FA Cup Preliminary Round
LOWESTOFT TOWN 3 ST NEOTS TOWN 2
St Neots carelessly threw away the opportunity of FA Cup progression with a pallid second half performance. They had led at half time and were the better side in the first 45 minutes but after the interval they were disorganised and sloppy and stopped competing against a youthful but enthusiastic opposing side roared in by a large home crowd. Lowestoft has never been a happy hunting ground for the Saints with only one victory in eight visits to the Norfolk town but records aside, St Neots were just not good enough on the day. The day began with defender Charlie Bowen pulling out of the starting line-up after the warm-up. Reaction to his midweek injury meant a debut start for Harvey Henderson who had impressed in pre-season and Andrian Ankrah also continued in the side for the injured Michael Amaeshike.
After the early exchanges St Neots first real attempt on goal after twelve minutes was an off-target finish by Christian Tavernier, whilst at the other end the impressive Aaron Bullent fell in the area, but the Referee waved play on. Then after a quarter of an hour St Neots went into the lead when from a Harvey Williams cross Christian Tavernier (left) burst into the penalty area to net. Within two minutes the home side levelled when the usually reliable visiting keeper James Goff spilled an Ashton Blogg free kick and Kyle Haylock pounced to net from close range. Kieran Barnes had a sharp finish saved by the home keeper and the lively Williams who was tormenting the home defence shot wide after leaving his marker in his wake. Although Haylock volleyed wide for the home side, St Neots were largely in control and should have made their better possession count.
They did, however, regain the lead six minutes before the break from a rather fortunate goal when a free kick by Sam Willis (right) somehow evaded all the players in a packed penalty area and ended up in the net. The home side could have had a second equaliser on the stroke of half- time but Harvey Henderson got back to clear off the line.
There was a lively start to the second half with Willis (St Neots) and Kyle Pollock (Lowestoft) finding their names into the Referee’s notebook and just seven minutes after the restart the scores were levelled when following a Dylan Ruffles free kick the lively Aaron Bullent was on hand to score the first of his goals and just four minutes later he put his side in front with a simple finish after he robbed Tavernier to bear down on goal. St Neots were becoming ragged and in a bid to improve their challenge Manager Cameron Mawer sent on substitutes Jessi Obeng and Remell Stirling in attack. However, with their noses in front and the backing of their noisy supporters the home side prospered as Bullent robbed last man Henderson who was booked for his clumsy challenge. From the free kick Goff was forced into a full-length save from Mitchell Belmar to keep the visitors in the match but the pressure from Lowestoft continued. Later in the game they adopted deliberate time-wasting tactics which frustrated St Neots efforts to get back in the match.
As the match moved into the last ten minutes home goalkeeper Ben Self became a significant factor with saves from Williams and Andrian Ankrah and although the visitors finished strongly, they were unable to breach the home defence well marshalled by skipper Dylan Ruffles. St Neots final effort was a net-bound shot from Murphy Culkin blocked by a defender. So St Neots frustration on the Suffolk coast was perpetuated and they fell to their third defeat in a row for the first time since November 2023.
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In Association With The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – HARVEY WILLIAMS
St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Culkin, Tavernier, Parker, Henderson, Furlong, Ankrah, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams
Subs: Obeng (for Furlong 67 mins), Stirling (for Thorpe (67 mins), Bowen (for Ankrah 82 mins), Mawer, and Sears.
Cards: Willis (Y – 52 mins), Parker (Y – 69 mins), Henderson (Y – 75 mins)
Goals: Tavernier (15 mins), Willis (39 mins)
Lowestoft Town: Self, Abobunde, Barber, Blogg, Ruffles, Heard, Belman, Bullent, Haylock, Peters, Pollock
Subs: Aldous (for Pollock 62 mins), Overton (for Peters 80 mins), Howell (for Bullent 88 mins), Trowbridge, Atkinson, Haddock, and Hinton.
Cards: Pollock (Y – 52 mins), Abobunde (Y – 65 mins), Haylock (Y – 75 mins)
Goals: Bullent 2 (52 & 56 mins), Haylock (17 mins)
Attendance: 340
Referee: Dario Matthewson (Wymondham)
(John Walker)