Saints created enough chances in the game to have won two matches but a combination of poor finishing and a committed performance by Yaxley saw the match finish goalless.
Despite having to make a number of changes due to injury and unavailability, Saints started the game positively with a Liam Harrold effort blocked after a cross by Lee Bassett and Kevin Ashby heading wide. Yaxley almost scored themselves when a misplaced defensive header gave Jamie Darlow a chance but he shot wide. Saints should have then taken the lead on 11 minutes when an Andy Lodge gave Bassett a clear opening but his effort hit keeper Bellairs on the leg. Play was then fairly even with Harrold being crowded out by the visiting defence and Aaron Ridout shooting past the post for Yaxley. However, in the last 15 minutes of the half, Saints took control. From a Harrold flick on, Bassett was denied by a last ditch tackle by Matthew Holland and debutant Lance Gentle-King headed wide. Lodge then provided another cross which saw Harrold's goal bound header hit Bassett and the latter was then thwarted by an excellent tackle by Anthony Thomas following a Bellairs error. On 41 minutes, after Edge's shot had been blocked, Bassett hit the bar and Okai headed the rebound into the grateful keepers' arms. Another Okai effort was deflected into the path of Knight but he shot tamely wide. The half ended on a controversial note as Ridout was fortunate not to be sent off for a dangerous tackle, receiving only a yellow card instead.
Bassett had another great opportunity at the beginning of the second half but could not connect with a dangerous cross from the right. Saints, although not being under much pressure in defence, then struggled to create an opportunity as Yaxley defended with discipline. On the hour mark, an excellent run and cross by Lodge saw Thomas make a block that, fortunately for him, did not fall to a Saints player. Lodge and Okai then combined down the left but Knight's shot was deflected wide. Substitute Scott Quinney had a rare half chance for Yaxley with fifteen minutes to go before a quickly taken corner saw a Bassett header saved and a cross from Tony Scully was scrambled away. Scully, who had come off the bench for his first appearance of the season, showed some nice touches and was involved in a fine passing move which saw Hyem's cross failing to reach a Saints player. Ridout was lucky again not to receive a second yellow card for a "studs up" tackle before Saints final effort of the game from Okai went wide.
Match date: Sat 22nd August 2009