Saints Bounce Back With Fine Win At Gresley Rovers
A first victory in six league and cup matches came as a relief to St Neots who had dropped into the relegation zone of the league table prior to this match. An own goal and a well taken second just after the break gave them the platform for this victory that lifted them up three places in the table, but they had to absorb a late period of pressure to return home with the points. Manager Pete Gill decided to reshape his side playing an extra defender in a 5-3-2 formation and with only one goal conceded – that from a corner, his gamble certainly paid dividends. His changes saw leading scorer Trey Charles start on the bench along with Andre Hasanally and with Dan Barton injured again, the three players that came into the side were Toib Adeyemi, Declan Nche fit after injury, and new signing full back Patrick Campbell.
Each side made a change at half time and with three minutes St Neots had extended their lead. Nche won a corner which was not cleared by the home defence and through a packed penalty area Robbie Mason struck a hard low shot past the unsighted home keeper to claim his first goal of the campaign. That signalled a determined counter-offensive by the home side and after 58 minutes from a Kane Lee corner, Alby Lansdown beat the visiting keeper with a well-struck shot to level the scores. St Neots sent on top scorer Trey Charles in a bid to boost their attack and he was quickly in action testing Lewis Fenny inn the home goal. Then after 72 minutes Greygoose had to produce the save of the match full length to keep out a low effort from Lee. Home skipper Kieran Wells squandered his sides’ best chance of an equaliser heading over the bar from close range and Charles twice had chances to confirm St Neots victory but the second time he was hauled down earning a red card for home defender Levi Read. A result for St Neots that replicated a 2010 FA Vase result on the same ground.