St Neots Town F.C.
Supporting the saints online

For the second successive season St Neots suffered a first round League KO Cup defeat in extra time and away from home. However following the disappointing displays at home to Yaxley and away at Mildenhall this was a much more encouraging performance. St Neots paraded their latest new signing in Danny Marlow who returned to the club from Rothwell Town and he produced a very impressive display in midfield. In fact it was in midfield where St Neots' improvement was most obvious with the perpetual motion Michael Hyem again St Neots most impressive player against a Bourne side looking far more compact and organised than they did last season. A second team change saw Lance Gentle-King restored in defence alongside skipper Glen Fuff and that seemed to tighten up the defence despite the concession of three goals. However the lesson from the match is that to be successful St Neots must learn to prosper from their possession and creation of chances because overall they were just the better side.

The first real chance fell to Bourne when Adam Masters looking three yards offside broke clear of the defence after six minutes but Luke McShane left his line to smother the shot. Andy Lodge then moved forward to skim the crossbar but he was to take no further significant part in the match because after 15 minutes he limped off injured to be replaced by Matt Kenneford. Tony Scully playing as a striker was prominent for St Neots sending a free kick inches over the bar and bringing a great save from home keeper Tom Roberts. He then set up Matt Kenneford who should have done better with a glancing header that sailed harmlessly over the bar. Little was seen of Bourne in attack although Addie Staffieri was worrying the visiting defence with his bursts of pace down either flank. The first half ended goalless with St Neots having had the better of possession and chances but the Bourne defence marshalled by Nathan Stansfield held firm.

St Neots looked positive after the break but created few chances and then after 49 minutes Bourne went ahead as Addie Staffieri with a his back to goal was given too much space by Steve Dogbe and he turned to fire a low shot wide of McShane and in off the far post. Shortly after his pace again set him free but to St Neots relief his shot was wide of the far post. St Neots had to change their approach so they sent on Lee Bassett withdrawing Luke Knight and handing Scully a roving role in support of the front two. With fourteen minutes left he released Kenneford but his shot rebounded off the legs of the advancing goalkeeper. Kenneford then shot wildly over the bar when he should have at least tested the keeper and St Neots were then denied what looked an obvious penalty when the disappointing Liam Harrold was pushed on the back as he bore down on goal. In the final minute of normal time a lengthy headed clearance by Glen Fuff went over the retreating Bourne defence and Danny Marlow celebrated his return with a header over the keeper who was caught off his line to send the match into extra time.

Third St Neots substitute Shane Fox headed wide but six minutes into the extra period Bourne substitute Gary Piper restored their lead with a surprise snap shot from 25 yards that beat McShane who appeared to slip as he moved to his left. The sides then went into the last fifteen minutes and with six minutes left Staffieri snaked through the St Neots defence to be pulled down by the exposed McShane. The goalkeeper was sent off and Tony Pascu beat stand-in keeper Glen Fuff from the spot to extend Bourne's lead to 3-1. There was still time for Tony Scully to score a second goal for St Neots with a cheeky direct free kick as Bourne spent far too much time trying to organise their defence. It was a disappointing result for St Neots but they must now build on the improvements shown at Bourne and learn to take their chances.

• Team: McShane, Dogbe, Lodge, Hyem, Fuff, Gentle-King, Knight, Marlow, Harrold, Scully, Okai.
• Subs: Kenneford (for Lodge 15 mins), Bassett (for Knight 72 mins), Fox (for Dogbe 86 mins) – not used Ashby.
• Man of Match: Michael Hyem

Match date: Tue 1st September 2009