St Neots Town F.C.
Supporting the saints online

Two goals in as many minutes midway through the first half were enough to give St Neots the three points that took them back to the top spot in the Premier Division of the UCL. The leg up came because Daventry Town were the odd side out and therefore not in action but they now have four games in hand over the Saints and of course are still involved in the FA Vase so a fixture pile up for them at the end of the season could prove beneficial to St Neots. After an absence of nine games Steve Lomas named himself at full back in place of Jordan Gent who will have appreciated a deserved rest and in only his fifth appearance Lomas maintained his record of always finishing on the winning side. His class was once again apparent but as in recent matches he will be left musing why his side did not score more goals - especially as they played for more than an hour against ten men. Sleaford already without their two regular strikers had Josh Giles sent off after 27 minutes as he picked up a straight red card for an elbow assault on St Neots man of the match Rob Hughes. Once again conditions were far from ideal with the wind making good football difficult but St Neots must learn to convert superior possession and good chances into goals if they are to realise their true potential.

After just three minutes Nicky Hurst was close to his first goal of the season as he sent a near post flashing header only just over the bar with the visiting goalkeeper beaten and two headers from Liam Harrold were comfortably gathered. Paul Garrett was to fire St Neots into action as he was involved in both goals for the second match in succession. After 21 minutes he varied his usual teasing inswinging corner to find the unmarked Jon Docker and his accurate cross found the head of leading scorer Liam Harrold who will have been delighted to claim his first goal since October 3rd. Before the celebrations had died down the lead was doubled as Garrett won the ball and survived a second tackle to slip the ball forward for Jon Docker to force the ball in from close range to score his first ever goal in St Neots colours. Both Rob Hughes and Michael Hyem brought saves from Andrew Scott with shots from distance but the sending off seemed to upset St Neots rhythm who found it difficult to penetrate the revised Sleaford formation. It was not until 33rd minute that the visitors had a direct shot at goal and that was a header from Dan Reidy well saved by Luke McShane who had been only a spectator up to that point. Just before the break two more well created St Neots chances went begging with Michael Hyem's shot hitting his own player but being well saved by Scott and then Lomas joined the attack to set up Harrold but his low shot was deflected for a corner by a defender.

From the restart it was obvious that the Sleaford tactic was one of damage limitation. They left Reidy on his own up front and he posed very little threat. Meantime the midfield area was being dominated by Hughes and Hyem and scoring chances came with regularity. Jon Mitchell should have scored but clear of the last defender he delayed his shot and Scott blocked and Harrold could only head weakly into the keeper's arms. Harrold was then withdrawn and replaced by Josh Sozzo and he almost made an immediate impact being robbed as he went clear. From another Garrett corner Nicky Hurst saw Scott make a full length save to his close range effort and it was then a case of the visiting keeper acting as a one man barrier to St Neots efforts. He made three excellent saves from Paul Garrett whose shooting was impressive and also denied Sozzo. The same St Neots player then shot wide and shot over the bar from the best move of the entire match inspired by Lomas and Jon Docker. In the last five minutes St Neots sent on two further substitutes and although the hard working Reidy registered the visitors' second serious shot of the match hero keeper Scott had the last work with a great full length save to touch away a net bound shot from Greg Usher.

• Team: McShane, Lomas, Lodge, Hyem (M), Fuff, Hurst, Docker, Hughes, Harrold, Mitchell, Garrett
• Subs: Sozzo (for Harrold 60 mins), Hyem (C) (for Docker 85 mins), Usher (for Mitchell 85 mins), Kenneford & Gent
• Man of Match: Rob Hughes

Match date: Sat 21st November 2009