BLAST FROM THE PAST

Saturday 10th August 2014

Southern League Premier Division

Hereford United 0 St Neots Town 2

Despite there being almost as many protesting Hereford fans outside the ground as those inside, the match attendance was the second highest in the league on the day but unfazed by the commotion around them St Neots served up a solid if rather unspectacular performance to pick up three points on the opening day of the season.Hereford relegated two steps down from the Conference for financial irregularities were an unknown quantity but featured a mix of youth and experience and gave the visitors a fairly stern test. The feature of the victory was that St Neots two second half substitutes each scored a goal to earn their victory for a side whose starting line up included just three new faces. Injury and suspension had robbed the Manager of Ben Farrell and Drew Roberts so there is more to come as St Neots embark on their third season at Step Three.

The opening phase of the match was a little scrappy with neither side looking positive enough in the final third but St Neots dominated early possession without really looking positive enough to threaten the home defence. A Lewis Hilliard shot was blocked and debutant striker Chris Dillon forced a reflex save from home keeper Luke Williams before sending a second effort wide.At the other end Deqwon Eubanks saw a header comfortably gathered by Nathan Abbey and then Hilliard playing in a forward role alongside Dillon shot wide and then sent a far post header over the bar. Defensively St Neots looked very sound although Bilal Yafai did get around Arthur Lee to set up Salvador Ramirez but his shot was well wide. The competitive nature of the match saw bookings for Samuel Akinde (Hereford) and Dillon but St Neots best first half chance fell to Gavin Hoyte from a Lee corner but he headed the ball narrowly over the bar. The lively Jay Davies twice shot over the bar but neither goalkeeper was really tested in a first half that was accurately reflected in the goalless score line at the break.