St Neots Town U18 vs St. Ives Town U18

Thurlow Nunn Youth League West Division

ST NEOTS TOWN U18      5      ST IVES TOWN U18      3      

This was a truly bizarre match with the fortunes of the two sides swinging wildly and a twist in the tail that settled the outcome.   St Neots dominated the first half but scored just once but were then denied further goals three times by the woodwork in a spell of just 20 minutes.   Meantime visitors St Ives recovered to lead 2-1 and 3-2 before St Neots levelled with just six minutes left and then substitute Junior Muya grabbed two goals in time added at the end of the match to send the visitors home empty handed.   It was a match that both defences will be happy to forget but it kept the spectators on the edge of their seats right up to the final whistle.

St Neots looked full of confidence from the start but their first two efforts on goal were off target as Tavon Carter shot wide after good work by David Hartley and then Sam Williams headed narrowly wide from a Dan Mattin free kick.   However after 12 minutes the home side took the lead as Lawrence Harper-Scott cushioned a Rukky Diejomaoh cross into the path of Carter who finished with a well placed shot.  Visiting keeper Luke Mason then saved well from Diejomaoh and also retrieved a David Hartley shot at the second attempt.   Little was seen of the St Ives attack although David Lapkin crossed for Tom Eyre to fire over the bar and home keeper Dan Huff had to save at the feet of Lapkin after a defensive slip.   St Neots kept creating openings and the hard working Carter had two further openings late in the first half but he saqw Mason save well before heading wide when well placed.

Inside two minutes of the restart Williams hit the bar and Diejomaoh the post as St Neots sought to regain their dominance but having ridden their luck St Ives levelled the scores after 50 minutes when Calem Cobb scored with a surprise right foot volley.   Worse was to follow for St Neots because on the hour Huff made a great full stretch save to deny Eyre but Ashley Clifton was on hand to put St Ives in front.   St Neots looked shocked and substitute Joe Meeds could hardly believe his luck when his shot beat Mason but rebounded from the cross bar.   More chances followed but the last fifteen minutes was breathtaking.   After 65 minutes Tavon Carter collected a cross by Harper-Scott to restore parity at 2-2 but three minutes later the visitors’ were in front again when David Lakin converted a Clifton cross.  A slick St Neots move saw substitute Blake Rivers set up Sam Williams and at 3-3 a draw looked certain.  However substitute Junior Muya had other ides and a minute into added time he was on hand to turn in the box to put St Neots back in front for the first time in the second half and two minutes later he wrapped up a memorable victpory with his second goal.

St Neots: Huff, Hartley (C),Mattin, Stringer, Poli, Williams, Harper-Scott, Hartley (D), Diejomaoh, Carter, Fawcus-Williams.

Subs used:  Moya,Meeds, Jones, Blake.

St Ives: Mason, Marjora, Case, Scott, McRay, Smith, Cobb, Eyre, Clifton, Lapkin, Kotrious.

Sub used:  Baker

Cards:  none

Goals (St Neots):  Carter 2 (12mins & 76 mins), Williams, Moya 2 (45 + 1 min & 45 + 3 mins)

           (St Ives):  Cobb (50 mins), Clifton (61 mins), Lapkin 79 mins)

John Walker