Northampton ON Chenecks 1 – 3 Nuneaton Town

A cold midweek win that said a lot about character

Wednesday night football. Floodlights buzzing, breath hanging in the air, the damp turf glistening under the glare.

Nuneaton Town made the midweek trip to Northampton ON Chenecks and came away with a 1-3 win. A result that felt earned, not given. The kind of performance that builds confidence quietly, without fuss.

How it happened

Town started brightly and took the lead early on.

Eesa Sawyers broke down the right and lifted a perfect cross for Kyle Jardine, who rose to head home inside eight minutes.

The hosts responded well, keeping the pressure on and finding an equaliser just before the break. Ijah Augustine was quickest to react in a crowded box and levelled from a corner.

The second half was scrappy but full of intent. With time running out, Callum Carsley whipped in a dangerous free-kick, and Michael McGrath powered in a header at the back post to make it 1-2.

Deep into stoppage time, Sawyers capped off his night with a calm finish on the break to make it 1-3, and that was that. Not the prettiest game, but the kind of win that shows a team’s spirit.

Man of the Match

Eesa Sawyers was lively, creative, and decisive. Created one, scored one, and kept Chenecks guessing all night.

A bit about the hosts: what’s in a name?

“Northampton ON Chenecks” is one of the most distinctive names in non-league football, and it comes with a great story.

The club began in 1946 as Chenecks FC, founded so boys from Northampton Grammar School (a rugby-playing school) could play football. The name “Chenecks” comes from the initials of the school houses: Chipseys, Spencer, Beckett, and St Crispins.

In 1960, the club joined the Old Northamptonians Association, adding “ON” to its name and becoming Northampton ON Chenecks. They’ve been based at Billing Road ever since. A small but proud part of the local football story.

Photographing under the lights

Night matches are always tricky behind the camera. With stands on only one side of the ground, one side’s blazing white, the other fades into shadow.

You end up chasing small pools of light, watching for the exact moment expression, movement, and exposure align. It’s a challenge, but that’s what makes it addictive. You’re constantly adapting, trusting your instincts when autofocus hesitates.

There’s something magical about it too. The glow of the lights, the cold breath in the air, the rhythm of the game framed in darkness.