FOOTBALL: A SPIRITED performance once again came to nothing for Southam as they slipped to a 6-1 defeat at home to Studley in the Midland League Division One.
Southam came up against a Studley side were had four former Saints players in their ranks and they proved too strong on Saturday as Ian Ray’s side fell to a 13th defeat this season.
The game had started well in the very bright sunshine but there was a portent of what was to come on five minutes when a Studley forward was adjudged to have beaten the Saints offside trap but managed to only hit the post of a gaping net after rounding keeper Simon Reading.
Two minutes later, when everyone in the ground except the linesman thought he was clearly offside, Gareth Evans, who played for Saints briefly last season, ran onto a long ball and shot past Reading to give the away side the lead.
Not long after Studley won a corner which was swung in by Dan Ludlow and Evans beat Reading to the ball to head in.
Despite these setbacks, Southam attacked with some purpose and came close to scoring on 22 minutes following a corner of their own.
However, on 30 minutes another defensive lapse allowed Evans to add a third and this was further compounded on 39 minutes when a needlessly conceded free kick was floated into the Saints box and another former player Matty Ross headed in unchallenged.
Studley scored their best goal of the game on the stroke of half time when Evans beat his man on the right and curled an unstoppable shot around Reading.
Although the game itself was lost at this stage, Southam at least restored some pride after half time, battling well in the second period which was to end even.
Evans scored his fifth and Studley’s sixth on 73 minutes with Josh Turton replying for Saints on 83 minutes when he shot low and hard across the visiting keeper from the edge of the box following a nice Southam move.
Saints almost scored a second before the end but were denied in a goalmouth scramble.
Southam will be looking to record their first victory of the season when they face Pelsall Villa at Banbury Road on Saturday.
