Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
ST NEOTS TOWN 1 BOLDMERE ST MICHAELS 2
For the third successive time St Neots were beaten in front of their home crowd – this time by a side struggling for form. Boldmere had lost their last six league matches, and in the first half of this match there looked no chance of them arresting this slide. However their half time dressing room pep talk worked wonders, and they emerged at the end of ninety minutes with all three points and their fourth out of five victories away from home this season to lift them above the relegation places. From St Neots perspective it was a shoddy performance that deserved no reward for despite dominating the first half and having further chances after the break as the visitors took the game to them, they had nothing to show at the end except regrets that they had been so wasteful in front of goal. Central defender Charlie Bowen returned after suspension with Sam Willis returning to full back and Eniola Agemoh-Davies moving forward to replace the injured Jessi Obeng. Despite James Goff saving an early second half penalty they capitulated and must now regroup to arrest their slide down the league table.
The home side began well and could have been two goals ahead in the opening ten minutes as Connor Furlongs’ screamer from 15 yards rebounded from a goalpost and Harvey Williams lifted his effort narrowly over the bar after beating two defenders. Defender Murphy Culkin then joined the St Neots attack to head over from a Kieran Barnes cross, and visiting keeper Jonathan Brown saved a narrow-angled effort by Eniola Agemoh-Davies. The expected breakthrough came after 17 minutes when Harvey Williams cut in from the left to find a right-footed finish that was well out of reach of the visiting goalkeeper. The visitors rallied briefly and Tolani Omotola should have done better with a free header that flew over the crossbar. Brown saved bravely ay the feet of Williams and a visiting defender cleared off the goal line to deny Agemoh-Davies. As half time approach it was still one-way traffic towards the visiting goal and from a Culkin corner a Barnes effort was deflected over the cross bar by a defender. The final action of the half saw a wild finish by Agemoh-Davies that flew over the bar after neat play by Sam Willis.
The second half saw a transformation in the proceedings. The visitors came out to dominate play from the start with the home defence under constant pressure. St Neots conceded a third minute penalty when Goff upended Charlie Manners, but the keeper made immediate amends pushing away Daniel O’Callaghan’s spot kick. However, the visitors persevered and Goff had to save at full length from Ben Lund, and at close range from Manners. St Neots sent on new signing MJ Muyembe for Agemoh-Davies just in time to see Pierre Phillip level the scores with a towering header from a corner. The visitors maintained their pressure and Goff again saved full length from Kyle Byrne before the impressive Fraser Doyle shot wide when well placed. St Neots forward play became ragged and with just four minutes left the visitors deservedly snatched a winning goal as from another corner Charlie Manners got in front of his marker to net.
So, it will be back to the drawing board for St Neots before their next match away at Rugby Town.
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In Association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – JAMES GOFF
St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Culkin, Ankrah, Parker, Bowen, Furlong, Agemoh-Davies, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams
Subs: Anderson (for Obeng 75 mins), Stainsby (for Ankrah 85 mins). Henderson (for Parker 90 mins), and Anderson.
Cards: Thorpe, (Y – 36 mins). Willis (Y – 77 mins), Henderson (Y – 90+2 mins)
Goals: Williams (17 mins)
Boldmere St Michaels: Brown, Phillips, Gough, Christophorou, O’Callaghan, Armstrong, Doyle, Manners, Omotola, Lund, Byrne
Cards: Ben Roberts – (Manager) – (Y – 72 mins)
Goals: Phillips (61 mins), Manners (86 mins)
Attendance: 276
Referee: Adam Everitt (Ely, Cambs)
(John Walker)