Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division

AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS  1  ST NEOTS TOWN     1

A battling midweek away performance at high flying AFC Rushden & Diamonds earned St Neots what might prove to be a vital point as they battle to retain their status at Step Four in the National League System. Going behind just before the break they showed immense determination to take the game to their hosts in the second half and level before mounting a solid defensive performance late in the contest to earn their reward.   Manager Cameron Mawer was delighted with his side saying: ‘We now have eight more ‘cup finals’ as we bid top retain our position at Step Four’.   There was just one enforced team change with full back Lewis Burgess still recovering from an injury sustained in the previous match so into a reshaped side came striker James Stainsby in a 4-4-2 formation.

The host side had won six of their previous eight league matches and were bidding for a place in the playoffs that victory in this match would have afforded them and backed by an enthusiastic midweek crowd they began confidently. Ollie Evans tested visiting keeper James Goff whilst at the otherend newcomer James Stainsby set up Neo Richard-Noel, but his shot was blocked by a defender.   Another effort by Evans was turned for a corner by the goalkeeper and in a St Neots break after 37 minutes Harvey Williams tested the home keeper. Then just four minutes before the break the home side wound up a spell of pressure with the opening goal as St Neots conceded a free kick just out their penalty area and from that Aidan Webster got in front of his marker to shoot, with the unfortunate James Goff only unable to deflect the ball into his net as it rebounded from the woodwork.  So, the visitors went to the interval a goal down after a determined first 45 minutes.

They returned in a positive frame of mind taking the game to their hosts, and after 52 minutes the lively Williams was hauled down inside the area and from the penalty spot skipper Robbie Parker confidently netted his fourth penalty of the campaign to level the scores.  responded with two substitutes and a more attacking approach to the game and now the St Neots back line came under some pressure.  Evans broke through but shot over the bar and Webster fired wide after a neat move but in the visiting goal Goff had little to do. Home substitute Jamal Adams added some additional fire power to the home side, but he fired over the bar after good work by Evans and then another attack ended with Evans firing off target. St Neots sent on Samuel Okolie to vary their attack and had to replace the limping Neo Richard-Noel just before the end, but determined defending against the increasing pressure from the home side deservedly saw the game out with the reward of a point and one place higher up the league table.

 

Tonight’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In Association With The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – HARVEY HENDERSON

 

 

 

 

 

St Neots:  Goff, Muyembe, Bugyei-Kyie, Ankrah, Henderson, Parker, Willis, Stainsby, Thorpe, Richard-Noel, Williams

Subs:  Okolie (for Stainsby 68 mins), Obeng (for Richard-Noel 90+1 min), Agemoh-Davies, and Mawer.

Cards:  Ankrah (Y – 39 mins), Williams (Y – 62 mins), Goff (Y – 86 mins)

Goals:  Parker- pen – (52 mins)

 

AFC Rushden & Diamonds:  Jezeph, Adegbola, Brown, Nketia, Thomas, Dallas, Webster, Evans, Winters, Andrade, Barnett

Subs:  Adams (for Winters 59 mins), O’Brien (for Barnett 69 mins), Findlay, Hartley, and Walker.

Cards:  Adegbola (Y – 69 mins), Thomas (Y – 89 mins)

Goals: Webster (41 mins)

Attendance: 325

Referee:  Samuel Lee (Northampton)

(John Walker)