Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
ST NEOTS TOWN 0 BASFORD UNITED 1
Another narrow home defeat for St Neots – their sixth single goal reversal in their last eight matches has spelled out the need for an effective marksman. They introduced Neo Richard-Noel in a two-man attack and although he led the line well the goal supply that has produced just five goals in those last eight league outings is insufficient to compete effectively at this level. As well as Richard Noel joining the starting line-up there were two other team changes as Manager Cameron Mawer seeks to find a winning line-up. New signing Stacey Freeman came into the heart of the defence replacing the suspended Charlie Bowen, and Sam Willis returned after suspension, leaving Jessi Obeng and James Stainsby on the substitutes bench. Basford meantime, seeking a return to Step Three after their relegation last season, moved up to third in the league table behind Carlton Town and Belper Town.
The first half was a cagey affair with neither side able to penetrate two well drilled defences. St Neots probably just shaded first half possession but lacked a finishing touch whilst Basford looked dangerous on the break. With little to note in the opening twenty minutes it was the home side who first went close as visiting goalkeeper Matthew Yates was forced into a full length save to deny Harvey Williams after neat play by Sam Willis. At the other end the speedy Jordan Hallam eluded two defenders but saw his effort clip the outside of a goalpost, and then a Williams cross saw a Neo Richard-Noel header pass just wide of its target. The visitors had to make an early change when Hallam limped off injured and just before the break after the home sides’ best move of the half, Willis shot wide after joining the St Neots attack.
The visiting side came out looking far more determined after the break and just six minutes after the restart they had the ball in the net, but a linesman’s flag denied them. However, it did nothing to deter them because sixty seconds later in their next attack they did score what was to prove the winning goal. The attack came from a defensive clearance that split the home defence and the lively Louis Czerwak nipped between two defenders to score from close range. In their next attack Basford saw a shot from substitute Oliver Wilson blocked and from the rebound Covarne Leon fired wildly over the bar. St Neots regrouped with James Stainsby replacing the limping Richard-Noel and they hit back well but found the visiting defence tight and uncompromising. Harvey Williams cut in to shoot over the bar, and he then set up Rhys Thorpe but his finishing was off target. As the second half wore on both sides introduced further substitutes, but this seemed to have little significant effect on play with the visitors now happy to sit on their narrow lead and play the ball around with little threat to the St Neots defence. In a break against the run of play substitute Wilson scythed through the home defence but shot wide and the match ended with St Neots becoming increasingly frustrated at their inability to breach the visiting defence.
Today’s Saints Supporters Man Of The Match, In association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – HARVEY WILLIAMS
St Neots Town: Goff, Muyembe, Willis, Parker, Freeman, Henderson, Richard-Noel, Ankrah, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams
Subs: Stainsby (for Richard-Noel 54 mins), Obeng (for Barnes 84 mins), Anderson (for Henderson 90+4 mins), Gothard, and Siek.
Cards: none
Goals: none
Basford: Yates, Solomon, Joyce, Dimaio, Stewart, Ebanks, Durose, Christie, Leon, Hallam, Czerwak
Subs: Wilson (for Hallam 36 mins), Dacres (for Czerwak 63 mins), Aideyan (for Leon 79 mins), Burton, and Deeney.
Cards: none
Goals: Czerwak (52 mins)
Attendance: 302
Referee: Stuart Latham (Northampton)
(John Walker)