02-09-2013 19:45 
Thurlow Nunn Youth League West Division
PETERBOROUGH NS U18 2 ST NEOTS TOWN U18 1
Both of these teams had scored five goals in their opening league match last week but so evenly matched were they in the first half there was no sign of a continuation of that goal glut. In two previous visits to the ground St Neots had failed to win so the hope was to improve on that record but the Peterborough side is a well organised and hard working unit and the task was never going to be easy. Having conceded twice in the first 25 minutes of the second half St Neots came back strongly and were very unlucky not to returned home with at least a point after the home side were left resorting to time wasting in the final stages in order to preserve their narrow victory.
The home side began confidently creating the better early chances. Asif Dost shot wide when well placed and Dan Mattin produced a fine last gasp clearance to divert a Joe Bull cross for a corner with the goal looking vulnerable. Sam Wilson then tricked his way to the bye line but Kelton Stringer cleared off the line. Gradually St Neots grew in confidence and Mattin joined the attack to shoot narrowly wide but at the other end Kieran Gibbons did well to deny Harry Holt after a rare mistake by Junior Moya. An injury to Moya then seemed to upset St Neots rhythm and Gibbons had to produce the save of the match from Josh Sanders following an inswinging corner from Dan Wilson. St Neots best first half move just before the break saw the lively Lawrence Harper-Scott round his marker to cross but Rukky Diejomaoh saw his finish just wide of the far post.
Just six minutes after the restart a 30 yards drive by Joe Bull rebounded from the St Neots crossbar and Josh Warrener followed in to net through a statuesque St Neots defence. Sam Williams saw two shots wide of target as St Neots began to compete more effectively and with Moya returned to the fray he saw a shot saved by the goalkeepers’ legs. After 70 minutes and against the run of play Peterborough claimed a second goal as Aaron Sanders was allowed to ride three defensive challenges before firing past Gibbons and that gave St Neots a real mountain to climb. However they responded well to dominate the final quarter of an hour but their only reward was a consolation goal ten minutes from time when Junior Moya converted a through pass from Harper-Scott.
St Neots: Gibbons, Hartley (C),Mattin, Moya, Stringer, Williams, Meeds, Woolford, Diejomaoh, Carter, Harper-Scott.
Subs used: Sambu, Jones, Fawcus-Williams and Huff.
Cards: none
Goals: Moya (80 mins)
John Walker
Recent Comments