SPORTS GROUND DEVELOPMENT UCL KO CUP
NEWARK TOWN 5 ST NEOTS TOWN 3
St Neots experienced the full range of emotions at Newark – knocked out of the League Cup in the preliminary round for the second successive season. For the first fifty-five minutes their performance was good as they racked up a three goals lead. However, it all went wrong just four minutes later and for the final thirty-five minutes of the match their overall performance was bad, and they returned home with an ugly 5-3 defeat knocked out of the KO Cup in consecutive seasons by sides from the North Division of the UCL. To lead 3-0 but then to concede five goals in just 35 minutes would be considered inconceivable had it just not happened.
Manager Cameron Mawer must now restore some confidence – especially in his defenders, with two important away league fixtures prior to the home FA Vase visit of Downham Town later in the month. The Manager had made three team changes with Dan Walker returning after being cup tied for the two FA Cup fixtures, Harvey Williams was back after injury and Lil Francisco was preferred at full back with Dammy Nickels, Dan Baulk and James Hatch making way.
It all began very promisingly with St Neots dominating the attacking play and keeping home keeper Josh Wilson in almost constant action. After a quarter of an hour Sam Willis won a corner which Dan Walker sent to the far post where Murphy Culkin (Above Right) prodded home, via the woodwork, for his first goal of the season to put the visitors in control. The home keeper saved well from Walker and Rhys Thorpe whilst in a rare Newark sortie James Goff had to save bravely at the feet of Ryan Smith. The one-way traffic continued as both Walker and Thorpe were too high with their efforts from good approach play and then Wilson did well to rush from his line to save at the feet of Thorpe. Then four minutes into added time at the end of the half St Neots doubled their lead with a goal scored direct from an inswinging corner, delivered by Dan Walker (Below Left))
The second period also began well with St Neots extending their lead after just four minutes when a through ball past a square lying home defence freed Rhys Thorpe (Below Right) and this time with a one-on-one on the keeper he planted the ball into the far corner of the net. With that 3-0 lead it should have been a place in the next round for the visitors’, but much was to follow. 
Newark mounted their first response to St Neots domination just four minutes after the third St Neots goal when from a corner Luke Anderson was permitted an almost free header to reduce the deficit, and eight minutes later Newark were firmly back in the game when Sean Woolley sent a low free kick around the St Neots defensive wall and in at the far post. St Neots looked stunned, but worse was to follows because after 64 minutes a free kick was headed home by Sam Bartle with the St Neots defenders looking accusingly at each other as the scores were levelled. St Neots needed a positive response to regain some confidence, but it never came as the frustrated Rhys Thorpe was sin-binned after 76 minutes and Newark took the initiative sixty seconds later landing goal number four through Ryan Smith. Ragged St Neots conceded a fifth goal two minutes from time from Sam Wright to bring to an end a miserable afternoon.
Newark mounted their first response to St Neots domination just four minutes after the third St Neots goal when from a corner Luke Anderson was permitted an almost free header to reduce the deficit, and eight minutes later Newark were firmly back in the game when Sean Woolley sent a low free kick around the St Neots defensive wall and in at the far post. St Neots looked stunned, but worse was to follows because after 64 minutes a free kick was headed home by Sam Bartle with the St Neots defenders looking accusingly at each other as the scores were levelled. St Neots needed a positive response to regain some confidence, but it never came as the frustrated Rhys Thorpe was sin-binned after 76 minutes and Newark took the initiative sixty seconds later landing goal number four through Ryan Smith. Ragged St Neots conceded a fifth goal two minutes from time from Sam Wright to bring to an end a miserable afternoon.
This afternoon’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – Charlie Bowen
Recent Comments