Coventry Sphinx 2 St Neots Town 3
Rhys Thorpe returned to the St Neots side following injury and claimed the first ever NPL hat trick for the Saints to give them a notable victory over the previously unbeaten league leaders. The visitors must have gone into the match with some misgivings following the late withdrawal from the side of Christian Tavernier for personal reasons. They were already without suspended duo Murphy Culkin and skipper Rob Parker and defender Aaron Smith on temporary loan returned to St Ives. Into a much-changed line-up came Thorpe, Harvey Henderson, Kieran Barnes and new signing Eniola Agemoh-Davies who slotted in very comfortably at full back. Looking to extend their lead at the top of the table Sphinx found themselves outplayed in the first half but most of the drama and significant action came late in the match – in fact in the final six minutes plus added time when three goals were scored as the pendulum of fortune swung backwards and forwards. St Neots Manager Cameron Mawer was jubilant but admitted he would have been happy if the match had finished 2-0 to his side without the stress of those final minutes.
The first half was surprising in that St Neots dominated much of the play against the previously unbeaten league leaders. Regardless of the team shuffle because of the unavailable players, St Neots settled quickly and began to dominate possession. Much of the action was confined to the Sphinx half of the field but the visitors found it difficult to find a way through a resolute defence. After 14 minutes Michael Amaeshike played Rhys Thorpe clear, and he should have done better in a one-on-one with home keeper Charlie Woods, but the shot was blocked and cleared. Other St Neots attacking moved were resisted and in their first serious chance at the other end Sphinx might have taken the lead, but Matthew Shipman’s free header was too high. The main threat from the home side in the latter stages of the first half came from long throws into the area from Ryley Nicholson but the first half ended goalless.
St Neots came out positively to take the lead in the second minute after the break. From a searching Harvey Williams cross, Rhys Thorpe opened the scoring, and then Connor Furlong forced a fine save from the home keeper at the expense of a corner. Ben Vallance joined the home attack to fire over the bar and then after two substitutions the home side began to compete. The St Neots defence was under some pressure, but Williams broke away to have a net bound shot blocked by a defender. Then, in another breakaway attack, a neat move involving Kieran Barnes and Furlong ended with Rhys Thorpe claiming his second goal. Now the home side responded with more attacking substitutions and St Neots found themselves under pressure. With six minutes remaining substitute Djibril Diedhiou took advantage of a deflected shot to pull a goal back and four minutes later in a goalmouth scramble another of the home substitutes Daniel Reka levelled the scores. However, three minutes into added time, Rhys Thorpe completed his hat trick to seal full points for the visitors.
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match, In Association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – RHYS THORPE
St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Agemoh-Davies, Ankrah, Henderson, Bowen, Furlong, Amaeshike, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams
Subs: Obeng-Darko (for Barnes 86 mins), Francis (for Furlong (90+6 mins), Stirling, and Jessop.
Cards: Barnes (Y – 9 mins), Goff (Y – 53 mins), Bowen (Y – 90+4 mins)
Goals: Thorpe 3 (47,72 & 90+2 mins)