Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division

 LONG EATON         2            ST NEOTS TOWN           1          

This was St Neots fifth league defeat in their last seven outings – all by a single goal.   Their own consolation goal came late – just three minutes from time but it showed a fierce desire to get some reward from the outing after competing well, despite having to make no less than four enforced team changes.   Hosts Long Eaton have a strong home record with just one defeat in their last seven matches, and they produced a strong second half showing after St Neots had matched them in the first 45 minutes.  With defenders Charlie Bowen and Sam Willis both suspended St Neots were also without the injured Lewis Burgess and the departed Connor Furlong and so into the starting line-up came Eniola Agemoh-Davies, Magloire Muyembe, Jessi Obeng, and James Stainsby. Recent signing Nehemiah Richard-Noel was not fully fit and therefore started on the bench.

The first half was evenly fought. Neither side were able to make significant progress against an opposing defence well organised and determined. The visitors did create one early chance after just three minutes as the tricky Harvey Williams rounded two home defenders to find James Stainsby, but his header was comfortable saved by home keeper Lewis King.   At the other end the lively Evan Garnett burst through to fire narrowly over the bar but much of the play was in midfield until the final three minutes of the half when St Neots created two openings, but Rhys Thorpe saw his effort deflected for a corner before Kieran Barnes brought a good save from King.

The second half saw a more open contest with action in both penalty areas. The home side introduced Tristan Matthews an additional attacking player who was quickly in the action. He set up Jahvan Davidson-Miller who brought a good save from visiting keeper James Goff just three minutes after the restart and the same player shot wide in the next home attack. At the other end Williams broke free, but his finish was poor, and then it was Davidson-Miller again the centre of a home attack, but this time Goff saved comfortably. St Neots introduced substitute Richard-Noel for the injured Stainsby and he arrived just in time to see Evan Garnett open the scoring for the home side after 66 minutes following neat play by Matthews. The lively Andrian Ankrah burst through the home defence but saw his effort blocked and then another home substitution saw the introduction of James Shaw another attacking player.

With ten minutes left Long Eaton struck another significant blow with their second goal. On a quick break from defence Dexter Walters spotted a gap in the visiting defence and burst through to claim the home sides’ second goal. St Neots then went on to the offensive in a bid to find some reward for their efforts introducing two late substitutes and in the resultant team shuffle Rhys Thorpe from deep in midfield produced the long pass forward to pick out Neo Richard-Noel to score St Neots consolation goal from close range.

 

Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match, In association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – ROBBIE PARKER

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Neots:  Goff, Agemoh-Davies, Muyembe, Ankrah, Henderson, Parker, Obeng, Stainsby, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams

Subs:  Richard-Noel (for Stainsby 62 mins), Gothard (for Agemoh-Davies 82 mins), Siek (for Williams 84 mins), Anderson, and Mawer.

Cards:  Barnes (Y – 67 mins), Thorpe (Y – 76 mins)

Goals:  Richard-Noel (87 mins)

 

Long Eaton United:  Hartman, Finnerty, Duncan,Cotterill, Bucci, Miller, Hanson, Garnett, Walters, Taylor

Subs:  Matthews (for Finnerty 46 mins), Shaw (for Miller 74 mins). Atwal (for Duncan 82 mins), Betts, and Pace.

Cards:  Taylor (Y – 69 mins)

Goals: Garnett (66 mins), Walters (80 mins)

Attendance: 146

Referee:  Richard Morris (Belper)

(John Walker)