St Neots Town F.C.
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St Neots run of five straight league victories was ended by Deeping Rangers who had also shared the points in a 0-0 draw when the two sides had met at Rowley Park. Overall a draw was probably the fairest result because the two very evenly matches sides exchanged attacking moves in an end to end encounter that saw both sides probably miss far more chances than they should have. St Neots were ahead for 75 minutes and there were only four minutes of normal time remaining when Deeping joyfully grabbed their equaliser after a wave of attacking moves had been repelled by the visiting defence. The visitors will probably therefore think they were hard done by but Deeping should have been level far earlier but for missed chances and a solid display by visiting keeper Luke McShane. Deeping picked up four bookings and St Neots boss Steve Lomas was also yellow carded late in the game for what appeared to be a show of dissent. The latest signing at Rowley Park, Daniel French was named as a substitute and made a debut ten minutes appearance replacing Tony Scully.

Deeping could have been in front after just three minutes when Sam Bettinson found himself six yards out with the ball at his feet but a last ditch tackle by Nick Hurst saved the day. St Neots then created two chances at the other end with Rob Hughes volleying over the bar from a Paul Garrett cross and then a cross from the opposite flank by Scully was headed into the keepers' arms by Liam Harrold. The St Neots goal came after 11 minutes when Harrold was fouled by Dan Holyoak and Rob Hughes' low shot took a deflection off a defender to creep in at the near post. Ashley Stevens then had two chances for the home side heading wide with the first and dithering on the ball to be robbed by Lomas. The physical battle between Holyoak and Harrold produced a first half yellow card for the Deeping defender and then two half chances for the visitors saw Scully bring a good save from Danny Bircham and a close range effort by Michael Hyem blocked by a defender with his goalkeeper stranded.

Mitchell Griffiths was prominent for Deeping early in the second half twice going past defenders to shoot over the bar and David Cobb was also too high with another effort. Luke McShane produced two good saves to deny Ashley Stevens and Scott Musgrove and St Neots were reduced to using counter attacking moves with Deeping now enjoying the better of the possession. A Michael Hyem cross was deflected and twice Jon Mitchell looked clear but was driven wide and the chances went begging. St Neots introduced Josh Sozzo for Harrold but it added little to their attack and with twelve minutes left a pile driving volley by Tony Scully went past the home keeper but Griffiths was perfectly placed to clear the ball off the line. Had this gone in St Neots could well have gone on to pick up all three points. The debut of Daniel French was almost immediately significant because with his firast touch he set up Jon Mitchell again but his shot was blocked and then with four minutes remaining and Deeping fully committed to attack defender Dan Holyoak got on the end of a long cross to force the Ball home from close range for the equaliser. Within thirty seconds Sozzo could have stolen the points for St Neots but he stabbed the ball wide from close range and the sides had to settle for a second inconclusive result against each other this season.

• Team: McShane, Lomas, Lodge, Hyem (M), Fuff, Hurst, Scully, Hughes, Harrold, Mitchell, Garrett
• Subs: Sozzo (for Harrold 66 mins), French (for Scully 83 mins), Gent (for Hurst 89 mins), Hyem (C) & Docker
• Man of Match: Luke McShane

Match date: Sat 28th November 2009