NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE – MIDLANDS DIVISION

from 2022/23 - Issue Twenty - Halesowen Town

NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE – MIDLAND DIVISION

Stamford 4 St Neots Town 0

For the first time this season St Neots named an unchanged starting line-up from that which had recorded their midweek victory at Dereham. However, the opposition on this day was far more challenging as the final scoreline indicates. Stamford are just three points shy of the league title and promotion and their second half performance in this match was one of the best that St Neots have encountered this season. They were slick, speedy, and positive and after a fairly even first half the hosts effectively wrapped up the result with two goals in four minutes early after the break. St Neots did not play badly – they were simply the second best side and had no real answer when their hosts turned on the pressure after the break. Stamford was not only prolific in front of goal – their watertight defence was well organised and gave nothing away and when St Neots conceded a penalty midway through the second half their fate was decisively sealed. In nine meetings with Stamford since reformation in 1994 St Neots have won just once –and that was in an FA Vase match on 30th September 1995.

In a tight first 45 minutes St Neots managed to repel the best that Stamford threw at them very well. However, they did concede a goal after 16 minutes when in Stamford’s first attack of note, Joe Burgess won the ball wide on the right and crossed for Jonathan Margetts to beat Jonah Gill from close range. St Neots responded well but found penetration of the home defence difficult despite some promising moves as they counter attacked their hosts. From a corner home defender James Blunden was given too much room but he fired harmlessly over the bar after18 minutes and four minutes later the lively Cameron Johnson left his marker for dead to find the head of Connor Bartle but his finish was too high. St Neots keeper Jonah Gill then saved well from Jack Duffy and just before the break St Neots best effort arrived when Trey Charles fed a great through ball to release Dan Barton, but his shot was parried by home custodian Dan Wallis.

More of the same’ was St Neots’ half-time instruction but that aim was swiftly shattered as the hosts raised their game to score twice in a four minutes spell immediately upon the restart.

There was some good fortune for them with the first goal as a deflection off a defender presented Jack Duffy with a tap-in goal from five yards and almost immediately another well-constructed goal saw defender James Blunden rise above the visiting defence to powerfully head past Jonah Gill.

A lengthy effort from Jon-Paul Duncliffe was comfortably gathered by the home keeper and then an injury to Manny Osei forced a St Neots change with Panny Boxer substituting. Gill was forced into a full length save to deny Harry Vince and then back in rare defensive duty Trey Charles barged into home substitute Isaac Currie to concede a penalty kick that was comfortably tucked away by Jonathan Margetts after 67 minutes. To St Neots credit this setback did not open the floodgates and they tried hard to respond with substitutes Panny Boxer and Albert Adu om to boost their midfield. However, the home side remained firmly in control and even a late effort from Charles a minute from time failed to earn any consolation. With the league leaders out of the way St Neots now look forward to hosting second in the table Halesowen Town in their next match as they scrap for vital points.

St Neots Town: Gill, Duncliffe, Smith, Anderson, Dickens, Boxer (T), Barton, Hook, Mason, Charles, Osei