St Neots Town F.C.
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St Neots added a winning start this season at Rowley Park to their opening day success at Daventry United. Visitors Wellingborough gave a good account of themselves but the result was never in doubt thanks to St Neots' overall control of the match. The home side dominated the first half without scoring and their patience paid off after the break with two goals in four minutes that set up the victory. The one downside was a solitary incident of sloppy defending that handed the visitors their consolation goal but this is something that St Neots must learn from. The only team change from the opening day was that Lee Bassett who had started on the substitutes' bench on Saturday swapped places with Shane Fox in the starting line up and he made an immense and impressive contribution before being substituted just past the hour.

St Neots were in charge from the first whistle and the chances came quickly. A Parys Okai free kick only just cleared the bar and Matt Kenneford turned well to see his first effort blocked by a defender. An off balance Liam Harrold was disappointed to see his first headed attempt on goal drift wide and a rising shot by the lively Luke Knight was blocked by a defender. Wellingborough looked good in midfield but created little until 22nd minute when a well placed free kick by Paul Smith was comfortable saved by Luke McShane and on the half hour another free kick this time by Wayne Richardson was pushed away at full stretch by the goalkeeper. Linking up with Harrold in attack Lee Bassett was a constant threat with his pace and determined pressure on the visiting defence and he set up Kenneford to run at goal but goalkeeper Shaun Markie dived bravely at his feet to block. A minute before the break the unmarked Harrold should have scored with a near post headed from a Kenneford cross but the ball ballooned over the bar and the sides went for the break goalless.

St Neots early second half pressure brought two goals and another glut of chances. Markie did well to save an Okai free kick and the busy Michael Hyem harried the Wellingborough defence to create a snap volley chance for Bassett which brought the save of the match from Markie. However the deadlock was broken after 51 minutes when Bassett's pinpoint cross sought out the head of Liam Harrold and his powerful finish was reached by the keeper but it crept in at the bar post with the home side appealing unsuccessfully for offside. In St Neots next attack a neat forward pass by Okai was chased and won by Lee Bassett whose low finish made it 2-0. A free kick by Knight was well saved and Steve Lomas then indulged in squad rotation sending on Shane Fox for Bassett. The visitors reduced to shooting from distance had efforts by James Russell and Dan Spaughton comfortable saved by McShane and the introduction of Wellingborough substitute Ben Johnson added some pace to their attack. After 69 minutes a cross by Andy Lodge recovered from Saturday's injury set up Liam Harrold for his third headed goal of the campaign and at 3-0 the match was comfortably won. It was therefore careless that after 74 minutes a cross from the impressive Johnson found Dan Grainger completely unmarked at the far post and his volley gave McShane no chance but that was as good as it got for the visitors. Luigi Rocco (for Kenneford) and Paul Dwyer (for Okai) made appearances as substitutes as St Neots played out time and Steve Dogbe squandered a simple headed chance to put icing on the cake for St Neots.

• Team: McShane, Dogbe, Lodge, Hyem, Fuff, Hurst, Kenneford, Knight, Harrold, Bassett, Okai.
• Subs: Fox (for Bassett 61 mins), Rocco (for Kenneford 69 mins), Dwyer (for Okai 80 mins) - not used Simpson & Edge
• Man of Match: Liam Harrold

Match date: Tue 11th August 2009