FA CUP- FIRST ROUND QUALIFYING REPLAY

BARKING         3           ST NEOTS TOWN          2    (after extra time)

St Neots bowed out of the FA Cup in disappointing style in East London in their midweek replay. They led twice in a see-saw match but were knocked out by an extra time goal when their opponents were reduced to ten men. With Connor Furlong and Harvey Williams both sidelined with injuries sustained in the first match and Kieran Barnes unavailable, St Neots had to make major team changes in attack so into the side came Nathan George, James Hatch and Danny Baulk with skipper Robbie Parker moving into midfield and Michael Amaeshike moving forward into a striking role. In a very competitive encounter, the Referee issued eight yellow cards in addition to the sending-off and St Neots were eventually beaten by a 105th minute extra time goal after they had missed a penalty kick in time added after the first 90 minutes.

Competitive from the start the home side picked up their first booking after just seven minutes when Juwon Akintunde was penalised for preventing James Hatch from kicking from his hand and it was lucky thirteen for the visitors when in that minute Michael Amaeshike (Left) converted a James Hatch knock-down from a Dammy Nickels free kick to put St Neots ahead. The home side had adopted a more attacking approach than in the first match and Teddy Stacey headed over from a Sam Edwards free kick and Marcel McDonald broke clear of the visiting defence but fired wildly over the bar. St Neots best chance on the break fell to the lively Sam Willis but he volleyed wide after good work by Danny Baulk. The Referee played a good advantage when Rhys Thorpe was felled in midfield and when the St Neots attack foundered the official booked Ryan Cosson for the late challenge. The first half ended with Amaeshike testing home keeper Max Spence.

The home side dominated possession at the start of the second half but made little progress against a well organised St Neots defence. Goff saved well from Bradley McDonald, but the best efforts of the home side failed to produce any real threat on the visitors’ goal. Then after 72 minutes St Neots’ defence was breached as Ezekial Bademosi punished some defensive hesitancy as he levelled the scores. The visitors’ response was positive and six minutes later James Hatch claimed his first St Neots goal of the season with a close-range finish to put his side back into the lead. With the clock ticking down that should have seen St Neots hang onto their narrow advantage but three minutes later the two side were level again as from a Jay Bacon free kick, Teddy Stacey got behind the St Neots defence to level the scores again.  A minute into added time St Neots should have clinched victory when Amaeshike was upended by the home keeper, but Thorpe’s poorly struck penalty kick was saved by Spence. Deep into added time Barking was reduced to ten men when Miles Smith was sent off.

St Neots looked to be weary at the start of the extra time and with Lil Francisco on to replace James Hatch they were searching for some inspiration. The home side with substitutes on looked to have grasped the early momentum and they were rewarded after 104 minutes when one of their replacement players Jalen Johnson produced a burst of speed past tiring defenders to put his side ahead for the first time in the match. St Neots had to rally in the final 15 minutes, but the home side opted to pull players back to defend their narrow advantage.

St Neots pushed players forward but failed to test the packed home defence that held out for their reward trip to Gorleston in the next round.

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match, in association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – Michael Amaeshike

 

 

 

St Neots Town:  Goff, Nickels, Culkin, Parker, George, Bowen, Thorpe, Willis, Hatch, Amaeshike, Baulk

Subs:  Francisco (for Hatch 96 mins), Joseph (for Baulk 105 mins), Mawer (for Willis 112 mins), and Bomolo.

Cards:  Parker (Y – 17 mins), Baulk (Y – 58 mins), Thorpe (Y – 66 mins), Nickels   (Y -109 mins), Bowen (Y – 112 mins)

Barking: Spence, Smith, Bacon,Edwards, Cosson, Stacey, Badimosi, Greenslade, Akintunde, McDonald (M), McDonald (B)

Subs:  Cobblah (for Edwards 71 mins), Reynolds (for McDonald (M) 81 mins), Johnson (for Bademosi 83 mins), Malek (for Akintunde 107 mins). Mignot (for McDonald (B) 117 mins)

Cards:  Smith (RED – 90+5 mins), Akintunde (Y – 7 mins), Cosson (Y – 36 mins), Stacey (Y – 58 mins)

Attendance: 93

Referee:  Joe Gray (Tooting)

John Walker