Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
COLESHILL TOWN 1 ST NEOTS TOWN 3
St Neots recorded their first ever league win at Coleshill in the Midland Division of the Northern Premier League with a solid if unspectacular performance. After running up a two goals’ lead, they had to defend in numbers as the host side mounted a second half offensive, but after conceding a goal their victory was confirmed with a stunning late goal from Kieran Barnes that slipped through the home keeper’s hands. Murphy Culkin, Harvey Henderson and Rhys Thorpe all returned to the starting line-up at the expense of the three loan players from the midweek match, but the injured Charlie Bowen was still missing. It was a performance of determination and commitment and was an example of how testing their new surroundings will be for Cameron Mawer’s side.
St Neots got off to a positive start with Rhys Thorpe having two very early chances in the first three minutes – the first volleyed narrowly over the bar and the second a shot dragged wide of the far post after a searching through ball from Andrian Ankrah. Kieran Barnes then fired over the bar but after the host side had settled, they began to threaten the visiting goal. Visiting keeper James Goff had to turn a close-range header from Tyreace Brown over the bar, and the lively Ben Usher-Shipway had his shot deflected for a corner. Another save from Goff denied Theo Rowe and then in a St Neots attack on a quick break, Barnes was felled but penalty appeals were waved away. Then on the half hour another quick break from defence saw the speedy Harvey Williams turn in the area to fire St Neots ahead. Usher-Shipway volleyed over the bar for the home side but towards time St Neots rallied with Thorpe firing over the bar after neat play by Connor Furlong, who then took on the home defence but shot wide.
In St Neots first attack after half time, they won a corner and from it, defender Harvey Henderson was barged in a back and a penalty awarded. Christian Tavernier stepped up to send the home keeper the wrong way to extend St Neots lead. With two attacking substitutes on the home side rallied strongly and Usher -Shipway got behind the visiting defence but could only find the side-netting. Just past the hour Coleshill did get the ball in the St Neots net, but the visitors were saved by an offside flag.
The pressure on the visiting defence continued and after 72 minutes Coleshill pulled a goal back when skipper Taylor Carter-Byrne produced a searing low shot from distance with Goff looking unsighted. Now St Neots were under pressure but led by skipper Rob Parker they knuckled down defensively and four minutes from time they broke out for Kieran Barnes to claim a decisive third goal for his side with a swerving shot that home keeper Cameron Belford fumbled with the ball trickling into the net. It was no more than St Neots deserved after a spirited performance that lifted them up to mid-table after four league matches.
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In Association With The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – HARVEY HENDERSON
St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Culkin, Tavernier, Parker, Henderson, Furlong, Ankrah, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams
Subs: Obeng (for Williams 77 mins), Francis (for Furlong 85 mins), Stirling, and Jessop.
Cards: Tavernier (Y), Obeng (Y), Culkin (Y).
Goals: Williams (40 mins), Tavernier (pen – 47mins), Barnes (86 mins)
Coleshill Town: Belford, Brookes, Gyasi, Brown, Craven, Carter-Byrne, Darboe, Tait-Moran, Rowe, Usher-Shipway, Mullan
Subs: Hallahan (for Mullan 57 mins), McSkeane (for Tait-Moran 65 mins), McGurk (for Brown 72 mins), Evans (for Rowe 85 mins), and Sweeney.
Cards: Rowe (Y).
Goals: Carter-Byrne (73 mins)
Attendance: 92
Referee: Nathan Parry (Coventry)
(John Walker)