Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
ST NEOTS TOWN 0 COVENTRY SPHINX 3
St Neots suffered their heaviest home defeat of the season thanks to a pallid performance. They had the opportunity of a rare league double having defeated Coventry Sphinx by the odd goal in five at the away meeting in September but at no time during this match did a home victory look a likely outcome. They had striker Neo Richard-Noel fit after injury, but he only lasted an hour before being substituted and while he was on the field he had lacked any significant support in attack. His inclusion was the only change in a reconstituted line-up that saw Jessi Obeng relegated to the substitutes bench. The usually reliable defensive formation of the home side was too easily breached whilst their attacking intentions never seriously tested the visiting defence. When they did get within shooting distance of the visiting goal their finishing was woefully inadequate and if they are climb from the bottom of the table, they must be more positive in front of goal in their matches in hand of those clubs above them.
The first half was tightly fought with both defences looking in control – a trend not to be repeated after the break. St Neots had a rare early chance after nine minutes when Neo Richard-Noel looked to be clear of the defence, but Brett Lloyd got back to steal the ball as he was about to shoot. Eniola Agemoh-Davies playing in an unfamiliar forward role looked threatening on the right and two minutes later his cross was cleared away from danger by a second defender. In a quick break Raymond Poku sliced his shot wide but these early skirmishes by both sides gave way to a midfield battle with neither side seriously threatening the other. On the half hour the strangely quiet Harvey Williams did burst through the visiting defence but shot wide and after 43 minutes just when a goalless first half beckoned the visitors produced a sucker blow as the lively Raymond Poku turned up unmarked in the penalty area to pick up a low cross and net to open the scoring.
St Neots opted to regroup during the interval, and they withdrew Agemoh-Davies and reshaped their attack with substitute MJ Muyembe playing deep in midfield to drive the attack. The reshape looked to challenge the visiting defence and a trademark lengthy throw by Lewis Burgess found Sam Willis but his finish was too high. Williams then took on the visiting defence and forced a decent save from goalkeeper Oliver Bosworth and Harvey Henderson headed over from a corner. After this brief spurt of determination St Neots efforts dissipated and the visiting side with an additional striker introduced began to dominate play. Striker Curvin Sanderson-Ellis went close and then after 65 minutes Jamal Bradshaw unmarked on the right netted a second goal with a speculative lob that deflected in off the far post. That broke St Neots spirit and a third goal seven minutes from time by the lively Raymond Poku rubbed salt in St Neots’ wounds and wrapped up a comprehensive victory for the visiting side.
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – MJ Muyembe