CORBY TOWN 2 ST NEOTS TOWN 1
Despite turning in a solid performance St Neots found out how difficult life at the higher level will be following their elevation to Step Four. Hosts Corby were a solid opposition with strong defenders and swift attacking players and although St Neots competed well throughout, they can have little complaint about this narrow defeat. Creditably they came back to level on the stroke of half time after conceding an early goal, but the home side had the better of the second half exchanges with St Neots’ best openings coming from their counter-attacking challenges.
There was one enforced team change for St Neots with Michael Amaeshike still nursing the injury he sustained in the Belper match. Into his place, for his full debut, came Andrian Ankrah who fitted in well.
In fact, the newcomer featured in the visitors’ first attack when he freed Harvey Williams on the left and his cross found Kieran Barnes who put his near post effort wide of target after eight minutes. Four minutes later in their first significant attack the home side went ahead when Connor Tomlinson sent a speculative narrow angled effort over the St Neots keeper and in off the far post. That energised the home side and in their next two attacking moves Tyrone Lewthwaite saw his shot deflected for a corner and Harrison Jones shot wide after the visiting defence was breached. After 26 minutes Rhys Thorpe timed his run to go clear of the home defence, but skipper Rory McAuley timed his tackle to perfection to snuff out the danger at the expense of a corner. Connor Furlong was impressive for St Neots and he set up Thorpe to head over the bar before seeing a second effort blocked by a defender. Then, in added first half time Rhys Thorpe netted with a diving header from a Murphy Culkin cross to level the scores.
The home side came out in determined fashion after the break taking the game to their visitors. Aaron Nuttall carved through the visiting defence in the third minute to go round James Goff but fortunately for the visitors he ran out of pitch! In a St Neots counter-attack Furlong went clear of the home defence to be pulled down by Rhys Kelly earning the home defender a caution. However, Corby were in the ascendancy and Hugh Jones shot narrowly wide and Goff saved well from Gary Stohrer. Then, on the hour, Corby regained the lead when following a goalmouth scramble with a shot cleared off the goal line, Aaron Nuttall shot through the packed defence to reinstate Corby’s lead. Culkin then set up Williams but he dragged his shot wide, but the home side seemed in control with Goff having to save bravely at the feet of substitute Louie Gill. Substitutions by both sides saw the competitive nature of the contest lessen although Williams squandered St Neots best chance of a late equaliser with a shot wide of target. St Neots skipper Rob Parker picked up a late caution and both clubs now move on to weekend dates in the FA Cup.
Tonight’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – Rob Parker
St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Culkin, Tavernier, Parker, Bowen, Furlong, Ankrah, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams
Subs: Obeng (for Williams 83 mins), Stirling (for Bowen (85 mins), Henderson (for Ankrah 90+1 min), Hudson, and Sears.
Cards: Parker (Y – 90+6 mins).
Goals: Thorpe (45+3 mins)
Corby Town: Laban, Noble, Kelly, Edwards, Jones (A), McAuley, Tomlinson, Jones (H), Lewthwaite, Stohrer, Nuttall
Subs: Daire (for Noble 68 mins), Marshall (for Tomlinson 68 mins), Keeble (for Lewthwaite 77 mins), Challinor (for Jones (H) 85 mins), Gill (for Nuttall (90+2 mins).
Cards: Kelly (Y – 54 mins), Stohrer (Y – 68 mins)
Goals: Tomlinson (12 mins), Nuttall (60 mins)