St Neots Town F.C.
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Our 4-0 win at Sleaford means we have opened up a five point lead over Daventry Town who were playing in the F.A. Vase. Boston Town moved up to third place as the Poachers won 3-1 at bottom club Desborough who were first to score through Lee Thomson. Boston Town's Jon Rowan, like our own Liam Harrold was another hat trick man.

That defeat leaves Desborough further adrift after their closest rivals Raunds and Rothwell Corinthians picked up home draws. Ian Jackson's, who is well known to us at St Neots, first match at the Shopmates helm saw his new charges play out a scoreless stalemate with Northampton Spencer while “Corinth’s” saw a two goal lead slip through their grasp against Deeping. Sam Johnson and Bobby Drain netted for “Corinth’s” but Rangers sub Ashley Stevens scored twice to make the final score 2-2. We knew that Rothwell are game bunch following our midweek victory at Sergeants Lawn, but it was still somewhat of a surprise to see Deeping slip and drop 2 points.

Of the remainder of the leading pack Long Buckby, like Daventry were active in the Vase. These 2 sides could both overhaul us as they have an amazing 7 & 8 games in hand respectively. We have to play them both before the end of the season so we can still apply further pressure on them both.

Stotfold did themselves no harm, a Leon Gutzmore opener and George Brinkman double gave them a 3-1 win at Blackstones taking them up sixth place and leapfrogging St Ives into the bargain. Vinnie Shrieves and Darren Lynch scored two apiece for Newport Pagnell in their 4-1 success at Holbeach who led through Jason Sedlan.

Wellingborough were the day's only home winners, 4-1 against Daventry United. Tom Liversedge netted twice against his former team mates with Joe Power and Ben Johnson also on the score sheet for the Doughboys and Stuart Haynes hitting a Motormen consolation. Cogenhoe and Stewarts & Lloyds drew 1-1 at Compton Park, Dan Burke scoring for the Cooks and David Sheridan for the Foundrymen.

Although we only play one league games between now and the end of the month our closest rivals Long Buckby and Daventry Town meet at Station Road in just over a week’s time, Daventry also have to play Pagnell, who as we know only can beat anyone, twice in a 10 day period.

The January UCL awards saw the manager of the month presented to Terry Shrieves of Newport Pagnell. During the month he guided the Swans into the semi finals of both the League Knockout Cup and Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy. Newport also won their only league match of the month with all three successes taking place away from home.

Daren Young of Irchester wins the Division One award. His side picked up nine points from three league games, scoring eleven goals in the process and also reached the last four of the Northants Junior Cup.

The Goalscorer of the Month award has been shared by Miles Hunter of Sleaford and Stuart Lochhead of Stotfold who both scored three goals in two domestic matches during January. Both players' tallies came from hat tricks, Hunter's at Blackstones last Tuesday and Lochhead's against Northampton Spencer on Saturday.

The three UCL sides remaining in the Vase all exited in Round Five on 6th February.

Daventry Town's long winning run was always in for a stern examination at Needham Market who we played in the same competition last season, Needham were quarter finalists last season and semi finalists the year before that. Damian Hilton gave the Suffolk side a 52nd minute lead although the outcome remained in the balance until Craig Parker added a second two minutes into stoppage time.

Long Buckby lost 4-3 to Gresley after taking an eleventh minute lead through Dan Holman, but Gresley levelled through Royce Turville after 40 minutes. Further goals from Turville on the hour and Rob Spencer on 66 and 68 minutes put the visitors in charge. Dan Chilton reduced the deficit after 73 minutes but their third goal from Jon Crockett two minutes into time added came too late to change the outcome.

The Fifth Round proved the end of the line for St Ives for a third season in a row as Shildon won 3-1 at Westwood Road after extra time. Sam Garvie gave the Northern League side the lead two minutes before the hour but Ozie Foster replied for the Saints three minutes before the end of normal time. Garvie restored the visitors lead ten minutes into extra time and their last eight place was sealed by Martin Houchaf after 116 minutes.

  Article date: 08-02-2010