UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
ST NEOTS TOWN 3 AYLESTONE PARK 2
Four goals in nine second half minutes set this contest alight as the top two sides in the UCL Premier Division South locked horns in an early pre-Christmas special. The outcome after ninety minutes plus added time was a narrow but deserved victory that took St Neots to the top of the league table with a superior goal difference of just one goal. The visitors played their part coming twice from behind to level the scores after St Neots had deservedly shaded the first half to lead by a goal to nil at the break. A bumper home crowd of 418 cheered their side to victory on a cold afternoon. For St Neots, the result represented a significant league double as they became the first side to beat their visitors home and away. With home skipper Robbie Parker unavailable, Charlie Bowen, Kieran Barnes and Harvey Williams all returned to the starting line-up with Dammy Nickels and Danny Baulk rested on the substitutes bench.
Four goals in nine second half minutes set this contest alight as the top two sides in the UCL Premier Division South locked horns in an early pre-Christmas special. The outcome after ninety minutes plus added time was a narrow but deserved victory that took St Neots to the top of the league table with a superior goal difference of just one goal. The visitors played their part coming twice from behind to level the scores after St Neots had deservedly shaded the first half to lead by a goal to nil at the break. A bumper home crowd of 418 cheered their side to victory on a cold afternoon. For St Neots, the result represented a significant league double as they became the first side to beat their visitors home and away. With home skipper Robbie Parker unavailable, Charlie Bowen, Kieran Barnes and Harvey Williams all returned to the starting line-up with Dammy Nickels and Danny Baulk rested on the substitutes bench.
The first half saw St Neots produce some of their best football at home this season as they dominated their visitors in terms of possession and chance creation, and they really should have been in a much stronger position at the break. However, the visiting side have the second-best defensive record in the division, and they were able to repel St Neots’ best efforts with visiting keeper Liam Castle in almost constant action. In the first action of the match inside the first minute the stage was set as the hard-working Rhys Thorpe chased a long forward pass to cross for Connor Furlong whose effort was deflected for a corner. Chris Tavernier then had another early effort deflected as St Neots set out their stall and the only response from the visiting side was a through ball which was retrieved at the feet of an attacker by James Goff. After a quarter of an hour St Neots took the lead when Kieran Barnes first shot was blocked but he followed up with a second low effort which took a wicked deflection into the far corner of the net to open the scoring. Thorpe volleyed over after a good through pass from Tavernier and skipper Charlie Bowen sent a header narrowly over the bar from a Sam Willis cross. A Furlong snap-shot was well saved by the visiting keeper who then had to dive bravely at the feet of Thorpe to smother another St Neots opening. Just before the break both Furlong and Thorpe had chances to extend the lead, but both were squandered as St Neots had to settle for their slim half time advantage.
The first half saw St Neots produce some of their best football at home this season as they dominated their visitors in terms of possession and chance creation, and they really should have been in a much stronger position at the break. However, the visiting side have the second-best defensive record in the division, and they were able to repel St Neots’ best efforts with visiting keeper Liam Castle in almost constant action. In the first action of the match inside the first minute the stage was set as the hard-working Rhys Thorpe chased a long forward pass to cross for Connor Furlong whose effort was deflected for a corner. Chris Tavernier then had another early effort deflected as St Neots set out their stall and the only response from the visiting side was a through ball which was retrieved at the feet of an attacker by James Goff. After a quarter of an hour St Neots took the lead when
The second half was just ten minutes old when the contest exploded into life. The visitors dragged themselves level as Abdul Sunmonu set up Sam Hollis to even up the contest at 1-1 but just 45 seconds later straight from the restart a long Murphy Culkin throw into the penalty area set up Michael Amaeshike for his eleventh goal of the season to restore St Neots’ lead. Two minutes later the visiting keeper produced a stunning full length save to push away a Furlong drive and after 62 minutes from a Corey Bucalossi corner Billy Kee forced the ball into the net from close range to restore parity for the second time at 2-2. Again, St Neots’ response was swift and significant for two minutes later Rhys Thorpe netted a Williams cross to make the score 3-2. After this flurry of excitement, the game settled with St Neots still looking in control but with both sides looking less ambitious going forward. Seven minutes from time Williams went close after beating two defenders, but his finish was too high, and St Neots should have scored a late fourth goal but substitute James Hatch shot wide after good wide play by Thorpe.
Again, St Neots’ response was swift and significant for two minutes later
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In Association With The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – KIERAN BARNES
St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Culkin, Tavernier, Sage, Bowen, Furlong, Amaeshike, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams
Subs: Baulk (for Furlong 68 mins), Hatch (for Barnes 85 mins), Ajana, Sutherland and Nickels.
Cards: none
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