look to bounce back at the first attempt back into League One. I didn’t have a clue a year ago how we would improve so much and how much we would grow to love the weekly battles of jdfives.
We’re hopefully gathering for a drink or two following tonight’s’ clash with Athletico Norfolk to celebrate twelve months of No Saints and here’s hoping we toast the evening with our first win of 2008!
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