Stunning Free Kick Ends Young Saints’ Unbeaten Start

by | Dec 1, 2022 | News, Under 18's Match Report | 0 comments

THURLOW NUNN YOUTH LEAGUE – WEST DIVISION

ST NEOTS TOWN U18       0       CAMBRIDGE CITY U18         1 

This was St Neots first home league defeat for five seasons (excluding the abandoned COVID seasons) and must act as a ‘wake up’ call if they are to successfully defend their league title. They certainly had the possession and chances to pull back the first half goal conceded but their finishing was poor and the visiting side were resolute once having gone in front.

On a damp and misty evening neither side were able to dominate and apart from a shot at either end being blocked, the first serious attempt on goal came on 21 minutes when a Jack Nicholls header rebounded from the bar with the visiting keeper beaten.   Cambridge could have been in front six minutes later when a through ball from Dylan Hughes split the home defence to play Alfie Lee clear, but his shot was off target. Charlie Clark struck the woodwork again for the home side and Ryan Samupita wasted a good opening shooting wide after his pace had seen him go clear. Then two minutes before the break St Neots conceded a free kick twenty yards from goal and Lucca Ugarte-Edwards curled his effort beyond the reach of George Anthony to put the visitors in front.

St Neots’ second half response was unconvincing. They had the possession to create chances, but their finishing was poor whilst the visitors defending was solid and confident they rarely threatened the home goal. Three second half bookings upset the pattern of play and the substitutions made by either side failed to spark any improvement. In the end the match fizzled out with the only notable attempt on goal coming a minute from the end of normal time when visiting keeper Caleb Chandler saved at full length from Clark.

St Neots Town:  Anthony, Hargreaves, Kimpton, Smith, Plummer, Khoo, Samupita, Clark, Nicholls, Webster, Jackson

Subs:   Stainsby, Paton, Baker, Francisco, and Tonks.

Cards:  Webster (Y – 4 mins), Clark (Y – 52 mins)

Referee:  Stefan Renwick

(John Walker)