St Neots Town F.C.
Supporting the saints online

Around 800 fans turned up for St Neots' first pre season friendly to break the ground record attendance on a balmy summer evening. The opposition was provided by Luton Town and visiting Manager Mick Harford fielded the side in the first half that he hopes will win his Club an immediate return to the Football League this season. St Neots in contrast fielded a side that contained just four of those who had picked up Hinchingbrooke Cup winners medals in their last competitive game in May. The rest of the starting line up contained three further players who were with the club last season and four new signings. In the second half Luton fielded their second string whilst at various times during the last 45 minutes St Neots introduced a further seven players as substitutes. The result was unimportant to both sides but Luton ran out deserved winners by three goals to one but it was a very useful start for both clubs.

St Neots were quickly out of the blocks and they shocked their visitors as they created two excellent early chances. After three minutes Tony Scully left a defender trailing and crossed for Leon Simpson to head down just inside the near post but visiting keeper Mark Tyler was quickly down to make an excellent save. Then the keeper distinguished himself again with a stunning save at full stretch to push away a Scully free kick. Luton then settled and created their own openings. St Neots keeper Luke McShane impressed as he kept our a header by Liam Hatch from a Kevin Nicholls cross and then Adam Newton curled a cross just wide of the far post. The first goal of the new season arrived after 13 minutes from a Nicholls corner with Alan White rising to head home at the near post. Newton brought another save from McShane and Hatch headed wide but Sozzo almost equalised with a cross that was claimed under the bar by Tyler. Three minutes before the break St Neots deservedly levelled when Scully pulled the ball back to Josh Sozzo on the edge of the box and his clinical low shot beat the keeper but within ninety seconds Luton regained the lead as Adam Newton volleyed home from close range and McShane had parried a header from Hatch.

The second half saw Luton have the bulk of the attacking play but the St Neots defence marshalled by Glen Fuff and Nicky Hurst was magnificent. After 64 minutes Luton produced their only breakthrough as Lawrence Hunter converted a Jason Mitchell cross whilst St Neots were denied a late goal when substitute Shane Fox saw his shot cleared off the line with the goalkeeper beaten.

Luton - (1^st half) Mark Tyler, Keith Keane, George Beavan, Kevin Gallen, Alan White, George Pilkington, Adam Newton, Kevin Nicholls, Liam Hatch, Ryan Charles, Andy Burgess.

(2^nd half) Preston Edwards, Jason Mitchell, Ian Roper, Gavin Frater, Jake Howells, Claude Gnakpa, Rossi Jarvis, Asa Hall, Lawrence Hunter, Tom Craddock, Drew Talbot.

• Team: Luke McShane, Steve Dogbe, Okai Parys, Michael Hyem, Glen Fuff, Nicky Hurst, Matt Kenneford, Ian Edge, Leon Simpson, Josh Sozzo, Tony Scully.
• Subs: Ian Brown, Kevin Ashby, Chris Hyem, Shane Fox, Lee Bassett, Luke Knight, Shane Hill
• Man of Match:

Match date: Fri 10th July 2009