05-12-2012 19:45 
Thurlow Nunn Youth League West Division
DEEPING RANGERS 3 ST NEOTS TOWN 0
(Match Abandoned after 87 minutes due to serious injury)
Three minutes from the end of what would have been St Neots first league defeat of the season defender Junior Moya was injured in an accidental collision and was found to be unconscious. The Referee immediately summoned assistance and it was decided prudent to keep him warm but leave him on the pitch and call for an ambulance. He was drifting in and out of consciousness when professional help arrived and treated both on and off the pitch before being transported to hospital where he was thoroughly checked over before being released early the following morning to the care of his parents and sent home to rest. The League Management Committee will review the Referee’s report but it seems likely that they will order the result to stand rather than replay the match.
If the result is confirmed it will give Deeping revenge for a 1-0 defeat suffered at Rowley Park in October and will be disappointing for the visitors who were below strength and never played well enough to deserve any reward from the match. On a bitterly cold evening Deeping began really well taking the lead in their first attack after just ninety seconds. Fraser Sturgess flew down the left evading two tackles and crossed to the far post where the unmarked Conner Pilbeam had the simple task of side footing into the net. St Neots managed just one shot in reply but Sam Tamakloe’s effort was comfortably saved by Dylan Cliff. Having presented Deeping with the first goal St Neots compounded their problems after 12 minutes by giving away a second very soft goal. Some 35 yards from goal full back Oliver Duffan tried a speculative shot that was misjudged by goalkeeper Kieran Gibbons and the ball flew over his head and into the net. Five minutes later more poor defending let in Jamie Reeve but he skied his shot tamely over the bar. Rooky shot over the bar and the home keeper saved well from Karl Safee as St Neots tried to respond before Gibbons made some amends for his earlier error saving well from Pilbeam.
Clearly a half time wake up call for the visitors was in order and upon the restart that seemed to have worked. Cliff had to make an excellent double save to deny both Rooky and Safee in the early attack and St Neots did look far more positive. Sadly the recovery was short-lived for after 55 minutes more uncharacteristic defensive frailty saw Rhys Gilson go clear to beat Gibbons with an angled shot and they was never going to be comeback from a three goal deficit. Safee limped off with a back injury and it was then a case of St Neots polishing up their defence and containing the lively home attack. In rare breakaway attacks they did create half chances but never tested the home keeper and the unfortunate injury to Moya merely delayed the inevitable. St Neots must now regroup and complete an away league match at second bottom of the table Chatteris who have yet to win, and a home Hunts Cup match prior to their Christmas break.
St Neots: Gibbons, Massey, Mattin, Jenkins, Moya, Tamakloe, Leonce, Belgrove, Safee, Diejomadh (Rooky), Barker.
Subs used: Cochrane, Flynn & Clark
Cards: none
John Walker
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