08-11-2012 19:45 
Thurlow Nunn Youth League West Division
ST IVES TOWN 1 ST NEOTS TOWN 2
Still short of three of their most experienced players St Neots did well to hang on to their unbeaten league record and third place in the table playing against a compact and determined host St Ives side. Two goals in as many first half minutes towards the end of a tightly fought and sometimes untidy first half proved enough to earn the visitors the points but they had to defend with great character towards the end of the match as St Ives searched for a second goal. St Neots strength was in the tightness of their defence and the immense work rate of midfield pair Conner Belgrave and David Hartley and Manager Steve Pickering will be left with an interesting selection decision when his full squad becomes available.
Much of the opening twenty minutes of the match was played in midfield with both defences well in control and direct shots on target very rare. St Neots gave little support to lone striker Rukky Diejomadh and it was after 22 minutes that the first real chance arrived but home striker Sam Eyre scuffed his shot from close range. Joe Kelly then had St Ives second opening but he headed wide from a cross by Pat Kinsman. St Neots work rate was good but St Ives shaded first half possession and it was against the run of play when St Neots took a 37th minute lead – but it was worth waiting for. A silky move sliced through the St Ives defence as Sean Barker exchanged passes with David Hartley before volleying fiercely into the roof of the net to claim his first goal of the season. Before St Ives recovered from the shock and just two minutes later they were further behind as Ash Farouqui linked on the left hand side and his cross-cum shot eluded everyone and crept almost apologetically into the net despite an unsuccessful last ditch attempt to clear off the line by a defender. If that was hard on St Ives then a minute before the break there was further disappointment when visiting keeper Kieran Gibbons arched his back to push a Sam Eyre free kick over the bar.
St Ives started the second half well and substitute Lewis Leslie adding welcome height to their attack won the ball from a corner but his header was a foot wide. St Neots responded with a series of attacks in which Rory Cochrane sent a close range half volley high over the bar and a Belgrave shot beat home keeper Josh Baker but was also fractionally high. The game was more open now and midway through the second half St Ives pulled a goal back when Sam Eyre got the benefit of a defensive deflection that left him with a simple tap in to reduce the arrears. A second St Ives substitute too the game to St Neots as they bolstered their attack and twice Gibbons saved well. However the St Neots defence stayed calm under pressure and although they created few chances they always looked comfortable in possession and they fully deserved the points for their all round display.
St Neots: Gibbons, Massey, Farouqui, Jenkins, Moya, Belgrove, Cochrane, Tamakloe, Diejomadh (Rooky), Hartley, Barker.
Subs used: Flynn, Perring & Millwood.
not used: Banthorpe
Cards: Farouqui (Y – 83 mins)
John Walker
Thurlow Nunn Youth League West Division
|
10 Teams |
Games |
Games |
Games |
Games |
Goals |
Goals |
Goal |
Points |
|
7 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
26 |
10 |
+16 |
18 |
|
|
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
19 |
8 |
+11 |
13 |
|
|
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
11 |
4 |
+7 |
13 |
|
|
6 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
9 |
+1 |
10 |
|
|
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
+6 |
9 |
|
|
8 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
9 |
11 |
-2 |
9 |
|
|
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
17 |
17 |
+0 |
7 |
|
|
9 |
1 |
4 |
4 |
16 |
24 |
-8 |
7 |
|
|
7 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
9 |
25 |
-16 |
2 |
|
|
6 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
9 |
24 |
-15 |
1 |
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