UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
ST NEOTS TOWN 3 O.N. CHENECKS 2
Intent on maintaining their hard-earned lead at the top of the table, St Neots had to rally to come back from behind twice to earn three more precious points in their quest for promotion at the end of the season. Visitors ON Chenecks had held Cameron Mawer’s side to a draw in the first meeting this season of the two sides at Northampton and leading by the odd goal in three after an hour of this match, they were threatening to dent St Neots’ championship hopes. Then, in a late rally, St Neots’ leading scorer Rhys Thorpe scored twice in a three minute spell before his side hung on to repel a late Chenecks push for a third goal and a share of the points. There was just one team change from the Hinchingbrooke Cup defeat at March, with Harvey Williams returning to replace Danny Baulk who was on the bench.
St Neots got off to a lightning start and could have been two goals up on the first five minutes. After just 40 seconds Rhys Thorpe played Kieran Barnes through the visiting defence but the visiting goalkeeper got down to block his finish and in the next significant St Neots attack Sam Willis overlapped on the right but his narrow- angled shot was bundled out for a corner. After six minutes the visitors displayed how dangerous their attack could be when former Saint, Lewis Irwin, got behind the home defence to beat the Saints keeper, but skipper Robbie Parker got back to clear off the line! However, St Neots’ luck was compromised five minutes later when a clearance rebounded off a home player and landed at the feet of Romeo Ingman who sent a smart finish past the stranded home keeper to open the scoring. 
Another sharp finish by Ijah Augustine flew over the St Neots crossbar and the home side had to work hard to get back into the match. Then, after 27 minutes, the hard- working Rhys Thorpe rose high above his marker to knock down a cross from the left and CONNOR FURLONG (left) produced a perfectly placed finish just under the bar to level the scores. Three minutes later the visitors regained the lead when Ray Poku cut in to set up Lewis Irwin for a goal against his former Club. The nearest St Neots got to a second equaliser before the break was a Thorpe header from a free kick that visiting keeper Bradley Lashley did well to push around a post for a corner.
Another sharp finish by Ijah Augustine flew over the St Neots crossbar and the home side had to work hard to get back into the match. Then, after 27 minutes, the hard- working Rhys Thorpe rose high above his marker to knock down a cross from the left and St Neots came out after the break in determined fashion and in the first five minutes Michael Amaeshike was twice close to levelling the scores. First a header from a Sam Willis cross was well saved and then a close-range volley hit the body of the visiting keeper before being scrambled clear. A Barnes header was comfortably saved and now the visitors were concentrating on defence in a bid to protect their narrow lead. However, St Neots were determined to make their possession pay and after 67 minutes they got their reward when leading scorer RHYS THORPE (right) rose at the far post to convert a Willis cross to level the scores. Three minutes later it was THORPE again who put St Neots in front from a Barnes pass. After Ray Poku had squandered a chance to level the scores, Chenecks threw on two attacking substitutes to try to get back into the contest but they never looked likely to spoil St Neots comeback until added time when substitute Tyrun Primus and Romeo Ingman both squandered good openings to snatch a late share of the points.
First a header from a Sam Willis cross was well saved and then a close-range volley hit the body of the visiting keeper before being scrambled clear. A Barnes header was comfortably saved and now the visitors were concentrating on defence in a bid to protect their narrow lead. However, St Neots were determined to make their possession pay and after 67 minutes they got their reward when leading scorer 
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In association with The Greystones Public House – RHYS THORPE
Recent Comments