Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
ST NEOTS TOWN 0 LICHFIELD CITY 1
What a difference a week makes! Just a week ago St Neots dominated the first half of their match at Sutton Coldfield scoring four goals. Then back at home in their next outing they failed to produce a shot on goal before half time. The second half was a different story but despite dominating play after appropriate half time advice from Manager Cameron Mawer, St Neots were unable to break through the stubborn visiting defence and so fell to their third home league defeat of the season. They fielded an unchanged side and despite scoring seven goals in their last two outings they were unable to find the target with the visiting goal at times leading a charmed life. Lichfield are in their first season at Step Four, and this victory lifted them to the dizzy heights of third in the table with St Neots now eleventh.
The first 45 minutes saw very little action at either end of the field with goalmouth incidents at a premium. The visiting side played a neat version of keep-ball, much of it in their own half of the field whilst St Neots seem unable to string together two significant passes. The only effort on goal by the home side came following a corner when a blocked shot landed at the feet of defender Charlie Bowen who sent his effort wide of target after twelve minutes. Then three minutes later a visiting attack saw a shot by Luke Childs blocked and the ball landed between two St Neots defenders who hesitated, and Jack Edwards quickly nipped in to lift the ball beyond the reach of the home keeper. Even being a goal down failed to shake St Neots into action and before half time their position could have deteriorated further when Max Beech shot over the bar after neat play by James Wilcock had played him clear.
It was a different home side that emerged after the break. They set about repairing the damage and from a Murphy Culkin corner, the lively Kieran Barnes saw his effort cleared off the line by a defender. A free kick by the same St Neots player was then deflected over the bar by a visiting defender and another effort from Barnes was well saved by the busy Lichfield goalkeeper. At the other end James Goff had to save bravely at the feet of Edwards but most of the action was in the visitors’ half. Barnes had another shot saved after neat play by Connor Furlong and St Neots then sent on Eniola Agemoh-Davies to boost their attack. They maintained their pressure with a Williams shot blocked and a Michael Amaeshike effort just wide after good approach play by Robbie Parker. As the clock wound down Goff had to be alert, to save from visiting substitute Jude Taylor and despite maintaining their possessional superiority St Neots were unable to break through the stubborn visiting defence.
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In Association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – Kieran Barnes
St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Culkin, Ankrah, Parker, Bowen, Furlong, Amaeshike, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams
Subs: Agemoh-Davies (for Ankrah 65 mins), Stainsby (for Barnes 86 mins), Obeng, and Anderson
Cards: Culkin (Y – 90+1 min)
Goals: none
Lichfield City: Bunn, Mansell, Elkes, Wilcock, McMenemy, Mills, Edwards, Beech, Spiers, Francis, Childs
Subs: Bostock (for Wilcock 65 mins), Lomas (for Francis 71 mins), Taylor (for Edwards 86 mins). Simkiss, and Newman.
Cards: Mansell (Y – 61 mins)
Goals: Edwards (15 mins)