NORTHERNPREMIERLEAGUE–MIDLANDSDIVISION

GresleyRovers 1 StNeotsTown 2

A first victory in six league and cup matches came as a relief to St Neots who had dropped into the relegation zone of the league table prior to this match. An own goal and a well taken second just after the break gave them the platform for this victory that lifted them up three places in the table, but they had to absorb a late period of pressure to return home with the points. Manager Pete Gill decided to reshape his side playing an extra defender in a 53-2formationandwithonlyonegoalconceded–thatfromacorner,hisgamble certainly paid dividends. His changes saw leading scorer Trey Charles start on the bench along with Andre Hasanally and with Dan Barton injured again, the three players that came into the side were Toib Adeyemi, Declan Nche fit after injury,andnewsigningfullbackPatrickCampbell.

The contest began in dramatic fashion when after just four minutes in the first significant attacking action of the match St Neots won a corner.Aaron Smith’s searching cross cleared the players at the near post and went in off the home goalkeeper’slegsforastrangeopeninggoal. Thatseemedtosettlethevisitors’ nerves, although their revised line-up allowed the home side territorial possession in midfield. From an Albie Lansdown free kick Ellis Everard had a close range shot blocked and Adam Garmson should have done better than shoot wide after a good move by the home side. St Neots were always threateningfromlongthrowsbyAaronSmithintothepenaltyareaandSaleem Akanbi had a shot blocked after neat work by Declan Nche.Then after half an hour debutant defender Patrick Campbell brough down Ellis Evans as he raced into the area and a penalty kick was awarded. Evans himself took the kick but visiting keeper Jamie Greygoose guessed right to save the kick. Alex Morris was sent clear on goal, but he sent his finish wide and then Manny Osei was fouled, and he seemed to retaliate but the Referee smoothed things over without resorting to his notebook. He did however book Toib Adeyemi on the stroke of half time for a tackle when the St Neots defender appeared to have won the ballfairly.