ST NEOTS TOWN 2 LUTTERWORTH TOWN 2
This was definitely a case of two points lost and not one point gained as a result of which St Neots slipped one place in the league table to fourth. They did recover twice from being behind to finish with a point and prolong their unbeaten run to twelve matches, but they missed a penalty and conceded two sloppy goals against opponents who had not won away from home since 25th October. With two further consecutive home league matches to come against top five opponents they must both sharpen up their attack and tighten up their defence if they are to further their ambition of promotion back to Step Four. Having last played a home league match six weeks previous this should have been a welcome home in front of a good crowd of 355 but most went home disappointed. Now they face successive Saturday visits from two of their promotion rivals and they will look for an all-round improvement in those matches. Manager Cameron Mawer opted for two team changes recalling Chris Tavernier and Ollie Brookes for Dean Dummett and Nathan George.
It was a disappointing, fairly low-key first half with neither side looking likely to dominate the other. From a 19th minutes Murphy Culkin cross, Rhys Thorpe got clear of his marker buy could only head over an open net and two minutes later Jordan Brown went clear only for visiting keeper Warren Butlin to save bravely at his feet. The nearest to a first half breakthrough came after 23 minutes when, from a Harvey Williams corner, defender Charlie Bowen brough a full length save from the visiting keeper. Too many of St Neots better attacks were ended by the offside flag and the visiting side was determined to break up the more promising openings at any cost picking up two first half cautions.
The second half was a different contest. St Neots had the wind behind them and dominated proceedings but fell behind against the run of play after 54 minutes to a clumsy tackle that conceded a penalty with Luke Wilson the marksman. However, four minutes later the scores were levelled when Rhys Thorpe (left) got a near post touch on a long Culkin free kick to put the home side back in the match. 
Bowen then got the ball in the net from a corner but was penalised for pushing and from another Culkin free kick the visiting keeper produced the save of the match at the expense of a corner. St Neots should then have gone ahead when they were awarded a penalty kick, but Thorpe disappointingly fired over the bar after 70 minutes and three minutes later Hine Wilson regained the lead for the visitors with a smart near post finish. That set up a grandstand finish for the home side who snatched a late second equaliser three minutes from time from Jordan Brown (right) after James Hatch had hit the woodwork. Substitute Dammy Nickels saw a net bound shot deflected over the bar and both sides hit the woodwork in a frantic nine minutes of added time. The visitors returned home delighted with their point and St Neots have some serious work to do.
The second half was a different contest. St Neots had the wind behind them and dominated proceedings but fell behind against the run of play after 54 minutes to a clumsy tackle that conceded a penalty with Luke Wilson the marksman. However, four minutes later the scores were levelled when Rhys Thorpe (left) got a near post touch on a long Culkin free kick to put the home side back in the match. 
Bowen then got the ball in the net from a corner but was penalised for pushing and from another Culkin free kick the visiting keeper produced the save of the match at the expense of a corner. St Neots should then have gone ahead when they were awarded a penalty kick, but Thorpe disappointingly fired over the bar after 70 minutes and three minutes later Hine Wilson regained the lead for the visitors with a smart near post finish. That set up a grandstand finish for the home side who snatched a late second equaliser three minutes from time from Jordan Brown (right) after James Hatch had hit the woodwork. Substitute Dammy Nickels saw a net bound shot deflected over the bar and both sides hit the woodwork in a frantic nine minutes of added time. The visitors returned home delighted with their point and St Neots have some serious work to do.
Rank
Teams
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
For
Against
Goal difference
Points
1
Wellingborough Town
38
29
5
4
92
32
60
92
2
Racing Club Warwick
38
24
8
6
90
44
46
80
3
Aylestone Park
38
25
5
8
103
60
43
80
4
St Neots Town FC
38
22
9
7
74
35
39
75
5
March Town United
38
22
9
7
69
40
29
75
6
Newport Pagnell Town
37
19
5
13
70
53
17
59
7
Yaxley FC
37
16
8
13
76
60
16
56
8
GNG Oadby Town
38
16
7
15
74
89
-15
55
| Rank | Teams | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wellingborough Town | 38 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 92 | 32 | 60 | 92 |
| 2 | Racing Club Warwick | 38 | 24 | 8 | 6 | 90 | 44 | 46 | 80 |
| 3 | Aylestone Park | 38 | 25 | 5 | 8 | 103 | 60 | 43 | 80 |
| 4 | St Neots Town FC | 38 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 74 | 35 | 39 | 75 |
| 5 | March Town United | 38 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 69 | 40 | 29 | 75 |
| 6 | Newport Pagnell Town | 37 | 19 | 5 | 13 | 70 | 53 | 17 | 59 |
| 7 | Yaxley FC | 37 | 16 | 8 | 13 | 76 | 60 | 16 | 56 |
| 8 | GNG Oadby Town | 38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 74 | 89 | -15 | 55 |
Today’s Saints Supporters Man of the Match, kindly sponsored by The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – HARVEY WILLIAMS
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