B Team Report: Saints five unbeaten

Saints took the lead on 18 minutes, Kazeem Olaigbe’s fourth of the season latching onto the end of Will Smallbone’s cut-back with a first-time finish.

Olaigbe added his and Saints’ second 20 minutes later, fed by Kamari Doyle and finding the far-left corner with ease.

After making it three consecutive wins on Sunday, Dave Horseman made three changes to the side that beat Aston Villa 4-0.

The most notable inclusion was Yan Valery, who was included in the starting back line as he continued his development as a centre back.

Ramello Mitchell and Kamari Doyle were the two other changes, making way for Nathan Tella and Caleb Watts.

Clearly wary of the optimistic mood their hosts would be in after recent form, Newcastle pressed Saints at any given opportunity during the opening minutes.

The Magpies then almost profited from their confident start. A long ball sent towards an outstretched Adam Wilson in the box, who came inches away from connecting at the far post.

Saints responded through two of their more experienced personnel. Valery bursting forward from centre back before laying off Will Smallbone on the right side of the penalty area who just missed the target from a tight angle.

Then came a long ball from Bycroft on 10 minutes which fell to the feet of Lewis Payne on the right wing, who beat the offside trap but couldn’t trouble the keeper with his effort.

The threat came again from the visitors; Bycroft called into more familiar territory to save down low from Elliot Anderson and then Josh Scott in quick succession.

It would take a well-crafted move for Saints to beat the Newcastle press, which resulted in the opening goal of the game.

On 18 minutes Smallbone was played through down the left flank. He cut the ball back into the perfect area where Olaigbe was ready and waiting to fire home his fourth of the season first time.

Despite the goal Newcastle continued to impose themselves on Saints, pressing their way up the field but unable to make their pressure count with Bycroft relatively untested.

They were made to pay with seven minutes to go before the break; Kamari Doyle feeding Olaigbe who, in a similar position to where he got his first, doubled his and Saints’ tally for the afternoon.

Smallbone was once again the orchestrator for what Horseman’s side thought was a well-worked third, playing in Mitchell who accurately found the bottom corner but was denied by the linesman’s flag.

The early stages of the second half saw more of the same, a mix of Newcastle pressure with Saints’ clear threat on the counter.

Doyle came inches away from adding a third on 56 minutes, latching onto Payne’s through ball which followed a superb solo run the Saints youngster fired just wide of the far post.

In the end it would be a stroke of fortune which handed Saints their third of the afternoon.

Doyle swung in a corner from the left-hand-side, which looked to be well claimed by keeper Dan Langley, only for him to miss the ball entirely and see it fall to Simeu at the back post.

The Saints centre-back had two bites of the cherry, before scoring his first Saints goal and extending the lead to three on 61 minutes.

Just five minutes later the lead was four, Olaigbe turning provider for Small who found the far corner with a neat finish.

Despite conceding two quick-fire goals the Magpies continued to pose a threat going forward, Bycroft having to be alert after two dangerous low crosses from the visitors.

But as Saints had done all afternoon they made Newcastle pay on the break, Payne stamping his mark on proceedings with his third in two games.

Understandably the Newcastle pressure faltered following the fifth, Horseman’s side well in control of proceedings at Staplewood Campus.

The result meant five unbeaten for Saints, four consecutive wins and four consecutive clean sheets.

Next up is the final Papa John’s Trophy outing of the season, visiting Crawley Town on Tuesday night.

Head to Head Stats

• Possession (%)
  47

  53
• Shots
  10

  9
• Shots on target
  7

  2
• Corners
  6

  2
• Passes Complete
  351

  434