Credible Draw For Mawer’s Men Versus Higher Grade Waders

Pre-Season Friendly

ST NEOTS TOWN   0         BIGGLESWADE TOWN   0         

St Neots wrapped up their pre-season preparation with a creditable home draw against higher graded Biggleswade Town who play at Step Four. It was their best defensive performance in their five pre-season matches but without two or three key players to return to the line-up they will hope for even more improvement in attack as the season proper kicks in.   Ambitious Biggleswade were close to winning back their Step Three slot last season and proved to be a credible test as Manager Cameron Mawer continues to shape his squad for the upcoming campaign which begins next Saturday at home to Bugbrooke St Michaels.

The first half was as much a test of determination as a straightforward contest as both sides looked defensively strong but were unable to beak down their opposition. In fact, in the first half neither keeper was really tested, although the visitors’ best chance from a 27th minutes attack saw a shot from Luke Andrews deflected for a corner. Earlier St Neots had the ball in the net, but the Referee awarded a free kick for a foul on a defender, and JJ Lacey shot over the bar for the visitors. Just before the break the lively Reece Crowter shot wide after a good approach move from the home side.

The second half produced better goalmouth action.   In the first minute after the restart Lacey struck the outside of a goalpost with a snapshot from twenty yards and at the other end Magloire Muyembe forced visiting keeper Jack Bearman into a low save at his second attempt. Substitutions by both sides failed to produce a significant change in the pattern of play with the visitors enjoying greater possession but failing to seriously test the home keeper. As the game moved into the final ten minutes the visitors’ looked to be finishing the stronger and Lacey and a visiting substitute forced James Goff into two smart saves to preserve his sides’ clean sheet.

St Neots Town:   Goff, Brown, Nickels, Romeo, George, Lincoln, Crowter, Dummett, Smith, Muyembe, Williams

Subs:  Lawless, Ajana

Referee:  James Cliffe

Attendance: 122