Spot of bother sees Southam bow out of Les James Cup

Saints opened brightly but found themselves a goal down after just eight minutes when Chris Sturridge-Packer spotted a gap between the two central defenders to beat Tom Cross from close range.

It should have been all-square in the 19th minute when Adam Goodby brought down Pawel Tomczak just inside the penalty area but Joss Holford’s spot-kick was brilliantly pushed on to the bar by Thomas McNulty.

A dipping shot by Danny Gordon went just over before Saints equalised in the 31st minute , Brad Rees picking up a cross from the left and leaving McNulty stranded with a shot into the top corner.

Saints were reduced to ten men in the 54th minute when Simon Hicks, who had been booked in the first half, brought down Scott Goodby with a rash tackle.

Undaunted, Saints continued to play their football and Rees set up Caputo but his goalbound shot was clawed away by a flying save from the excellent McNulty.

Robbie Stephens had a good chance to settle it in the 81st minute but, after turning the defender to set himself up, hit his shot over the top.

The match went straight to a shootout and Ben Tennant and Oli Manoochehri both put their penalties over the bar as Swifts ran out 4-2 winners.

On Saturday, a subdued Saints, looking a shadow of the side that had beaten Atherstone Town only a few days before, went down 3-0 to league leaders Brocton.

Brocton took the lead in the the third minute after a cross from the left was headed over the bar by defender Martin Hutchcox. David Berks delievered an inswinging corner into the goalmouth which keeper Cross pushed on to the bar and Daniel Lomas reacted quickest to turn home the rebound.

It took until the 35th minute for Saints to have their first shot on target, a quick free-kick from Holford after Leigh Phillips had been fouled that Adam Whitehouse comfortably held.

Early in the second half, another Holford free-kick went just wide of the post but it was Brocton who got the next goal in a move that left manager Knibbs fuming well after the final whistle.

With captain Jamie Coleman down injured, the play switched to the other side and Hutchcox cleared a shot off the line, only for the ball to be picked up by Andrew Bourne who drilled a shot through the crowd of players and into the corner.

Substitute Paul McMahon rolled a shot across the face of the goal and just wide of the post before wrapping up the points for Brocton when converting a cross from the left with three minutes to go.

Tomorrow, Saints travel to Coventry Copsewood before returning on Tuesday for their Coventry Telegraph Challenge Cup semi-final.