UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
Histon 0 St Neots Town 1
St Neots extended their lead at the top of the table to five points with this single goal victory over Histon.The home side boasted one of the best home records in the UCL Premier South Division this season with just a single league defeat prior to this visit by St Neots. Elsewhere Aylestone Park moved into second place after comprehensively defeating Rugby Borough who are now third – seven points behind St Neots with one match in hand. St Neots had one enforced team change with James Peters coming in for the unavailable Charlie Bowen and also brought back Christian Tavernier for Robbie Sutherland. The goal came late in the second half after St Neots had dominated proceedings after the break, although the home side did create chances of their own after soaking up constant pressure from the visiting side.
In front of a sizable crowd St Neots began well with Kieran Barnes shooting wide in the third minute after good work by Christian Tavernier but the home side responded with former Saint Joe Sutton seeing a shot deflected wide. A spectacular overhead effort by Rhys Thorpe was too high and then Danny Setchell drove a free kick into the St Neots defensive wall. The sides were looking evenly matched, and St Neots appeals for a penalty were waved away. As the first half moved into its final ten minutes St Neots began to dictate play as Barnes tested home keeper George Whitehall, Connor Furlong got the ball in the net to be denied by the offside flag and defender Murphy Culkin burst through the defence but his finish was wide.
After the home side had squandered an early second half opening as Connor Barnes miscued his effort when played clear of a square lying St Neots back four, the visitors began to dominate play and James Peters got behind the home defence to set up Barnes but his lob over the home keeper also cleared the crossbar. As St Neots pressed both Culkin and Harvey Williams had shots blocked and in another concerted St Neots attack Furlong had two shots blocked in succession with the home defence always in the right place. In a breakaway Histon attack, Taylor Franklin went clear of the visiting defence but shot disappointingly wide of the far post and then with substitutes on Histon seemed to find second wind having survived St Neots best efforts. However, the chances kept coming for the visitors as Williams and Culkin linked cleverly down the left side, but Whitehall was equal to the full back’s finish. Then after 77 minutes St Neots made the important breakthrough as the lively Connor Furlong (above) moved inside two defenders to send a shot over the diving Whitehall and under the bar for what proved to be the winning goal. The competitive nature of the game did not relent as it moved to its finish with visiting keeper James Goff having to make a crucial save to deny Charlie Black deep into added time.
After the home side had squandered an early second half opening as Connor Barnes miscued his effort when played clear of a square lying St Neots back four, the visitors began to dominate play and James Peters got behind the home defence to set up Barnes but his lob over the home keeper also cleared the crossbar. As St Neots pressed both Culkin and Harvey Williams had shots blocked and in another concerted St Neots attack Furlong had two shots blocked in succession with the home defence always in the right place. In a breakaway Histon attack, Taylor Franklin went clear of the visiting defence but shot disappointingly wide of the far post and then with substitutes on Histon seemed to find second wind having survived St Neots best efforts. However, the chances kept coming for the visitors as Williams and Culkin linked cleverly down the left side, but Whitehall was equal to the full back’s finish. Then after 77 minutes St Neots made the important breakthrough as the lively 
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In Association With The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – Connor Furlong
St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Culkin, Tavernier, Parker, Peters, Furlong, Amaeshike, Thorpe, Barnes (K), Williams
Subs: Baulk (for Furlong 89 mins), George, Sutherland, Jessop, Fox.
Cards: Willis (Y – 70 mins), Thorpe (Y – 83 mins)
Histon: Whitehall, Black, Leka, O’Neill, York, Saffery, Franklin, Crisp, Barnes (C), Setchell, Sutton
Subs: Binder (for Setchell 64 Mins), Cole (for Franklin 69 mins), Cardines (for Sutton 77 mins), Kirkup, and Bruce.
Cards: Setchell (Y – 61 mins), O’Neill (Y – 70 mins), Leka (Y – 83 mins)
Attendance: 304
Referee: Andrew Hitchcox
(John Walker)
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