Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
ST NEOTS TOWN 3 AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS 2
A persistent rearguard action in the final fifteen minutes,including ten minutes added time, gave St Neots an important victory after two successive away defeats. It was a feisty encounter with St Neots defending in that last quarter of an hour with ten men after Harvey Henderson saw red after apparently clashing with an opponent. They had established a comfortable three goals lead just past the hour and then a spirited comeback by the visitors tested their resolve, but they prevailed to climb to ninth place in the league table. There was just one team change for the Saints with Kieran Barnes returning to the side in place of the unavailable Charlie Bowen. St Neots star man was Harvey Williams who scored twice after the break and tormented the visiting defence throughout with his pace and guile.
The scene was set early when in the first seven minutes Harvey Williams first cut in to force visiting keeper Lewis Elsom to block with his feet, and then he set up Rhys Thorpe with Elsom requiring two attempts to save. Rushden then suffered an early setback when skipper Joel Nketia limped off injured after 16 minutes and then from a Williams corner Michael Amaeshike won the ball but headed over the bar. Little of significance was seen of the visiting attack although Aidan Webster had a shot blocked by Harvey Henderson. Meantime, St Neots were keeping the visiting keeper busy as he saved well from Williams after Kieran Barnes had shot over the bar when well placed. The visitors then had to make a second first half substitution when Ollie Brown-Hill was injured and five minutes before half time St Neots deservedly made their first half domination count when Rhys Thorpe converted a Barnes cross to put them in front.
Two goal Harvey Williams – courtesy of David Gibbons Photography
Tyler Winters had a good early second half opportunity to level the scores, but James Goff saved well and then St Neots confirmed their grip on the game when Connor Furlong went past two defenders to see his shot blocked, but the rebound fell to Harvey Williams who made it 2-0 to the home side. Just before the hour Elsom saved acrobatically from Thorpe at the expense of a corner and then at the other end from a visitors’ corner, Tejan Thomas headed over the bar. Another injury to a visiting player saw them make their third substitution after 64 minutes, but St Neots continued their bombardment of the visiting goal as the overworked Elsom had to save full length from Williams. After 69 minutes Harvey Williams added his second goal following a Barnes corner not cleared by the visiting defence. Another visiting substitution followed and then in the last fifteen minutes the visiting side rallied and began to pressure the home defence. The tricky Bruno Andrade gave his side their missing impetus when he pulled a goal back from a long throw after 73 minutes and that sparked a Rushden revival. With five minutes left, the outcome of the match was in doubt when Andrade latched on to a though ball from David Adegbola to claim visitors second goal and with central defender Harvey Henderson sent off, the ten men had to concentrate on defence to protect their narrow advantage. Goff made one important save from Tarik Dallas and St Neots sent on two late substitutes to bolster their defending and after those ten minutes of added time St Neots were able to celebrate an important victory.
Tonight’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match, in association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – HARVEY WILLIAMS
St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Culkin, Ankrah, Henderson, Parker, Furlong, Amaeshike, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams
Subs: Agemoh-Davies (for Barnes 89 mins), Obeng (for Williams 90+2 mins), Anderson, and Stainsby.
Cards: Henderson (RED – 88 mins), Barnes (Y – 69 mins)
Goals: Williams 2 (52 & 69 mins), Thorpe (40 mins)
AFC Rushden & Diamonds: Elsom, Adegbola, Kyezu, Ward, Thomas, Dallas, Webster, Nketia, Winters, Andrade, Brown-Hill
Subs: Dawson (for Nketia 16 mins), Poku (for Brown-Hill 33 mins), Hartley (for Ward 64 mins), Ebondo (Thomas 71 mins), Graham (for Winters 75 mins).
Cards: Ward (Y – 2 mins), Kyezu (Y – 50 mins), Thomas (Y – 67 mins)
Goals: Chambers (44 mins)