Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
MICKLEOVER FC 3 ST NEOTS TOWN 3
St Neots retrieved a two goals deficit for the first time this season but in a grandstand finish fell just short of the surprise away victory their performance had deserved. Having led early on they shipped in three goals but pulled one back on the stroke of half time. They then almost totally dominated the second period registering seven shots on goal with visiting keeper James Goff relegated to the role of a spectator, but they could only manage one further goal and had to return home with just the one point. “It was an outstanding performance” commented Manager Cameron Mawer “That deserved a rare away victory, but credit to the home side that defended so well”. Full back Riley Barratt broke down in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Marcus Gouldbourne whilst the only other team change was the return of central defender Charlie Bowen with Harvey Henderson left on the bench. However, he was to have an influence on the result when introduced as an early substitute.
The match got off to an electric start when St Neots opened the scoring in their first attack as the lively Kwadwo Bugyei-Kyei ploughed his way through the home defence to beat the keeper from close range. If Mickleover were shocked by this reversal it did not show because eight minutes later, they were back on terms when visiting defender Charlie Bowen could only turn a Paddy Webb cross past his own keeper for the early equalising goal. Mickleover then dominated the rest of the first half adding a second goal through Cieron Keane after sixteen minutes, and a third three minutes before the break, through Paddy Webb to put themselves in a commanding position. Then in time added at the end of the first half Harvey Williams gave the visitors a lifeline with a close-range finish to a cross from Bugyei-Kyei.
The visitors, inspired by Bugyei-Kyei took the match to the home side with an inspired attacking second half display that marooned Mickleover in their own half for much of the second period. However, the home defence held firm and the visiting side failed to capitalise on their superior possession. The lively Williams robbed a dithering defender but shot wide, and then Rhys Thorpe set up MJ Muyembe, and his shot rattled the crossbar before being cleared by a defender. Mickleover needed inspiration so they introduced four substitutes in a five minutes period midway through the second half but that had little effect on the pattern of play. Tantalising the defence Williams set up Muyembe, but his finish was off target and then Bugyei-Kyei brought an important save from under pressure home custodian Jack McDowell. An audacious free kick from inside his own half by visiting keeper James Goff was retrieved by the back peddling McDowell and with ten minutes left the keeper produced a brave save at the feet of Thorpe who had gone clear of the defence. With seven minutes left St Neots did get some reward for their efforts when Harvey Henderson converted a long throw from Lewis Burgess, but it only earned a single point when all three looked to be going back to Cambridgeshire.
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In Association With The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – KWADWO BUGWYEI-KYEI
St Neots Town: Goff, Gouldbourne, Bugyei-Kyie, Parker, Bowen, Burgess, Muyembe, Ankrah, Thorpe, Willis, Williams
Subs: Henderson (for Bowen 33 mins), Okolie (for Gouldbourne), Richard-Noel (for Bugyei-Kyie), Stainsby, and Barrett.
Cards: Muyembe (Y – 25 mins), Williams (Y – 31 mins), Willis (Y – 80 mins)
Goals: Bugyei-Kyei (4 mins), Williams (45+1 min), Henderson (85 mins)
Mickleover FC: McDowell, Benson, Gordon, Atkinson, Gascoigne, Wilkinson, White. Keane, Webb, Beavon, Dube
Subs: Dyer (for Beavon 64 mins), Norkett (for Dube 64 mins), Ashman (for Keane 66 mins), Bonser (for Gordon 69 mins), and Dales.
Cards: Bonsor (Y – 84 mins), Norkett (Y – 90 mins)
Goals: Bowen (OG 12 mins). Keane (16 mins), Webb (42 mins)
Attendance: 205
Referee: Benjamin Schofield (Loughborough)
(John Walker)