Saints were too bad to be true - Fogarty

Saints looked anything but promotion candidates as Nuneaton Griff brought their four-match unbeaten run to an end at a wet and blustery Pingles Stadium, writes David Hucker.

With the conditions making flowing football near impossible, neither side could settle into any kind of rhythm and there was little to get the crowd excited in a poor first half until Griff took a 40th-minute lead when a low cross from the right was turned in by Aden Moore.

The home side had two good chances to go further ahead early in the second period with Scott Smith shooting over and Dave Barnett’s low cross-cum-shot being cleared off the line by Charlie Neale.

Keeper Matt Oliver then denied Barnett, but poor defending from a corner saw Griff get their second on the hour through Ryan Millerchip.

Simeon Smith, making his first start for Saints, had a chance to pull one back in the 71st minute, but shot wide.

With substitute Luke Church injured when putting in a cross, Saints were reduced to ten men for the final few minutes, but it made no difference to the outcome.

Despite the efforts of man-of-the-match James Hardie in midfield, Sam Slater in the Griff goal did not have a direct shot to save all afternoon and, with too many players off-key, Fogarty admitted his side had put in their poorest performance of the season.

Describing the display as “too bad to be true”, he added: “They worked very hard to close us down, but we didn’t adjust to the conditions and didn’t get going.”

With leaders Bolehall Swifts going down 2-1 at Earlswood Town, the defeat did not cost Southam any ground at the top, but they have been joined on 37 points by Coventry Copsewood.

Saints will have to improve tomorrow when they go to in-form Racing Club Warwick, but it is a game Fogarty is looking forward to.

“These are the games that test your credentials,” he said. “We are still in the box seat and have done everything we can off the field. It’s now down to the players, their attitude and commitment.”