St Neots Town F.C.
Supporting the saints online

Club Assistant Manager Steve Kuhne made a surprise appearance in a St Neots shirt for the first time since September 2006 and scored twice but his return was marred when his side conceded two second half goals to toss away two league points. That was unforgivable given the fact that visitors Huntingdon played for all but fifteen minutes with ten men having had Ricky Marheineke sent off for picking up two yellow cards. All credit to Huntingdon who stayed competitive throughout this Friday evening match showing spirit and determination despite their discrepancy in numbers and they will be delighted to have picked up their first point of the season in the circumstances. St Neots will reflect that they became very complacent in the second half leading 3-1 with only ten opponents and clearly failing to take full advantage.

St Neots began in fine style with James Duckett having an early shot parried after being played clear and the visiting keeper also did well to keep out a close range shot from Andy Sincock. However in their first attack Huntingdon took the lead as Joe Furness sent in a free kick to the near post where Klie Brighton out jumped his marker to head home. They were still in front when Marheineke picked up a yellow card for a late challenge (14 mins) and then two minutes later gave the Referee no option but to send him off when he palmed a fierce shot by Luke Swain over the bar. A penalty was also awarded and Andy Wale levelled the scores. Brighton could have restored the lead with a snap shot from close range but Niall Conroy-Owen saved well and then on the half hour St Neots took the lead. From a Swain corner a fierce header by Jimmy Laine rebounded from the cross bar and in typical fashion Steve Kuhne was first to move to tuck the ball into the corner of the net. Duckett shot wide after being played clear by Kuhne but the striker was centre stage again four minutes before the break when a miss hit shot by Swain saw him produce a crafty back-heel to divert the ball wide of visiting keeper James Else.

Resuming with that 3-1 advantage the second half should have been comfortable for St Neots but they produced few clear chances and the danger signs were there after 73 minutes when Conroy-Owen had to make a fine save to deny Joe Furness. A minute later there was a controversial incident when James Edwards was fouled as he went for goal but he recovered to net only for the Referee to have awarded a free kick. Justice was done when Furness scored with a bullet of a free kick from 22 yards to put Huntingdon back in contention. Then with two minutes remaining Edwards was baulked in the penalty area by Conroy-Owen and despite claims that the striker had dived a penalty was awarded and man of the match Joe Furness confidently tucked away the penalty to earn his side a valuable point. St Neots stormed forward in the remaining few minutes but Else denied Kuhne late glory with an excellent full length save.

• Team: Conroy-Owen, Green, Duckett (J), Wale, Laine, Gent, Sincock, Cole, Kuhne, Colmer, and Swain.
• Subs: Cooke (for Duckett 67 mins), Bell (for Swain 67 mins), Kessock-Phillip (for Sincock 84 mins) & Houseago
• Man of Match: Steve Kuhne

Match date: Fri 28th August 2009