Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
LICHFIELD CITY 0 ST NEOTS TOWN 0
With several of the sides above them winning this hard fought away point did little to improve St Neots position at the foot of the league table. However, the performance was much better than their last showing which had been their heaviest home defeat of the season. Like the Saints the home side are having a difficult spell – just one win in last six matches and both sides visibly lacking in confidence, failed to create enough chance s to deserve to take full points. With Stacey Freeman departed and Lewis Burgess unavailable St Neots introduced two new players for their debuts – Kwadwo Bugyei-Kyei at full back and Marcus Gouldbourn in attack and recalled MJ Muyembe in place of the injured Neo Richard-Noel. This reorganised line up saw St Neots struggle for rhythm and confidence in the early stages of the contest, but their determination saw them battle to a deserved point.
Lichfield dominated the opening phase of the match with the visitors defending with great belief and determination. Visiting goalkeeper James Goff was in action saving in the early stages from Harvey Smith and Tom Brown. St Neots first serious attack came from a free kick from Sam Willis that was won in the air by Charlie Bowen, but home keeper Brendon Bunn saved comfortably. Visiting skipper Robbie Parker picked up an early yellow card for a mistimed challenge and them from a Kwadwo Bugyei-Kyei free kick Rhys Thorpe headed wide when unmarked in the penalty area. Another Thorpe header to a Harvey Williams cross was off target and St Neots seemed unable to better a well organised offside trap imposed by the home side. Just before half time Goff saved well from Jack Edwards and St Neots looked happy to go to the break on level terms.
St Neots competed more effectively after the break, but their forward passing was more speculative than accurate. A header from a lengthy Lichfield throw was acrobatically turned over the bar by Goff and as St Neots tried to get forward the lively MJ Muyembe saw two efforts blocked by defenders. St Neots best chance of a breakthrough fell to Thorpe but played clear of the home defence he delayed his finish and home keeper Bunn was able to smother his effort. St Neots best late effort fell to the unusually quiet Williams but he skied his effort and with both sides looking happy to settle for a point the match ended in stalemate.
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match, in association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – James Goff
St Neots: Goff, Agemoh-Davies, Bugyei-Kyei, Parker, Henderson, Bowen, Gouldbourne. Willis, Thorpe, Muyembe, Williams
Subs: Ankrah (for Agemoh-Davies 90+1 mins), Stainsby, Obeng, Okolie, Barratt
Cards: Parker (Y – 24 mins)
Goals: none
Lichfield City: Bunn, Burnside, Shorrock, Spiers, McMenemy, Coffey, Edwards, Brown, Smith, Footes, Childs
Subs: Taylor (for Coffey 61 mins), Francis (for Burnside 72 mins), Chia (for Brown 81 mins), Eden (for Smith 90 mins), and Mills.
Cards: Shorrock (Y – 51 mins), Burnside (Y – 56 mins), Childs (Y – 76 mins)
Goals: none