18th May - Elford Boys (A) 4 - 1 (L)

We arrived at Elford as Champions but this hoped for celebration of our feat turned rather flat. Yes, the score-line suggests we were hammered but things are not all that they seem. Danny Liveley was out with illness, Matthew Leckie rose from his sick-bed to play & Paul Winn suffered a pulled thigh muscle on the day of the game.
The pitch was poor, not only was it very narrow but the green stuff resembled elephant grass in places. It's probably just as well Danny didn't play, we would have had to tie a rope around him so he didn't get lost. These factors certainly didn't help our style of play but let's not be too churlish.
Sometimes there are teams who just seem to have the finger on you, and this season Elford have proved to be that team. Their results suggest they step up a gear when they play us & we seem to defend appalingly against them. Yet, despite the fact that they have beaten us three times this season we have still created more chances but just can't put them away.
Whatever, they scored after 5 mins. when we failed to clear a free-kick.
On 10 mins. Richard Miles failed to hold a shot across his goal & their striker pounced to make it 2-0.
There then followed a four minute period when we could have scored 4 goals but ended up with one. Firstly, Chris Wainwright had a long shot pushed wide, Matthew Leckie had a shot saved from a long ball. We then won a corner, Chris W. swung it in hard & fast only for an Elford player to help into his own goal. Two minutes later Matthew L. was one-on-one but hit his shot straight at the keeper. Half-time 2-1 to Elford.
The second-half was pretty even, on 27 minutes we broke out of our half, Ben Cooper was powering towards goal but unfortunately his shot went wide.
Six minutes later Matthew L. hit a shot just wide of their left post.
With three minutes to go Elford got their third. The ball actually went out for a throw-in to us but they were allowed to play on &
score. Oh well, such things happen.
A minute later they made it four, we'll forget the foul-throw that it came from. We'll give them their moment of glory, we are they Champions - they are not.

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12th May - Amington Boys Emeralds (A) 0 - 2 (W)

Our disappointment at losing to Dosthill was softened by the news that Elford had surprisingly lost to Polesworth that same night. The result of this unexpected turn of events was that St.Nics could finally with the league championship if they beat Amington.
With this thought in their heads there was no way the Boys were going to slip up.
The first half was scoreless despite us peppering the oppositions goal. We had one scare when Amington hit the bar from a corner but they showed little threat. Tom Sharrock & Paul Winn formed a formidable barricade in defence & stand-in goalie George Goodman coped calmly & ably with anything that came his way.
Despite our dominance Gary 'Sven' Wainwright was showing signs of stress as he prowled the touchline. We knew we should have been ahead but patience was needed against Amington's defence which had proved to be one of the best in the league.
The second-half was only a minute old when the deadlock was broken. Paul Winn brought the ball out of defence on the right, he swept the ball over to Matthew Leckie on the left wing. He charged towards Amington's goal before cutting the ball across to Danny Liveley who applied the finish. This was St.Nics at their best & the tension visibly lifted.
Non-stop pressure followed & Amington were now under seige. Despite this we could not get the second goal which would have sealed the match. Amington had virtually everyone back & defended stoutly, non more so than their keeper who was having a blinder.
Four minutes from time the second goal came, Chris Wainwright hammering home from close range. It was all over, Amington knew there was no way back & we knew we'd done the job.
The final whistle brought sheer elation & not a small amount of relief.

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8th May - Dosthill Colts Spitfires (H) 0 - 2 (L)

A win in this match against one of our main rivals could have put us well on the way to winning the league. As it happened, two goals conceded after 6 & 8 minutes were enough for Dosthill to secure their first win over us in four matches.
Despite the Boys failing to register a goal they had numerous chances but were foiled by some poor finishing, good goal-keeping and determined defending.
The game was somewhat flat considering our rivalry & the significance of the match & there were few highlights to report.
Maybe this was St.Nics. getting the jitters as they closed on the title.

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24th April - Drayton Manor Strykers (A) 0 - 3 (W)

St.Nics recorded their second win in four days to consolidate their place at the top of the table. It was a very warm morning & the heat took its' toll on both team's stamina.
We started brightly & took the lead on 3 minutes, Jack McElevenny firing in from the left.
The Boys looked in the mood to hit a hat-full but, despite, pounding Drayton's goal, the deluge failed to materialise. A lot of this was down to our opponent's keeper who had a superb game and whose efforts kept the score down.
Jack Mack notched his second on 13 minutes wth another fine shot.
The stand-in ref. blew for the interval five minutes early but promised to play a twenty-five minute second half.
We gave Drayton's goal a hammering but a combination of fine goal-keeping & indifferent finishing kept the score at 2 - 0.
The third (& final) goal came on 26 minutes, Paul Winn, refreshed by a substitution, returned to the pitch & stormed towards goal on the right wing. He unleashed a superb shot which proved unstoppable.
Matthew Leckie & Daniel-Marc Liveley had numerous efforts on goal but it was not to be their day.
Whilst the scoreline did not reflect our dominance it was the win that was important and it was nice to get it with our closest rivals, Elford, playing on the adjacent pitch.
We play them next week knowing a St.Nics win will see us as crowned champions.

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21st April - Blackwood Bullets Lions (H) 3 - 0 (W)

The say revenge is sweet & so it proved to be. Blackwood beat us by the same score in early March but the Boys knew victory would take them back to the top of the league.
St. Nics. were well up for this game & you sensed that Lions were never going to repeat their previous shock result. On eight minutes we took the lead following constant pressure. Chris Wainwright fired a low cross in from the right only for a Blackwood defender to turn it into his own goal. Despite keeping the squeeze on no further goals came in the first half.
The second half progressed with St.Nics doing all the pressing. Blackwood had very few chances, Tom Sharrock playing a fine game in defence well supported by Paul Winn.
For all our possession & pressure, though, Lions were still proving hard to break down but Liveley made it 2-0 after 32 minutes & it was clear Blackwood would not come back.
Six minutes later Cooper blasted in the third to give the scoreline a truer reflection of our superiority.
At last we were back on top of the league, on goal difference from Elford but with two games in hand.

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17th April - Glenn Sport (H) 2 - 4 (L) Tamworth Invitation Trophy

A superb match contested by two sides playing excellent football. St.Nics undoing was their inability to defend corners and it was from these that they conceded three second half goals.
The game started at great pace & during the first ten minutes we played some of our best football of the season. Ben Cooper hit the crossbar with a header from a corner & Chris Wainwright shot wide when clean on goal.
Glenn Sport seized on a defensive error when St.Nics failed to clear the ball & opened the scoring on 15 minutes. The first half ended without any further scoring.
Six minutes after the restart the Boys were level. Daniel-Marc Liveley beat their goalie to the ball, he managed to lob it over the keeper & it slowly rolled into the net.
Our joy lasted all of a minute. Glenn Sport retook the lead from a corner which we failed to clear & doubled their lead 3 minutes later from another corner.
Ben Cooper brought us back into it with a blistering shot on 34 minutes & the game could have gone either way.
However, Glenn Sports third goal from a corner with just three minutes to go finished us off.
Despite the defeat it was good to see the Boys getting back to their early season form & they can take great credit from this performance.

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3rd April - Polesworth Swallows (H) 5 - 0 (W)

This was only our third game in ten weeks & following two defeats it was good to get back into winning ways. To be honest, Polesworth did not provide stiff opposition & the scoreline could easily have been doubled. At least it was a welcome run-out & needy preparation for some difficult matches to come.
Daniel-Marc Liveley opened the scoring & another Chris Wainwright 'special from wide out on the right wing doubled our lead. Ben Cooper made it 3-0 with a long shot from the left which seemed to bobble through a crowded penalty area.
Despite constant pressure the second half only yielded two goals.
These were both as a result of some good passing & Matthew Leckie applied the finish for both.

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6th March - Blackwood Bullets Lions (A) 3 - 0 (L)

The Boys winter of discontent continued with this defeat at Blackwood. At least they achieved a couple of 'firsts', not that they were cause for celebration. This was the first time we had lost two consecutive matches & it was the first time we had failed to score in a competetive match (& only the second time ever).
Blackwood had shown themselves to be a good defensive team but also a low scoring one. Their modest record suggested St.Nics would get back to winning ways. Perhaps there was a bit of complacency, it's hard to say. This was only our second match in six weeks & the ring-rust was evident. We had plenty of the ball but Blackwood packed their defence & proved difficult to break down. On five minutes Paul Winn made a good run & set up Matthew Leckie, unfortunately the ball would not come down for him & the shot flew over the bar.
On 15 mins. we fell to yet another long, hopeful shot. There was little danger but a Blackwood player pumped the ball towards our goal & it did enough to deceive Richard Miles & drop into the net. It stayed 0-1 at half-time.
We continued to press but the second half continued very much as the first. Lots of blocked shots, a few saved by the keeper but the equalising goal just would not come.
On 34 mins. Blackwood were on the attack, the ball bobbled around in our penalty area, we hesitated & their second goal was slotted home.
St.Nics had to step up the pressure, Blackwood knew they only had to defend as they had done all match & victory would be theirs. It was obvious things were not going to go our way, we just could not find a way through the packed defence.
As we pressed Blackwood had one more attack, A relatively harmless cross was dropped by Richard & Blackwood pounced to put the lose ball away.
With only two minutes to go there was no way back from a three goal deficit & the final whistle brought an ecstatic reaction from our opponents who knew they had pulled off a great shock.
The Boys quickly need to get things back on the rails or a promising season could go down the pan before they know it. Out of one cup & beaten by a team previously 13 points behind us, championship form this certainly was not.

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21st February - Elford Boys (A) 3 - 1 (L) Tamworth League Cup

Our grip on the cup we won last year was wrenched off with a rather lack-lustre display. The enforced five week 'winter break' certainly did us no favours & we looked off the pace against one of the strongest sides in the league.
Conceding a goal after only 22 seconds was hardly the best way to start. From out on their right wing came a speculative long shot. It glanced off the head of one of our team & beat stand-in keeper Tom Sharrock.
Not to worry, plenty of time to recover we thought but when the same thing (minus the deflection) happened five minutes later you just had a feeling that this was not to be our day.
Whilst we were not playing particularly well chances were still being created but our finishing was lacking. Chris Wainwright blasted a fine shot goalwards but it bounced of the underside of the bar & away to safety.
After 15 mins. Elford delivered a crushing blow, scoring a third goal following indecisive defensive play. It was difficult to see a St.NIcs. comeback from this.
We needed an early goal but it just would not come. It was not until two minutes before the end that Matthew Leckie squeezed one home. This did cause some panic in the Elford ranks but it was too little too late.

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24th January - Polesworth Swifts (H) 8 - 0 (W) Tamworth Invitation Trophy

St.Nics. cruised into the quarter-finals of the Trophy with a comfortable win over Polesworth. The scoring began, in fact, from a Polesworth corner. St.Nics. broke quickly & Matthew Leckie completed the move. The visitors had very little answer to our fast-flowing football & Jack 'look, no hands' McElvenney, our stand-in goalie, was rarely troubled. Chris Wainwright went on one of his numerous forays down the right wing & made it 2-0. The final score of the half came from a corner, the ball came out to Ben Cooper who blasted in from outside the box.
The second-half was only 30 seconds old when the fourth (& best) goal came. St.Nics moved the ball up the left from their own half, & then across the pitch, four one-touch passes later Paul Winn was on hand to apply the coup-de-grace with a first time shot. This totally killed Polesworth off. Leckie grabbed his second & Daniel-Marc Liveley pounced on a fumbled save to make it 6-0.
Tom Sharrock joined the attack & brought confusion into the Polesworth defence (he confuses us as well) & Leckie was able to complete his hat-trick.
Richard Miles had a break from his normal goal-keeping role & rampaged round the pitch like a caged lion getting his first taste of freedom. He nearly got his name on the score-sheet, too. His firmly struck shot was probably going wide but a Polesworth defender stuck out a leg & steered it into the net. As much as I'd like to give you that one, Rich, I think it would stretching it a bit, sorry, mate.
Another fine win for the Boys, they now face the East leagues high-flying leaders, Glenn Sport in the quarter-final.

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17th January - Coton Green Wolves (H) 4-0 (W) Tamworth League Cup

This was an excellent game with Coton Green providing tough, physical opposition. This gave the Boys a far better work-out than their last outing. We won this Cup last year & there was great determination in the defence of it. St.Nics were applying most of the pressure with Coton relying on the odd break. There were some hard tackles going in & it was clear that St. Nics would have to play well to win. There was some good football played by both sides & it took until the 10th min.to open the scoring. McElvenney shot at goal from the left & Leckie nicely side-footed the ball into the net. Coton Green kept pushing & St.Nics were never able to relax. Half-time came without further scoring.
The second-half was only 2 mins. old when Wainwright went on one of his many surges down the right wing. From out wide he lashed the ball goalwards & straight into the net. He's sticking to his story that it was a shot & we'll give him the benefit of the doubt - this time! This second goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Coton Green & St.NIcs. proceeded to dominate play. Winn finally put the result beyond doubt with the third, toe-poking the ball through a mass of players. The fourth goal came on 36 mins., Liveley shot for goal, it was partially blocked but looped over the keeper.We'll give you that one, Danny.
This was a much better performance by St.Nics, some excellent football was played & credit must go to Coton Green for making it a fine match.

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3rd January - Cottage Farm Rangers (A) 0-9 (W)

It is unusual to describe a 9-0 win as an unsatisfactory performance but our first game of the New Year was not the greatest display of the season. Cottage Farm were a player short & a repeat of the previous thrashing was on the cards when Liveley opened the scoring after only 30 seconds, heading in Winn's cross. The Boys were totally dominating play, pounding C.F.'s goal but they lacked a crispness to their play & often seemed as if they were trying to walk the ball into the goal. Further goals did come, Liveley got his second on 3 mins. but it took until the 12th min. for Wainwright to add the third, reacting to the rebound off Cooper's shot. Liveley completed his hat-trick on 16 mins. & that was how it stayed at half-time.
The cold & sleet was clearly affecting the players but the second half followed a similar pattern to the first. Liveley notched his fourth & Sharrock finished off a goal-mouth scramble. Leckie made it 7-0 soon after. The eigth goal was complete comedy. Cottage Farms' keeper came up for a corner in their quest for a consolation goal. Miles took the subsequent goal-kick quickly before C.F. could regroup. The long kick was chased by half the St.NIcs team, it looked like the charge of the Light Brigade. With an empty net ahead of them it was a mad scramble as to who was going to score. Leckie seemed favourite but nothing was going to stop Sharrock. He 'eased' Leckie of the ball & stroked it home for his second goal. Leckie did manage to get his second & our ninth to complete the scoring.
To be honest, St. Nics. should have scored twice as many against very poor but plucky opponents but at least it blew away a few cobwebs after the Christmas break.

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13th December - Birch Coppice Cobras (A) 1 - 4 (W)

This was the reverse of the opening day fixture & a determined Birch Coppice was not going to be rolled over quite as easily this time. It only took St.Nics three minutes to open the scoring, Matthew Leckie rounding of a crisp move down the right. We all stood back & waited for the deluge but BC had other ideas. Whilst they lacked the quality of St.Nics they worked hard & played a physical game. At times the Boys moved the ball around well but then let themselves down with a poor final pass. St.Nics continued to have all the chances but just could not apply the finish. It took until the 18th minute for the second goal to arrive. Chris Wainwright bagging his 11th of the season following a goal mouth scramble. It's been a habit of late for St.Nics to concede goals near to half time & today was no exception. A long, speculative shot from the right wing soared over Richard Miles head & into the net. There were not too many chances in the second half. Ben Cooper made it 3-1, pouncing on the rebound from a Liveley shot. At least the best was saved for last. The ball was played to Leckie, with his back to goal he swept a first time pass to Wainwright on the right wing. Chris whipped in a fine cross & Leckie was there to apply the coup de grace, volleying into the net. Not a great performance today but another win to keep the Boys on top of the table.

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6th December - Atherstone Rangers Blacks (H) 3 - 1 (W)

At least the weather was an improvement although the performance from St.Nics was not as good. Atherstone were determined not to concede as many goals as they did last week & played a packed defence. The Boys made hard work of this match & couldn't quite produce the flowing, passing game that has been their trademark. Goals from Daniel-Marc Liveley, Paul Winn & Ben Cooper proved to be enough although they won't be happy at giving away another goal from a corner, the Blacks scorer having a free header.

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29th November - Atherstone Rangers Blacks (A) 2 - 9 (W)

Back to Atherstone & back to the wind & rain. The eventual scoreline was somewhat unkind to a battling Blacks side who finished the first half only 1-2 down following goals from Ben Cooper & Chris Wainwright. The atrocious conditions played their part & the seven second half goals conceded by the hosts suggests they laid down & died. Nothing could be further from the truth & that manager Gary Wainwright described the result as the 'flukiest 9-2 win' he'd ever seen says a lot.
Other St.Nics scorers were Jack McElvenney, Mattherw Leckie, Daniel-Marc Liveley(4) & Tom Sharrock.

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22nd November - Atherstone Rangers Reds (A) 1 - 6 (W) Tamworth Invitation Trophy

This 2nd round Trophy match was played in driving wind & rain but the Boys managed to play some good football on a heavy pitch & swept aside the Reds. Goals from Paul Winn, Jack McElvenney (2), Chris Wainwright, Daniel-Marc Liveley & Matthew Leckie took St.Nics into the next round to face Polesworth Swifts.

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15th November - Amington Boys Emeralds (H) 2 - 1 (W)

This was the second successive top-of-the-table clash for St.Nics & it was vital to get back to winning ways after last weeks defeat. The Boys appeared edgy throughout the game & did not play at their best against an Amington side who were also aware of the importance of this match. Chris Wainwright put us into the lead & Daniel-Marc Liveley eased the pressure with a second goal. Amington pulled one back but St.Nics did just enough to claim the victory.

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8th November - Elford Boys (H) 2 - 4 (L)

Any notions that the league was already won were quickly obliterated by this defeat to leaders Elford. St. Nics started off confidently & when Matthew Leckie volleyed home Wainwrights' cross from the right it seemed they were well on their way. A poorly defended corner allowed Elford to pull level just before half-time.
St.Nics inability to convert their pressure into goals was to prove decisive as Elford cleary raised their game for the second-half. They stormed into a 3-1 lead &, for the first time this season, the Boys were feeling the pressure. A superb individual goal from Paul Winn gave hope to St.Nics but a fourth from Elford sealed the win.
This defeat could prove to be costly for the Boys & Elford now have the advantage. It makes it even more vital now that a positive result is achieved in the return fixture.

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1st November - Polesworth Swallows (A) 0 - 7 (W)

St.Nics produced some superb football to crush Polesworth with six players chipping in with goals. Paul Winn (2) opened his seasons account & Matthew Leckie, Ben Cooper, Daniel-Marc Liveley, Jack McElvenney & Chris Wainwright all scored to round off a fine display of attacking football.

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18th October - Gillway Boys Kestrels (H) Walk-over (W)

Bottom club Gillway withdrew from the fixture & forfeited the result.

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11th October - Stoneydelph Boys Panthers (A) 2 - 6 (W)

When Ben Cooper & Matthew Leckie put St.Nics two up it looked like they were going to cruise to another emphatic win. However,Stoneydelph had other ideas & pulled a goal back just before half-time. Someone forgot to tell the Boys the second-half had actually started & within minutes the Panthers had pulled level. This proved to be the jolt St.Nics needed & they stepped up a gear scoring four unanswered goals from Leckie, Chris Wainwright, Jack McElvenney & an OG.

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4th October - Drayton Manor Strykers (H) 4 - 1 (W)

Drayton Manor had shown themselves to be a physical, hard-to-beat side last season, & this game was no exception. Our defeat at their ground last year probably cost us the title & the Boys were determined only one team was going to win this match. Goals from Daniel-Marc Liveley (2), Matthew Leckie & Chris Wainwright were enough to seal the win.

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27th September - Dosthill Costls Spitfires (A) 2 - 3 (W)

This visit to last seasons champions, Dosthill, was always going to be our first real test. Both sides were showing signs of nerves but Matthew Leckie continued his fine scoring form by putting the Boys ahead. St. Nics, despite having most of the chances, failed to build on this & Dosthill equalised before half-time. The second half continued with St.Nics applying most of the pressure but they were rocked when Dosthill struck a fine goal. This signalled a blitz on the champions goal & Chris Wainwright brought the visitors back level.
As the game neared its end it appeared a third league draw between the sides would be the outcome. However, from a corner, Tom Sharrock leapt like a salmon to head the winner. How much he actually knew of it is debatable but no one, least of all Tom, really cared.

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20th September - Cottage Farm Rangers (H) 10 - 0 (W)

The goals continued to flow for St.Nics against a totally overwhelmed Cottage Farm. Matthew Leckie (3) & Daniel-Marc Liveley (4) lead the scoring. Tom Sharrock, Chris Wainwright & George Goodman also added to the visitors misery.

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6th September - Birch Coppice Cobras (H) 8 - 0 (W)

Birch Coppice had no anwser to the Boys blistering start & never recovered from being 6-0 down at half-time. New boy Matthew Leckie scored four on his debut with Chris Wainwright (2), Daniel-Marc Liveley & Jack McElvenney adding to the tally.

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