UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH

St Neots Town    3    Coventry United    1

 

With Aylestone Park without a game, St Neots moved four points clear at the top of the league table with this victory over Coventry United. The result avenged a 2-1 defeat at Coventry back in November and set St Neots Town up for two important Cup semi-finals in the next ten days. It was an unchanged side that took the field for the home side. The visitors came to town on the back of a well-earned home draw with former league leaders Aylestone Park and were looking for their first league points at the Premier Plus Stadium.

In the first half the visitors had a good share of possession but made little attacking progress again a sturdy home defence in which skipper Rob Parker and Charlie Bowen were outstanding. St Neots took the lead early after just seven minutes when a trademark long throw into the six yards box from Murphy Culkin was only cleared as far as Charlie Bowen and from the edge of the penalty area, he drove home past a visiting keeper who may have been unsighted. Eight minutes later following a build up out of defence Harvey Williams was close to extending the lead, but his low shot passed the wrong side of a goalpost. However, St Neots did double their advantage on 16 minutes when the lively Williams was hauled down in the area and Sam Willis stepped forward to net from the penalty spot. Rhys Thorpe should have added to the lead three minutes later after intercepting a careless pass, but his finish was wide, and then Williams saw another net bound effort deflected for a corner. The same player saw another effort just off target after good work by Culkin and the only serious first half threat to the home goal came after 40 minutes when visiting striker Curvin Ellis volleyed over the bar from close range. The half ended with a speculative effort from Barnes going just wide with the visiting keeper out of position.

The visiting team looked more positive and aggressive upon the restart with the addition of two substitutes in attacking roles. St Neots soaked up most of the attacking play without looking in danger of relinquishing their comfortable advantage and both Barnes and substitute Danny Baulk tested the visiting keeper. Williams continued to threaten down the left flank and visiting keeper Jake Bull did well to parry his effort after he had broken clear. Then, after 78 minutes, a visiting defender handled in the area and Sam Willis tucked away his second spot kick of the match to increase St Neots’ lead. That seemed to stiffen the visitors’ determination and they set about pressurising the home defence. James Goff saved well from substitute Scott Hammond but with one minute of normal time remaining they did get a consolation goal from Cameron Dunn, another substitute. In a rather generous ten minutes of added time St Neots were happy to defend their lead to pick up three more valuable points to cement their position as league leaders.

 

Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – in association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – CHARLIE BOWEN

 

 

 

 

St Neots Town:  Goff, Willis, Culkin, Tavernier, Parker, Bowen, Furlong, Amaeshike, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams

Subs:  Baulk (for Furlong 68 mins), Hatch (for Thorpe 90+6 mins), Peters (for Williams 90+7 mins), and Sutherland

Cards:  Bowen (Y – 74 mins), Baulk (Y – 85 mins).

Coventry United:  Bull, Osazee, Dickens, Cox, Ritson, Mussa, Dube, Merrick, Ellis, Parker, Devoile

Subs:  Cairns (for Ellis 64 mins), Hammond (for Merrick 64 mins), Dunn (for Dickens 68 mins), Mort (for Parker 80 mins), and Owen.

Cards: Ellis (Y – 53 mins), Bull (Y – 85 mins)

Attendance: 252

Referee:  Daniel Miller (Northampton)

 (John Walker)