Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
BELPER TOWN 1 ST NEOTS TOWN 2
After eight league games without a win St Neots returned to winning ways away from home at the expense of in-form Belper Town. on their longest away league trip of the season. The Derbyshire side currently second in the league table had set up an unbeaten seven matches run and were looking to repeat their victory recorded at St Neots in the opening league match of the season. However, the reshuffled St Neots line-up with Neo Richard-Noel leading the attack delivered an unexpected but well-deserved victory with a gutsy performance. The changes seemed to inspire the visitors, and they took the game to their high-flying hosts from the first whistle. Charlie Bowen returned for St Neots after suspension and Lewis Burgess and Anthony Agemoh-Davies both after injury returned to the starting line-up with Andrian Ankrah and Magloire Muyembe on the bench and recent signing Stacey Freeman unavailable. The result lifted St Neots up a couple of places in the league table to eighteenth – three points clear of the relegation zone.
The first half was an end-to-end extravaganza of attacking football with underdogs St Neots leading the way. In the first minute Neo Richard-Noel won a header in the home penalty area, but Kieran Preston saved well, and in the hosts first attack three minutes later they had the ball in the net, but an offside flag ruled out their effort. Lewis Austin then brought a good save from James Goff as the end-to-end activity continued but it was St Neots who were in the ascendancy as Rhys Thorpe playing a wide role on the left saw a rising shot deflected for a corner. After 17 minutes Liam Moran volleyed over the bar for the hosts but sixty seconds later St Neots took the lead when from a Harvey Williams cross Neo Richard-Noel put St Neots in front. In a counter-attack Jacob Stratton shot over the bar after beating his marker and then Harvey Henderson headed over from a Kieran Barnes corner. As the half drew to a close the lively Williams moved inside his marker to fire over the bar whilst at the other end Goff saved comfortably from Moran.
After half rime the visitors introduced substitute Magloire Muyembe for the limping Eniola 
Agemoh-Davies with the versatile Sam Willis slotting in at full back and within sixty seconds the substitute had picked up a yellow card with a first mistimed challenge. St Neots maintained their attacking approach and Harvey Williams came inside his marker to bring a save from Preston and then Richard- Noel shot wide. Then on the hour St Neots won a free kick and in a crowded penalty area Harvey Henderson was first to the ball to net from close range for his first St Neots goal. The home side responded by introducing two substitutes to switch to a more attacking approach with the visiting defence coming under some pressure. Belper were rewarded thirteen minutes from time when the lively Kevin Bastos reduced the arrears. However, the St Neots defence held out in the face of an onslaught and the home side saw one player booked and second sent off after the final whistle as they vented their frustration on the Referee.
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In association with the Greystones Public House, Sawtry – Neo Richard-Noel
St Neots Town: Goff, Agemoh-Davies, Burgess, Parker, Henderson, Bowen, Willis, Richard-Noel, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams
Subs: Muyembe (for Agemoh-Davies 46 mins), Stainsby (for Richard-Noel 76 mins), Ankrah, Obeng, and Gothard.
Cards: Muyembe (Y – 47 mins), Parker (Y – 78 mins), Willis (Y – 86 mins).
Goals: Richard-Noel (18 mins), Henderson (59 mins)
Belper Town: Preston, Rhones, Keenan, Burrows, Broadhead, Evans, Bastos, Austin, Moran, Gratton, Fenton
Subs: Fankwe (for Burrows 69 mins), Wafula (for Fenton 69 mins), Tague (for Austin 86 Mins), Frost, and Tsolakis
Cards: Keenan (RED – 90+5 mins), Rhodes (Y – 90+5 mins)
Goal: Bastos (77 mins)
Attendance: 518
Referee: Jack Schoolmeester (Lincoln)
(John Walker)