UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
ST NEOTS TOWN 6 LEICESTER NIRVANA 0
After a convincing second half display that saw St Neots plunder five goals – including three in a fifteen minutes’ spell just after half time – Cameron Mawer’s side became league table toppers for the first time since the 2011/12 season. Leaders Aylestone Park were inactive after a waterlogged pitch prevented their trip to Easington Sports and St Neots took full advantage. After a tepid first half when they were defending their goal against a strong wind and driving rain, the home side produced some sparkling attacking second half play to crush a fragile visiting defence and score almost at will. The visitors showed some determination in the first half but had nothing to show for their efforts after the break as St Neots recorded their second league double of the season in confident style. Danny Baulk was drafted into the side when Harvey Williams failed a pre-match fitness test, and he grasped his chance impressively scoring twice after the break to deservedly earn the Man of the Match award. The side showed just one other change from the previous match with skipper Rob Parker serving a one match ban. Into his place, recent signing James Sage moved into defence alongside Charlie Bowen with Murphy Culkin returning at left full back.
Conditions dictated play in the first half with the visiting side having the wind and rain behind them and they took full advantage of possession in the early stages of the match. However, apart from one effort by the lively Eraid Memaj after eleven minutes, the home goal was rarely threatened with the defensive partnership of Charlie Bowen and James Sage mopping up the better openings created by the visiting side and Bowen even found time to join the attack to head wide from a Kieran Barnes free kick. Then, after 25 minutes, Rhys Thorpe produced a burst of speed to pick up a Barnes free kick and score after going clear of the visiting defence. When the speedy Connor Furlong was upended, Barnes sent his dipping free kick narrowly wide and then at the other end Memaj once again threatened but saw his effort pass wide of the far post. Two more St Neots efforts followed with a Furlong effort deflected for a corner from which Sage headed wide of target.
The second half saw a much more positive approach by the home side. A Barnes effort was only just wide from a Baulk low cross, and Furlong wastefully shot over the bar after a mis-hit clearance. Then after 55 minutes a Rhys Thorpe effort rattled the woodwork and Danny Baulk followed up to knock in the rebound to make the score 2-0. Five minutes later after the unfortunate Thorpe had seen a second effort rebound from the bar the lively Furlong went down the right to set up full back Sam Willis for his seventh goal of the season to make it 3-0 on the hour and ten minutes later Connor Furlong was rewarded with St Neots fourth goal with a sizzling 30 yards effort following an uncleared corner kick.
St Neots were now cruising towards an inevitable victory and their fifth goal came seven minutes from time when Danny Baulk, set up by Barnes, produced a crisp finish for his second of the match. The sixth goal that took them top the top of the table came on the stroke of full time from substitute Dammy Nickels with a neat finish past the stranded keeper.
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match – In association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – DANNY BAULK
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