Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
RUGBY TOWN 1 ST NEOTS TOWN 1
St Neots returned from Rugby Town with a deserved point after a hard-fought draw. It could have been all three points but for an opportunist second half equaliser poached by former Saints striker Trey Charles after Harvey Williams had put the visitors ahead. After a poor start to the season Rugby had hit a streak of good form with five wins and a draw in their last seven league matches, and still looking to arrest their poor run of form St Neots were pleased to have earned this point that keeps them five points above the relegation zone. In-form Harvey Williams was signed by higher ranked Hemel Hempstead just days before this match but left on loan with the Saints, and he continued his rich recent vein of form claiming his sixth goal in his last seven games for the club. There was an enforced team change with striker Rhys Thorpe sitting out his one-match suspension and into his place came James Stainsby for only his second start. Also back in the line-up was Harvey Henderson with skipper Rob Parker moving into midfield and Eniola Agemoh-Davies relegated to the substitutes bench.
After the recent bad weather, the pitch was in remarkably good condition, and the visitors began confidently with home keeper Marcus Bald having to rush from his line to save at the feet of Kieran Barnes after 14 minutes. Four minutes later at the other end James Goff saved a close-range effort from Cairo Taylor – the first of three significant first half stops that was to go on to earn the visiting keeper the man of the match award. A free kick from Barnes then beat the visiting custodian but deflected harmlessly off the top of the crossbar and then just before the half hour Connor Furlong rounded his marker to shoot narrowly wide. The visitors then took the lead with a cleverly crafted goal. Barnes picked out full back Sam Willis who had ventured forward on the right, and he skilfully delayed his cross to await the arrival of Harvey Williams who shot into the roof of the net to open the scoring. However, in the ten minutes before the break the home team moved up a gear and put the visiting defence under pressure with Goff making two fine saves. St Neots seemed relieved to hear the half time whistle and a chance to regroup.
St Neots resumed with Williams once again the prominent feature of their attack. He shot wide after a piercing through ball from Rob Parker, and then forced Bald to push away a rising shot and another effort was just wide after neat play by Furlong. Another Furlong cross was glanced wide of the far post by James Stainsby who had led the line with enthusiasm and energy and then another effort from Barnes flew harmlessly over the cross bar. The home side was sharing possession but producing little significant finish but after 69 minutes a momentary lapse of defensive concentration allowed Trey Charles to burst between two square lying defenders to claim what was to prove the goal that earned to home side a share of the points. For St Neots it was a confidence booster and a deserved point against an in-form side.
Today’s Saints Supporters’ Man of the Match, in association with The Greystones Public House, Sawtry – JAMES GOFF
St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Culkin, Parker, Henderson, Bowen, Furlong, Ankrah, Stainsby, Barnes, Williams
Subs: Muyembe (for Ankrah 85 mins), Obeng (for Williams 86 mins). Agemoh-Davies, and Anderson.
Cards: Bowen (Y – 17 mins), Ankrah (Y – 32 mins), Willis (Y – 43 mins)
Goal: Williams (30 mins)
Rugby Town: Bald, Kabeya, Lundoloki. Tempest, Thomas, Tye, Rowe, Elliott, Charles, Concannon, Taylor
Subs: Anaebonam (for Taylor 75 mins, Organ, Stolowski, and Dulgheru.
Cards: none
Goal: Charles (69 mins)