St Neots Town F.C.
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One of St Neots’ best ‘all round’ team performances of the season on foreign soil afforded them three more valuable points and featured a first ever hat trick in St Neots colours for Liam Harrold. However he would be the first to pay tribute to his team mates for setting up his chances that took his goal scoring tally in league and cup this season to fifteen just one short of last season’s final tally of sixteen by Pete Okechukwu. It would be difficult to single out a man of the match with outstanding individual performances all around the pitch. Dan Jacobs was at his will o’ the wisp best in support of Harrold, Lewis Webb bossed midfield, Adam Jones slotted into defence alongside skipper Glen Fuff and shackled the league’s second highest scorer Miles Hunter and there was a solid debut performance from full back Matt Haniver recently captured from Cambridge City. Once again goalkeeper Luke McShane was largely untroubled as St Neots recorded their first ever victory at Eslaforde Park.

From the first whistle St Neots looked well prepared as they took the game to their hosts. Tony Scully was very prominent on the left twice leaving his marker for dead but unable to apply the finishing touch. The early pressure paid off after just nine minutes as Scully won a corner, Hughes crossed and Liam Harrold peeled off from the near post to the far where he found himself unmarked to head strongly into the net. It was a reward for his fine performances in the last two matches where he has looked unlucky not to feature on the score sheet. Sleaford were not helped by an early injury to midfielder Simon Bolland who had to be replaced but St Neots kept the pressure on and were effectively gifted a second goal – their 50th league goal of the season - when pressure down the right by Dan French and Harrold forced Khamed Spence into rolling a back pass to his keeper Andrew Scott who kicked over the ball which ran towards the bye line and Dan Jacobs reacted first to roll the ball into the empty net. Matt Haniver joined the attack to volley fiercely wide and it was half hour into the match before Sleaford mounted their first real attack in which Miles Hunter was prevented from pulling a goal back thanks to a great block from Adam Jones. St Neots responded with two further chances to increase their lead but Dan Jacobs had a volley deflected over the bar and a strong header by Jones from another Hughes corner was blocked on the goal line. Hunter stabbed a close range effort wide in a rare visit by Sleaford to the St Neots penalty area and the one way first half drew to a close with home goalkeeper Scott making some amends for his earlier error with a fine full length one handed save to push away a low shot from Harrold.

The half time break seemed to lessen St Neots tempo and some seventeen minutes passed without either side managing a significant shot on target. Then a quick break from defence caught Sleaford short in defence and St Neots produced the goal of the match – a real quality effort. Lewis Webb fed Scully on the left and he skipped past two defenders with pace and crossed to the far post. Jacobs made an early run across goal taking both defenders with his leaving Liam Harrold unmarked at the far post and his shot gave the unfortunate Scott not chance. Harrold then turned provider with a cross that found Dan French in space but his shot was just too wide. St Neots then unveiled their latest signing James Peagram starting wide on the left for Scully. After 70 minutes the score line increased to 4-0 with another excellently contrived goal. Haniver fed French and his long pass into space invited Jacobs to use his speed to beat Temi Ajimoko to the ball before rounding him to cross for Liam Harrold to tap in at the far post with the defence chasing shadows. That was the sign for a wholesale team change with Harrold and Hughes rested to be replaced by Matt Kenneford and Chris Hyem with Peagram moved to a favoured position up front. French and Jacobs both had chances to extend the lead and Sleaford refusing to give up created two late openings for themselves but Greg Smith put a free header over the bar and Hunter shot across the face of goal as St Neots seemed to tire.

• Team: McShane, Haniver, Hyem (M), Webb, Fuff, Jones, French, Hughes, Harrold, Jacobs, Scully
• Subs: Peagram (for Scully 66 mins), Kenneford (for Harrold 70 mins), Hyem (C) (for Hughes 77 mins) Gent & Knight
• Man of Match: 'the team'

Match date: Sat 6th February 2010