THURLOW NUNN YOUTH LEAGUE – WEST DIVISION

ST NEOTS TOWN U18     6    GODMANCHESTER U18      0        

St Neots U18 side moved to the top of the table and preserved their unbeaten league record this season with a comfortable victory over neighbours Godmanchester.   Their victory completed a league double – their second of the season but the match was never as one-sided as the final score line suggests.

It was the visitors who had the better of the opening half hour. Home keeper George Anthony was kept busy as he touched a 30 yards free kick over the bar before going full length to push a Jason Kissi free kick for a corner. The same visiting player should have done better when played clear of the home defence after 21 minutes, but his weak finish was easily saved. St Neots came more into the contest as the half progressed and six minutes before the break Joe Jackson took advantage of slack defending to put the hosts ahead. Then on the stroke of half time he finished off an impressive home side build up by claiming his second goal.

The visitors looked more determined after the break and Anthony had to save well from substitute Will Jolly, but St Neots were now assuming control.   After visiting keeper Owen Dyer had saved well from Charlie Clark, the home side scored a third goal when the tricky Gabriel Tonks beat his marker to cut in from the left to score after 67 minutes. Three minutes later it was 4-0 when Jack Nicholls added his name to the scoresheet and on 77 minutes Joe Jackson completed his second league hat trick of the season taking full advantage of a defensive error. The visitors had Luca Davies sent off eight minutes from time and substitute Jaiden Bell wrapped up the victory four minutes from time with St Neots’ sixth goal.

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

Subs:   Stainsby, Paton, Baker, Morris, and Bell.

Cards:  Clark (Y – 12 mins), Smith (Y – 58 mins), Nicholls (Y – 77 mins)

Referee:  Jack Badcock

(John Walker)