Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
WELLINGBOROUGH TOWN 1 ST NEOTS TOWN 1
Seven points out of nine from their three holiday matches (two of which were away from home) represented an excellent haul over the Christmas/New Year period and leaves St Neots in good heart for their upcoming busy January period with six further league and cup matches, four of which are at home. Hosts Wellingborough were brimming with confidence after five consecutive victories, but the visitors were showing some real grit and determination as they came from behind to earn a deserved point. Having defeated the Doughboys at St Neots back in September, Cameron Mawer’s side were looking for their first league double of the season, but they found their hosts in confident mood. Ironically St Neots key man was former Wellingborough striker Neo Richard-Noel who had scored against the Saints on their last visit to the ground in November 2023. His second half strike earned a share of the points against his former club. St Neots made just one team change for the trip to Northamptonshire bringing in recent signing Stacey Freeman at the heart of their defence in a reshuffled line-up that saw Kieran Barnes start on the substitutes bench.
The first quarter of an hour was evenly fought with both defences looking comfortably in control, but the breakthrough came when the home side won a corner, and when under-pressure St Neots goalkeeper James Goff failed to get any distance on his punch clear the ball fell to Will Jones who netted from close range. St Neots hit back quickly and a Harvey Williams shot was comfortably gathered by the home keeper. Wellingborough then had a spell of possession with Connor Tomlinson blazing over the bar, Jones seeing a second close range effort well saved by Goff and Lloyd Buckby volleying over the bar after neat play by Danny Draper. 
Lewis Burgess then joined the St Neots attack to test home keeper Dean Snedker, and Williams cut in to see his effort blocked by a defender. Goff made up for his earlier error producing a full length save to deny Tomlinson and then the home side were forced to make the first change just before the break when their scorer Jones went off injured.
Shortly after the restart St Neots adopted a more positive approach taking off full back Eniola Agemoh-Davies and sending on Kieran Barnes as an addition midfield attacking player. That seemed to pay dividends with St Neots on the offensive, and they began to test the home defence. After 26 minutes of the second half the scores were levelled as Neo Richard-Noel latched on to a lengthy Goff clearance to outwit his marker to level the scores against his former club. The home side responded by introducing an additional midfield attacking player, but the visiting defence held firm and then a late foul tackle bringing down Williams as he bore down on goal preserved Wellingborough’s point earning the perpetrator a deserved caution. St Neots deserved their point and cemented their position eight points and six places above the bottom of the table.
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match, In Association With The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – JAMES GOFF (Sponsored by Memorial Makeovers)
St Neots Town: Goff, Agemoh-Davies, Burgess, Henderson, Freeman, Bowen, Parker, Richard-Noel, Thorpe, Willis, Williams
Subs: Barnes (K) (for Agemoh-Davies 50 mins), Stainsby (for Richard-Noel 85 mins), Ankrah, Obeng, and Muyembe.
Cards: none
Goals: Richard-Noel (71 mins)