Ramsey Town U18 vs St Neots Town U18

Thurlow Nunn Youth West Division

RAMSEY TOWN U18      1       ST NEOTS TOWNU18      1      

This was a very untidy match played on a bumpy sloping pitch that did not encourage creative football but the St Neots performance by a team missing key players was very disappointing.   They enjoyed much the better share of possession but their finishing was poor and the home side defended well.   The match look destined for a goalless draw until the home side broke away to score against the run of play and this resulted in St Neots redoubling their efforts to snatch a late equaliser and a share of the points.

It took St Neots some time to adapt to the breezy conditions on the difficult surface and apart from one good take by home keeper Jake Byatt to a Lawrence Harper-Scott cross there was little early goalmouth action.    After 21 minutes in their first significant visit to the St Neots penalty area Ramsey almost snatched the lead when a good through pass by Luke Jenkins split the St Neots defence and Bradley Maher sent a fierce shot wide of Dan Huff but it rebounded from a post to safety.   At the other end Dan Mattin set up Rukky Diejomaoh and he brought the save of the match from Jake Byatt who acrobatically turned the ball over his cross bar.   Harper-Scott had an inswinging corner cleared off the line by a defender but clear chances were limited although Rukky twice fired wide.   At the end of the first half Maher cross to pick out the unmarked Luke Jenkins but his effort sailed harmlessly over the bar.

St Neots regrouped after the interval with both substitutes introduced in a more attacking 4-3-3 formation.   That led to an ever greater share of the play but their passing was poor and the ball was given away too often.   Substitute Matt Allen saw a net bound shot deflected wide and in a Ramsey breakaway attack Rowan Abraham headed a Maher cross wide when he should have scored.    Only ten minutes remained when against the run of play a long ball forward saw St Neots defence show a lack of concentration allowing Bradley Maher time and space to chip the advancing Huff to open the scoring.   St Neots response was positive and quick for within three minutes a Ryan Reid-Edwards free kick was bundled over the line by Lawrence Scott-Harper.   It was no less than St Neots deserved and Harper-Scott could have snatched all three points for the visitors deep into added time but after going clear he shot over the bar.

St Neots: Huff, Hartley (C), Mattin, Read-Edwards, Poli,Stringer, White, Clark, Diejomaoh, Samuda, Harper-Scott.

Subs used:  Fawcus-Williams, and Allen.

Cards:  none

Goal (St Neots):  Harper-Scott (83 mins)

John Walker