St Neots Town F.C.
Supporting the saints online

St Neots tossed away another two valuable points in this Cogenhoe stalemate meaning that in their last four league matches they have seen six points dropped in matches that they should have won. It was the first time in nine matches that they have failed to score and this profligacy in front of goal is beginning to cost them dear. In the second half they had three gilt edged chances and any one of those taken would have resulted in a victory because Cogenhoe only looked likely to score if they were to be gifted a chance by sloppy defending. St Neots were short of players because of a combination of injury an unavailability but their first team squad is more than big enough to produce a team capable of winning matches such as this one. Looking for positives there was a return after an injury absence of five games for Dan Jacobs but his inclusion in an unfamiliar left back slot served to prove his versatility but robbed the side of an important attacking option. Making only his second start for the side defender Adam Jones showed his class and solidity and looks to be a very useful addition to the squad.

Cogenhoe had only two direct shots at goal in the first half and both came in the first three minutes. Alfie Taylor sent a volley into the chest of Luke McShane from a cross by Jamie Wright and then the keeper had to go to full stretch to touch over a free kick from Wright that looked to be drifting in under the crossbar. St Neots then settled and both Josh Sozzo and Liam Harrold partnered up front for only the seventh time both sent efforts over the bar from St Neots’ best openings. Cogenhoe were almost gifted a goal after 27 minutes completely against the run of play when McShane appeared to misjudge a lengthy clearance from his opposite number and the ball took a deflection and bounced slowly towards the net but Michael Hyem sprinted to the rescue and cleared off the line. There were too many free kicks conceded by both sides as they seemed to be frustrated by their inability to create decent openings and after one of these skirmishes Sozzo had his name noted by the Referee. Just before the break Rob Hughes sent a speculative shot just wide and the sides seemed happy to hear the half time whistle to reorganise their respective approaches.

Cogenhoe were almost handed a goal after four minutes after the restart when McShane fluffed a clearance presenting the ball to Taylor but with a goal gaping and unguarded the Cogenhoe striker allowed his weakly hit effort to be clawed away by the off balance goalkeeper and Adam Jones recovered quickly to clear the danger. St Neots were far more positive and Hyem shot narrowly over the bar and a Hughes Volley brought the save of the match from George McLennan who acrobatically pushed the ball for a corner. The first of the three significant misses was by Liam Harrold set up by a return Sozzo pass but his poorly directed volley was too high and the same player headed weakly wide from a Hyem cross. St Neots were now camping in the Cogenhoe half and when Steve Lomas linked intelligently with his attack he produced an incisive cross that deserved a goal but at the near post Paul Garrett contrived to angle his header beyond the far post. With thirteen minutes left Jacobs was caught in possession and that could have proved costly but Jones robbed Dan Burke with the goal at his mercy. Four minutes later with the goal at his mercy Josh Sozzo volleyed wildly over the bar and that third really good chance missed condemned St Neots to a very disappointing result as they sought to take advantage of Daventry Town again involved in cup football.

• Team: McShane, Lomas, Jacobs, Hyem (M), Fuff, Jones, French, Hughes, Harrold, Sozzo, Garrett
• Subs: Kenneford (for French 81 mins), Usher, Lodge & Kuhne
• Man of Match: Adam Jones

Match date: Sat 12th December 2009