Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division

SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN          2           ST NEOTS TOWN           4        

A five-star first half display set St Neots up for an impressive away victory.  They led 4-0 after 45 mins and although they conceded two goals after the break – the second seven minutes into added time – they never looked anything but deserved and convincing winners.   Manager Cameron Mawer was delighted with his side describing the performance as ‘immense’ pointing out that it was ten of his side that had lifted the UCL Championship shield almost six months earlier. “They have shown they are capable of competing at the higher level” the delighted Manager commented. He made just one team change from the midweek victory over AFC Rushden and Diamonds restoring Charlie Bowen to the heart of the defence in place of Harvey Henderson who was on the bench. It was a fourth victory in six games lifting the Saints to sixth place in the league table with Harvey Williams scoring twice for the second consecutive match.

From the first whistle the visitors were in charge of proceedings.  After just seven minutes Harvey Williams outpaced his marker to fire a low shot past the home keeper, and little was seen of the home attack apart from a shot blocked by a defender. Then after 21 minutes the visitors’ lead was extended when a long ball forward freed Rhys Thorpe and his shot deflected in off the underside of the crossbar. Connor Furlong was terrifying the home defence with his pace and after 28 minutes with St Neots still dictating play he picked out Murphy Culkin who had joined the attack, but his net bound effort was deflected for a corner.   A delicate chip over the defence by Kieran Barnes rebounded from the foot of a post and when ten minutes before the break, the home side did create a clear opening, Jayden Campbell’s cross was headed tamely over the bar by Fraser Doyle. In the last ten minutes before half time St Neots thought they had put the outcome of the match without doubt as they added two further goals. First Harvey Williams added his second goal with a fine individual right footed effort and then he unselfishly picked out the unmarked Michael Amaeshike at the far post to add goal number four.

Two half time substitutions did little for the hosts for on the hour the excellent Williams set up Furlong and when his net bound shot was blocked by a defender, Barnes followed up to fire in from a narrow angle which was cleared off the line by a second defender despite visiting appeals that the ball had crossed the line. Just past the hour in their first real second half attack the home side pulled a goal back when Fraser Doyle was left unmarked and he netted from close range. However, St Neots pressure on the home defence continued and home keeper James Wren twice denied Furlong with full length saves. Up for a Sam Willis corner, Charlie Bowen saw a header cleared off the line by a defender and Williams was denied a hat trick by a fine save by Wren. St Neots visibly tired in the final ten minutes as the home side pushed forward and James Goff saved well from James McGrady who then squandered a good chance heading high over the bar. Furlong was denied a goal his performance had deserved when Wren saved well, and the same visiting player then shot across the face of goal. Because of a lengthy delay due to an injury to a home player there were ten minutes added time and just before the final whistle the home side had the final word when following a corner, substitute Reece Gibson produced a searing shot to claim a late consolation for the home side.

 

Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match, in association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – HARVEY WILLIAMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Neots Town:  Goff, Willis, Culkin, Ankrah, Parker, Bowen, Furlong, Amaeshike, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams

Subs:  Stainsby (for Thorpe 87 mins), Obeng (for Williams 90 mins), Henderson (for Ankrah 90+3 mins), Agemoh-Davies (for Barnes 90+4 mins), Anderson (for Furlong 90+6 mins).

Cards:   Thorpe (Y – 86 mins)

Goals:  Williams 2 (7 & 36 mins), Thorpe (21 mins), Amaeshike (40 mins)

 

Sutton Coldfield Town:   Wren, Hurley, Hendrickson, Smith, McGinnell, Doyle, Campbell, Shaw, Birch, McGrady, Byrne

Subs:  Beresford (for Smith 46 mins), Zazi (for Byrne 46 mins), Gibson (for Birch 65 mins), Edmunds (for Shaw (74 mins), and Lynch.

Cards:  McConnell (Y – 54 mins), Campbell (Y – 63 mins)

Goals: Doyle (61 mins), Gibson (90+7 mins)

Attendance: 208

Referee:  Nathan Parry (Coventry)

(John Walker)