Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
BEDWORTH TOWN 1 ST NEOTS TOWN 1
Despite winning two and drawing five of their last nine league matches St Neots have found it increasingly difficult to pull away from the foot of the table and with just three matches left (two home and one away) they still languish just one place off the foot of the table. With time running out even three victories from their last three matches may not be enough to avoid relegation from the Midland Division of the Northern League for the second time in three seasons. A disallowed goal just three minutes into this crucial game may prove to be a nail in their coffin for they would have hoped to have beaten Bedworth who themselves are just two points and one place above the drop zone after this result. St Neotscannot be faulted for effort but every game now is a Cup Final with survival as the main objective. With Eniola Agemoh-Davies added to the growing injury list after Saturday’s victory over Coleshill, St Neots were struggling for a side and this meant Manager Cameron Mawer naming himself on a substitutes bench limited to just three names. Neo Richard- Noel came into the revised line-up with Sam Willis reverting to the vacant full back berth.
The match began in dramatic style with St Neots thinking they had taken the lead in their first attack after just three minutes. A move down the right flank saw the lively Harvey Williams pull the ball back from the bye line to pick out MK Muyembe whose low shot through a packed defence went in the net at the far post. As the visitors celebrated the Referee’s attention was drawn to his flagging Assistant and after a lengthy discussion between the two, the goal was disallowed for offside. The match then quickly developed into a midfield stalemate with few direct efforts towards either goal. After the half hour the home side seemed to take the initiative and there were several efforts on the St Neots goal. Charles Gordon had a shot blocked by a visiting defender, both Elliott Parrott and the lively Samson Hewett both saw efforts saved by James Goff and then five minutes before the break Goff produced the save of the match to turn over the bar a free kick by Teddy Rowe after Matthew Shipman had been pulled back by a defender. A minute before the break Harvey Williams cut in from the right to open the scoring with a well-placed shot but St Neots lead was short-lived as in the fourth minute of added time, Teddy Rowe sent the perfect free kick around a defensive wall to level the scores at the break.
The second half saw more open play but no further goals. Kwadwo Bugyei-Kyei tested the home keeper whilst at the other end Harvey Henderson headed off the goal line from a Hewett corner. The lively Hewitt then shot over the bar and in a St Neots counter-attack Sam Willis saw his effort blocked by a defender. Home substitute George Dunkley rattled the St Neots crossbar from a Harry Craven corner and St Neots replied with substitute James Stainsby seeing home keeper William Highland save well. The woodwork saved St Neots again from a Hewett free kick and the match ended a point apiece which may be of little use to either side.
Today’s Saints Supporters Man of the Match, in association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – HARVEY HENDERSON
St Neots: Goff, Willis, Burgess, Ankrah, Henderson, Parker, Bugyei-Kyie, Richard-Noel, Thorpe, Muyembe, Williams
Subs: Stainsby (for Richard-Noel 81 mins), Charles (for Bugyei-Kyie 83 mins), and Mawer.
Cards: Burgess (Y – 85 mins), Goff (Y – 90 mins)
Goals: Williams (44 mins)
Bedworth: Highland, Blakeley, Mooney, Parrott, Craven, Flanagan, Hewitt, Barry, Shipman, Rowe, Gordon
Subs: Dunkley (for Gordon 60 mins), Monoghan (for Rowe82 mins), Ngbeken-Iota (for Shipman 82 mins), and Redhead.
Cards: Parrott (Y – 75 mins)
Goals: Rowe (45+3 mins)
Referee: Callum Timperley (Leicester)
(John Walker)