2019-2020 St Neots Town Vs AFC Dunstable Issue 05

SAINTS

AFC Dunstable

Photo Courtesy Of @PooleyPitchside

Photo Courtesy of Kevin Richards @RTFC_tog

ISSUE 05: OFFICIAL ONLINE MATCHDAY MAGAZINE BetVictor Southern League Division One Central

FA CUP

1st Round proper 1966/67 4th Qualifying Round 2018/19

FA TROPHY

3rd Qualifying Round 2014/15

HUNTS PREMIER CUP

2001/02

HUNTS SENIOR CUP

39 times (first time 1888/89 – last time 2017/18)

HINCHINGBROOKE CUP

10 times (first time 1921/22 – last time 2011/12)

SCOTT GATTY CUP

18 times (first time 1927/28 – last time 2009/10)

HUNTS BENEVOLENT CUP

11 times (first time 1977/78 – last time 2009/10)

HUNTS JUNIOR CUP

1990/91, 1992/93, 1993/94

HUNTS LOWER JUNIOR CUP

1992/93, 1993/94

HUNTS RESEARCH CUP

1992/93

GAYTON (U18) CUP

8 times

1993/94, 1995/96, 2007/08, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (CENTRAL DIVISION) CHAMPIONS

2011/12

SOUTHERN LEAGUE (PREMIER DIVISION) PLAY-OFF RUNNERS UP

2014/15

SOUTHERN LEAGUE KO CUP WINNERS

2013/14

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

1956/57, 1967/68, 2010/11

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CHAMPIONS

1994/95

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE K.O. CUP WINNERS

1967/68, 1968/69

UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE DIV TWO K.O. CUP WINNERS

1965/66

SOUTH MIDLANDS LEAGUE DIV ONE CHAMPIONS

1932/33

METROPOLITAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

1949/50

METROPOLITAN LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP

1949/50

METROPOLITAN LEAGUE PROFESSIONAL CUP

1964/65

HUNTINGDONSHIRE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

1990/91, 1991/92, 199/93, 1993/94

HUNTINGDONSHIRE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO CHAMPIONS

1990/91, 1991/92, 199/93, 1993/94

CENTRAL ALLIANCE LEAGUE CUP

1959/60

BEDFORD HOSPITALS CUP

1927/28

BUCKINGHAM CHARITY CUP

2003/04

Welcome to Rowley Park - The Premier Plus Stadium and to the latest edition of the St Neots Town Matchday Magazine, enjoy great football, great hospitality and a great read.

Club Officials

Club Information

President: John Walker Life Vice Presidents: Marian Izzard and Mick Hunt

Matchday and Hospitality Diane Sales – Catering Manager

Board of Directors Barry Cavilla – Chairman Kevin Hull – Community Chairman Gary Wilson – Secretary Matt Clements – Director of Football Louise Spark – F & B Director Iain Parr– Director Mike Green – Director Jeremy Green Director

Andy Clay – Hospitality Charlie Green – Music / Scoreboard Mike Green – Stadium Announcements

Fixtures Secretary Marian Izzard Facilities and Pitch Maintenance Barry Oakley – Groundsman

Media Mike Green – Club Press Officer James Ledwich – SNTtv / Social Media Rowan Presland – Social Media David Richardson – Club Photographer

First Team Marc Abbott – Manager Sean Greygoose – Assistant Manager Matthew Joseph – First Team Coach Gary Dean – Goalkeeper Coach Charlotte Ellis – Head Sports Therapist Mick Hunt – Kitman Stanley Scotcher – Matchball Retriever

Founded 1879 The Premier Plus Stadium Rowley Park, Kester Way St Neots PE19 6SL Telephone 01480 470012 Email enquiries@stneotstownfc.co.uk Official Website www.stneotstownfc.co.uk As a Club we support Grass Roots Football and stand firm against racism within football, visit www.thefa.com for more information on playing your part.

Reserve Team Mark Gearing – Manager Clive Taylor and Dominic Ankers – Assistant Managers Craig Lambert – Physio Club Welfare Officer Mick Hunt

THE CLUB FOR THE COMMUNIT Y

League Rule 2.13 Ownership: In accordance with the Football Association Rule 2.13 Publication of ownership in relation to Step 1 to Step 4 Clubs within the football pyramid, we hereby confirm that the legal status of St Neots Town Football Club Ltd identified by Company Number 02921210, and is a Private Limited Company.

For the purposes of publication of ownership, we can confirm that the following named people are listed as Directors of the company: Lee Kearns (significant interest), Iain Parr, Louise Spark, Mike Green, Jeremy Green and Gary Wilson and officers of the company as Peter Naylor.

www.stneotstownfc.co.uk

Greenie’s Greeting Mike Green Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to the Premier Plus Stadium for today’s BetVictor Southern League Division One Central match.

Today we extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and supporters of AFC Dunstable and we

hope your first visit to St Neots is an enjoyable one. I say first visit but this is not the case for a number of ex Saints players in the O.D’s ranks – Ryan and Nathan Frater, Martell Powell and Drew Roberts – so please give these lads the welcome they deserve, having served the club so well in the past.

Whilst I was sunning myself in the Balearics, we exited the FA Cup with a 2-0 reverse at Bigglewade Town where, by all accounts, we didn’t reach the same level of performance as the original tie which turned out to be a classic cup tie with the underdog snatching a late leveller against the higher grade side. This was followed up by a 2-1 reverse at Didcot Town where JOE SUTTON gave us an early lead but tow second half goals for the hosts condemned us to defeat.

Tuesday evening saw us travel, for the second time inside the opening month of the new season, to

Kempston Rovers, this time in the Southern League Challenge Cup. Having won our visit there back in August, a much changed Saints side repeated their earlier feat by coming away with another victory, this time 1-0, courtesy of a very late strike by AARON SMITH. We now face a trip to Yaxley FC in the First Round later this month.

A busy week on then pitch was completed on Wednesday evening as our Under 18 Youth Team travelled to Stotfold FC in the FA Youth Cup First Round Qualifying however it wasn’t to be our night as injuries late on in the match hindered our chances of progression and the home side snatched a late winner in extra time, eventually running out 3-2 winners .

Scorers for the Saints were JACOB JOSEPH and REIF CLARKE (who currently has a one hundred percent strike rate having scored in every game for the young Saints so far this season).

Back to today then, a big performance will be needed against the early pace setters but how many times have we turned in class performances when we are up against top opposition? Keep on cheering the lads on, we will get there in the end and positive results will follow positive performances.

Until next time…

From The Dugout‌ With Manager

Today we welcome AFC Dunstable to the Premier Plus Stadium - With them being

the early pace setters, we hope their supporters and club officials present today enjoy their time at the game today.

Since our last home game v Biggleswade Town in the FA Cup - where we produced a really mature performance, causing numerous problems against a good side we have been on our travels in the league and League Cup; Last weekend we travelled to Didcot, where we knew facilities / pitch quality weren’t going to be ideal, we knew we had to adapt as a group. We ended up disappointed as we conceded late in game. Didcot were the more robust side, knew how to play the difficulty of the surface and punished us.

Tuesday night we headed to Kempston Rovers in the league cup where we previously picked up 3 points a few weeks back (winning 2-0) with a few key players injured, it gave a fantastic opportunity for a few players that have been in / out the team valuable game time. We had some strong performers throughout which shows the depth of the squad and rightly came away with a late goal from Aaron Smith to win the game in the 92nd minute.

Today, we know the importance of finding some consistency in the league and gather some momentum, picking up some valuable points. With the fixtures being broken up in terms of cup fixtures and league fixtures we understand the importance of producing a positive performance/ result.

We hope you all enjoy the game and continue the fantastic support you have all shown over recent weeks!

Marc, Sean & Matty

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ACTION FROM THE FA CUP

TIME TO MAKE HEADWAY! Parslow calls for con cussion review

FORMER National League champion and Non-Leag winner Daniel Parslow ue double is making a plea for football’s concussion protocol to be improved .

The 33-year-ol Town and York d ex-Cheltenham City defender retired in the summer following a head injury during a National League North game.

He is now calling on football to follow rugby union and allow temporar substitutions while y by an independent a player is assessed allowed to continue.doctor before being Parslow told The NLP: “I feel there a place for that is in it will eventuall football and I think y come into play. hope it doesn’t take I just something serious for it to happen.”

OPPONENT SPOTLIGHT

AFC DUNSTABLE Year founded: 1981 Chairman: Simon Bullard Club Website: www.afcdunstable.com

WELCOME ESPECIALLY TO OUR VISITORS AFC DUNSTABLE FOR OUR FIRST EVER MEETING AFC Dunstable moved to their present home at Creasey Park in the Town in 2009 as joint tenants but the junior partner with Dunstable Town playing in the Premier Division of the Southern League.

However, the roles have changed with Town having suffered relegation to the South Midlands League at the end of last season. Founded just over a Century after St Neots Town FC, AFC Dunstable have made remarkable progress up the football ladder and already this season they are challenging for further promotion. They have won four of the five completed league matches up to last weekend with their only defeat coming away at high flying Corby Town. Talking of league fixtures this is only our second Saturday home league fixture of the season

despite that next week sees the start of October!

A plethora of Cup fixtures and Cup replays have dominated out first two months and next week we shall be on the road again to Carlton in Nottingham for our first engagement this season in the FA Trophy. However, back to our visitors and several of their players will have had no problem locating the Premier Plus Stadium having played for us very recently. We welcome them back but hope they return home without the points! In midweek (after these notes were penned) we managed to fit in our delayed League Cup Preliminary Round tie at Kempston. Interestingly in nine Southern League seasons it will have been only the second time we have started at the earliest stage of the competition and if successful we are due at Yaxley in the next round on 2nd October.

Club History AFC Dunstable started life as Old Dunstablians Football Club in 1981. The name Old Dunstablians originated from an organisation formed in 1888 for old boys from Dunstable Grammar School. The most famous member of the club is Hollywood actor Gary Cooper, who attended the school in the early 1900’s.

When the Grammar School closed down and Manshead School opened they took over the mantle, but the old boys club was in decline. In 1981 the head teacher was asked if he could re-launch the name, hence the football club was born.

By 1988 after its centenary, the Old Dunstablians Club ceased to exist, but the football club carried on in commemoration and to this day still bears the club crest on its badge.

The club started in the Dunstable Alliance Football League for a couple of seasons then moved onto

the Luton District and South Bedfordshire League in 1983. Still playing at Manshead School with the 1st team and reserves, success was limited with the 1st team runners up twice in Division One and runners up in the William Pease Cup. While in the Luton League though the 1st team did land the Bedfordshire Junior Cup beating Leighton Athletic on penalties in 1989 –90 season. The reserves did win some silverware, when back in the day a cup final went to a replay. The season was 1993-94 when they beat overwhelming favourites Luton Old Boys.

With the club using Dunstable Town Cricket Club as their social base in Bull Pond Lane, the cricket club was looking to move to a larger site in Totternhoe and when the new club was opened in 1994, a football pitch was accommodated, so the football club moved there from Manshead School.

An improvement in facilities gave the club a chance to apply to join the South Midlands League in 1995.

Accepted into the then Division One (Premier and Senior Divisions were the higher divisions) the club struggled, as they flirted with being relegated straight back to the Luton

League in the first 2 seasons. Going through new managers every season, we finally started to gain some consolidation and in season 2001-02 the 1st team finished 4th in the league and won the Division One Cup. The following season we just missed out of the title, which was now Division Two. Looking to go one better we finally clinched the title the next season and was runners up in the Division Two Cup. Ground Grading issues were now starting to stop the team from getting promoted, as two ground sharing agreements were turned down by the league.

This was now the start of a trophy laden period, as the Division Two title again was secured and back-toback Bedfordshire Senior Trophy’s. Added to that, the Division Two Cup was won again.

The club in 2003-04 decided to launch its youth policy and when the Under 15’s were runners up in the Chiltern Youth league, it started on the path to work its way through the FA Charter Standard. We achieved Adult status in 2003-04. The club then made the decision to change its name to AFC Dunstable, (when the prefix AFC was not as prevalent

as it is nowadays), so not to get confused with the local rugby club, as the club started to grow and the name was more associated to a football club. The club kept the name The OD’s, as their nickname. The youth then was awarded the Charter Standard in 2005-06.

The next big step was to become a Development Club and a great deal of work saw the club achieve this in 2007. Next up was our goal to become a FA Charter Standard Community Club and 2008 saw the club get there. In that time the club has been awarded the Development Club Of The Year in 2008 and the Community Club Of The Year in 2009.

With the club now boasting 14 teams and catering for adults, youth, junior, girls and disability footballers, the local authority and the Bedfordshire Football Association approached the club to become partners in the new Creasey Park Community Football Centre in 2008 and this gave the chance to move the 1st team to Creasey Park and apply for promotion to Division One for the start of the 200910 season, which was accepted.

Player Profiles

DAN GREEN – AGE 26 – GOALKEEPER – Sponsored by Steve Cantellow Joined the club in January 2019 after a couple of seasons with Welwyn Garden City. All tall commanding keeper, he also counts Biggleswade FC as one of his former clubs.

RYAN FRATER – AGE 33 – DEFENDER – A highly experienced player, who has many clubs to his name. A great signing for the club last season, as he picked up a championship medal for Royston Town after the club won the Evo-Stik Southern League Central two seasons.

LEON CASHMAN (C) – AGE 35 – DEFENDER – Sponsored by Carl Newbury A tall inspiring centre half, he is captain of the team.

Joined the club in 2014 just for a month’s loan from Dunstable Town but has remained ever since. Leads by example and has vast experience at the highest non-league level. Former clubs include Corby Town & Havant & Waterlooville.

Has also represented the Royal Navy at football.

TERRY GRIFFITHS – AGE 28 – DEFENDER – Sponsored by CME Heating

This no-nonsense centre half, Terry defends as if his life depends on it.

Joined the club in 2015 after moving in the area from Essex. His story is quite extraordinary, after he tweeted looking for a club.

Terry is now approaching 150 appearances.

BILLY BAIRD – AGE 25 – DEFENDER – Having played for the club 4 seasons back, Billy re-joined AFC from Ware in October. Playing at right back, Billy has been a sound addition to the squad. Was a member of the Potters Bar Town’s promotion winning team from the 2017-18 season, when they went up to the Bostik Premier Division.

GRANT FRYER – AGE 28 – DEFENDER – Sponsored

by Tony Barbato Grant had a spell at the club in our Spartan South Midlands days. In between then, he has turned out for Leighton Town & Kempston Rovers. Returned to the club at the back end of last season.

NEWMAN CARNEY – AGE 25 – DEFENDER/MIDFIELD – Sponsored by Richard Church Joined AFC on a month’s loan from Dunstable Town at the beginning of 2014 but decided to stay with the club. An ex professional with Luton Town when he was 18, he is one of the youngest

players to represent the Hatters. Newman is one of 3 ex Luton Town players in the squad.

LUKE ABRAHAM – AGE 28 – DEFENDER – This will be Luke’s first season with AFC after a 4 season stay at Arlesey Town. Before that, he has had an array of clubs including Aylesbury FC, Chesham United and Dunstable Town.

KYAL McNULTY – AGE 28 – MIDFIELD – Sponsored

by Exact Scaffolding A new acquisition following his transfer from Kempston Rovers. Kyal was at AFC as a 17 year old when playing for the Reserve Team. Moved onto Leighton Town, then had spells with Banbury United, Biggleswade Town, Bedford Town & AFC Rushden & Diamonds.

NICK ELLIOT – 28 – MIDFIELD – New signing for this term having helping Hayes & Yeading United to the Bostik Central Division One title last season. Also has a Spartan South Midlands Premier Division medal to his name when Welwyn Garden City clinched the title a couple of seasons ago.

MARTEL POWELL – 27 – MIDFIELD – Joining the club at the beginning of December 2018 from Biggleswade

Town, Martel has brought that final jigsaw to our midfield. A very skilful player, he can cause defences problems with his surging runs. Chips in with the odd goal as well.

KYLE AJAYI – 19 – MIDFIELD – Sponsored by Craig Renfrew A success story of AFC’s youth system. Kyle joined the club at 15 and has made his way through the Under 18’ & Under 21’s. A tall strong player for his age, the club have very high hopes for Kyle.

Represented England Schools at Under 18 last season.

CHRISTIAN TAVERNIER – AGE 26 – MIDFIELD – Sponsored by J&R Coaching Another player who has spent time at Luton Town.

Chris joined the club last season, after 5 years at Arlesey Town, where he was a regular goal scorer.

Another tall elegant player, the club have high hopes with Chris in the team this season.

SONNY-NEWBURY BARR – 18 – Midfield – Sonny is the first AFC player to play for every group in the club to make an appearance for the 1st team. Starting out at Under 8, he progressed through all the youth teams, then broke into the Under 18’s & Under 21’s. Made is full debut in the FA Cup this

season.

TAYLOR RHINEY – 25 – MIDFIELD/FORWARD Taylor is new to AFC after spending starting last season at Bedford Town, before moving to Biggleswade United in the Spartan South Midlands. A tricky winger, he can cause havoc on his day.

JERMAINE HALL – AGE 31 - FORWARD – Sponsored

by Irmak BBQ This will be Jermaine’s 5th season with the club, even though he left for pastures new at the beginning of the season. Saw sense and returned to the club in January. He was the leagues top scorer in 2016-17 season which he won the Golden Boot. Last season he was the club’s top scorer once again.

JOSH CRAWLEY – 26 – FORWARD – Sponsored by Tony Barbato Spent many seasons with Kempston Rovers, Josh is a very hardworking forward. He always chases lost causes and has an eye for goal.

BJ CHRISTIE – 30 – FORWARD – Sponsored by 1981 Events The clubs record goal scorer with over 250 goals to his name & now all-time record appearances. First turned out for the club at 15. Has had a couple of spells away from the club with Barton Rovers

and Berkhamsted but always returns. As you can imagine, many clubs chase his signature in close seasons.

NATHAN FRATER – 32 – FORWARD Nathan was a member of our Spartan South Midlands Premier Division title winning squad. Has left the club on 2 previous occasions but has always returned.

Last week while frantically working towards yet another print deadline, I came across a story which certainly made me smile.

As they jubilantly travelled back from their FA Vase victory at Bacup Borough two weekends ago, the players and staff at Grimsby Borough found themselves in a scenario fit for a Hollywood thriller as their coach ended up perched on the edge of a 45 foot ravine!

They had only just set off on the journey from The Borough’s West View home when their coach driver suddenly took a rather perilous wrong turn.

“When it crashed we started singing ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning!’ to the driver,’” said Grimsby boss Daniel Barrett.

“Then the bus tilted and we started to realise that things may be a bit more serious! ”We had stayed in the bar after the match for a little bit and were still very much at the beginning of the trip home.”

Nevertheless the group was determined to make the best of the situation and set out in search of a pub.

However, in deepest rural Lancashire, this proved more difficult than expected.

Barrett continued: “We ended up walking about five miles!

“We stopped off at a petrol station and bought some drinks. We had our portable speakers and were singing all the way, I don’t really know what the local residents were thinking.

“When we eventually found a pub the people running it were so helpful and said that we could stay there for the night.

“It was a pretty surreal evening but we certainly made sure that we made the most of the situation.

“Thankfully we are at home in the next round so there won’t be a repeat!”

While this represents a rather funny tale which will certainly be remembered by those involved for a long time, I think it also demonstrates one of the best things about playing football at this level.

In an age of over protected and out of touch professionals, this kind of story would never have happened in the higher divisions.

A huge part of Non-League football is about enjoyment and about getting away from the rigours of another working week to play the game for the love of it with people that you get along with.

Of course, everyone wants success and to move up the pyramid but Non-League football also has that lovely human element of regular people enjoying their weekends while also trying to fulfil their dreams in the game.

It is for these quirky tales why people like myself have come to love Non-League football and everything that it represents.

FA CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND St Neots Town This pulsating cup tie between the two neighbours had everything, goals, passion and a steely determination not to be beaten – both teams led the match and the fact they have to do it all again is a fair outcome. St Neots just about shaded the first half and deserved their narrow half time advantage, but after the break the Waders roared back into contention and bossed proceedings for a spell scoring twice in four minutes to leave them in the ascendancy with half an hour to play. The home side could have buckled at that point, but they are fast showing an increase in confidence and in the last quarter of an hour they took control and set about repairing the damage. They left it late scoring their second and equalising goal right on time but Biggleswade can have no complaints. The large crowd were well entertained and, like the two sides will be looking forward to the Wednesday evening return match at Langford Road. For the first time this season Saints Manager Marc Abbott named an unchanged side.

It was end to end right from the first whistle. St Neots created the first chance after four minutes when Prince Mutswunguma unselfishly set up Tim N’Kala on the left flank and from a narrow angle he rounded his marker to see his shot rebound from the outside of a goalpost. At the other end after nine minutes, Joe White saw his effort blocked and ball went loose for Matt Ball whose cross found the head of former Saint Jordan Gent, but James Philp saved comfortably. Sean Lucien using his pace on the left was proving a constant threat to the St Neots defence and in a five minutes spell he

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Biggleswade Town

set up White who wastefully shot over the bar, he picked up a pass from Ball to see his effort rebound from a post, and then chipped just wide from distance. Another former Saint Devante Stanley was tumbled in full flight earning Stevan Shaw a caution and after 27 minutes defender Gardie Milenglie got the ball in the net for the visitors but was ruled offside. St Neots then had a good spell in the ten minutes before the break with Alfie Connor and Lee Watkins testing the visiting keeper and they were rewarded three minutes before the break when following a corner Sam Bennett crossed to the near post for Sam Goode to glance a header into the net.

Biggleswade came out with all guns blazing after half time taking the match to their hosts and in a spell of four minutes’ they turned the game on its head with two goals. After 52 minutes the lively Sean Lucien beat his marker and cut in to fire a low shot past Philp at his near post to level the scores. Before St Neots had time to recover, they conceded a second goal as a Lucien cross was only cleared as far as Solomon Sambou whose perfectly placed chip from 25 yards found Philp a yard or so off his line as it found the top corner of the net. St Neots looked stunned, but they settled to repair the damage with some attacking moves to probe the visiting defence. Sam Bennet saw an effort well blocked, but he then set up N’Kala whose drive was just the wrong side of a post. St Neots then introduced teenage substitute Jacob Joseph to liven up their midfield and this was to prove a very significant move. He was quickly in action testing visiting keeper Sam Donkin and further substitutions followed by both

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sides. By now Biggleswade had settled to hang on to their narrow advantage and Devante Stanley was booked for blatant time wasting. As the full-time whistle approached N’Kala was brought down on the edge of the box and St Neots continued their newly found momentum to carve out a deserved late equaliser. It came as the clock passed 90 minutes when Jake Kerins crossed from the right, and Jacob Joseph netted at the near post to set up the replay.

St Neots: Philp, Kerins, Smith, Noble, Shaw, Goode, Watkins, Connor, N’Kala, Bennett, Mutswunguma Subs: Joseph (for Mutswunguma 71 mins), Boxer (for Connor 80 mins), Gomersall (for Bennett 90+1 mins) Logan, Walker and Crosby.

Cards: Shaw (Y – 26 mins) Goals: Goode (43 mins), Joseph (90 mins) Biggleswade: Donkin, Stanley, Perry, Miles, Milenglie, Gent, Lucien, Sambou, White, Ball, Brookes Subs: Marsh-Brown (for Brooks 80 mins), Soares (for White 83 mins), Allinson, Thompson, Richardson, Smith and Bush.

Cards: Miles (Y – 57 mins), Ball (Y – 67 mins), Stanley (Y – 85 mins) Goals: Lucien (52 mins), Sambou (56 mins) Referee: Oliver Mackey (Leicester) Attendance: 288

FA CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND REPLAY Biggleswade Town St Neots bowed out of the FA Cup in their midweek replay with Biggleswade Town producing an uninspiring performance as seniority prevailed. The main difference between the sides was the almost faultless display

by Solomon Sambou for the home side as he controlled midfield throughout the match and still found time to score a goal in each half to propel his side through to the next round and a home tie with Ware Town.

A measure of the difference between the sides was that St Neots failed to produce a shot on target in the first 45 minutes and then failed to seriously test home custodian Sam Donkin after the break. The home side was dominant almost throughout with the need for St Neots to find a goalscoring striker again very apparent.

They could not be faulted for effort, but it is goals that win matches, and in this case the greater sponsorship reward.

Manager Marc Abbott opted for just a single change in his line-up giving a first senior start to recent signing Panny Boxer and leaving Alfie Connor on the bench, whilst the home side rested former Saints central defender Jordan Gent.

The Waders began confidently and after six minutes, Joe White cut in from the left to fire in a narrow-angled shot that James Philp blocked with his legs. Seven minutes later down the same flank the lively Sean Lucien moved inside his marker, but his effort flew across the face of goal to be cleared. The attacking play by the home side continued as St Neots found it difficult to get of their own half, and when Liam Brooks was tripped in full flight after 15 minutes, Matt Ball sent the free kick in a central position high over the bar. Two minutes later

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St Neots Town

the initial breakthrough arrived as Lucien lost possession, but the ball went loose to the feet of Solomon Sambou and he sent a sweetly struck shot into the roof of the net past the surprised Philp. It was no less than the hosts deserved although St Neots did hit back quickly as former Saint defender Devante Stanley gave the ball away and presented with a surprise opening Sam Bennett sent his effort over the bar. It could have been worse for St Neots when after 24 minutes Lucien’s blistering pace took him past his marker and his cross evaded the visiting defenders but at the far post Liam Brooks missed his kick and the chance went begging. Home skipper Ball had a shot deflected, and at the other end Tim N’Kala failed to get a shot in after neat work by Panny Boxer and on the stroke of half time, Jake Kerins sent a free kick from the edge of the box over the crossbar.

St Neots were more competitive after the break, but the home side continued to create the bulk of the openings. From a Ball free kick Sambau fluffed a good headed chance and Ball sent a free kick over the bar from a promising position. St Neots did respond after good work by Jake Noble but Mutswunguma finished weakly and after 61 minutes a second home goal effectively ended St Neots hopes of victory. It came after some defensive confusion and when defenders failed to clear the ball appeared to come back off a post for Solomon Sambau to net from close range. St Neots began to look ragged and frustrated and they had three players booked for a variety of poor tackles. However, they sent on two substitutes and one of them Jacob Joseph produced the nearest to a

0

consolation goal when he sent in a shot that skimmed the crossbar ten minutes from time.

Underworked home keeper Sam Donkin did have to save a lengthy effort from Boxer, but the home side were never in real danger of conceding a goal.

The ineffectiveness of St Neots’ finishing was summed up by a late effort by Bennett that flew harmlessly over the crossbar.

St Neots: Philp, Kerins, Smith, Noble, Shaw, Goode, Watkins, Boxer, N’Kala, Bennett, Mutswunguma Subs: Joseph (for Mutswunguma 65 mins), Sutton (for Noble 65 mins), Logan, Walker, Connor and Bartlett.

Cards: Shaw (Y – 58 mins), Mutswunguma (Y – 62 mins), Watkins (Y – 73 mins) Goals: none Biggleswade: Donkin, Stanley, Perry, Miles, Milenglie, Smith, Lucien, Sambou, White, Ball, Brookes Subs: Marsh-Brown (for Lucien 71 mins), James-Thompson (for Miles 81 mins), Soares (for White 86 mins), Allinson, Richardson, Gent and Bush.

Cards: James-Thompson (Y – 84 mins) Goals: Sambou 2 (17 & 61 mins) Referee: Stuart Kyle (High Wycombe) Attendance: 289 John Walker

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CENTRAL DIVISION ONE Didcot Town

2

A disappointing second half performance saw St Neots drop to just one place off the bottom of the league table after their first ever visit to Didcot Town. However, the defeat was only one significant factor in a very disappointing afternoon in Oxfordshire. The flashpoint for the disturbance came twenty minutes from time with the scores level at one apiece. Tim N’Kala seeking to break clear of the defence was wrestled crudely to the ground by home full back Liam Talboys and then forcibly held down as he tried to recover. The Referee seemed slow to react and players from both sides piled in to wreak justice. Amongst them was semi-fit St Neots substitute Stevan Shaw who had no right to intervene and he was issued with a red card – the first non-player to be so punished in living memory. When the Referee and both Assistants sorted out the mayhem the two protagonists were booked, and the game continued with both sides still having eleven players on the pitch! From that point St Neots seemed to lose their way and a late winning goal gave Didcot only their second league victory of the season. St Neots Manager Marc Abbott had tweaked his starting line-up for the match.

With Shaw failing a pre-match fitness test Joe Walker filled in for his first Southern League start, Alfie Connor was preferred to Jake noble in midfield, and Joe Sutton returned after suspension in place of Prince Mutswunguma who was on the substitutes bench.

The pitch was more reminiscent of a beach, very hard and almost devoid of grass in places due to a water supply problem after the long dry spell, but both sides settled to the conditions which produced an irregular bounce of the ball. Wide man George Reid was quickly a thorn in the St Neots defence being brought down after five minutes by Panny Boxer to

St Neots Town earn the St Neots player the first booking of the match, and then having a deflected free kick well parried by James Philp.

Joe Sutton looked lively for St Neots shooting narrowly wide after an impressive pacey run, but then after twelve minutes he dispossessed home skipper Luke Carnell and cleverly rounded the home keeper to open the scoring. St Neots seemed boosted by their lead and just before the twenty minutes mark Sam Bennett had two good chances to extend the score line, firstly shooting wide after neat play by Boxer and Sutton and then scorning an excellent opening, shooting high over the bar when clear. Tim N’Kala then cut in, to fire over the bar and a lengthy effort by Lee Watkins was off target. It was therefore against the run of play two minutes before the break when rather fortunately Didcot levelled. A St Neots attack broke down and Reid produced pace to get forward, but his cross was deflected to the feet of Mark Francis who netted from close range.

St Neots had two early let offs after 55 minutes when their defence was caught short and attempting to rectify the position Sam Goode opted for a lofted back pass well wide of his keeper and the ball bounced off a post to concede a corner.

Didcot did get the ball in the net from that corner but fortunately the Referee had spotted some pushing in the penalty area.

Seven minutes later St Neots might have taken the lead but Jake Kerins’ first effort from a very narrow angle was blocked by the goalkeeper, and his follow-up volley in the same attack was acrobatically turned over the bar by Leigh Bedwell.

The game was now more open and a shot by Seth Humphries was deflected and fell to Luke Carnell whose shot was hacked off the line by a defender.

Mark Francis sent an acrobatic overhead kick inches too high but then that midfield altercation

1 held up play for several minutes.

With nine minutes left full back Cameron McNeill made a swift attacking run down the flank and when his low shot was deflected Mark Francis was on hand to net from close range the winning goal – his second of the contest.

It could have been worse for in the last few minutes James Philp produced an outstanding full length save to deny substitute Connor Mattimore. A day best forgotten!

St Neots: Philp, Kerins, Smith, Connor, Walker, Goode, Watkins, Boxer, N’Kala, Bennett, Sutton Subs: Gomersall (for Smith 67 mins), Mutswunguma (for Bennett 83 mins), Shaw and Abbott.

Cards: Shaw (RED – 70 mins), Boxer (Y – 5 mins), N’Kala (Y – 70 mins), Goode (Y – 73 mins) Goals: Sutton (12 mins) Didcot: Bedwell, Talboys, McNeill, Hayden, Carnell, Gilmore, Dark, Nash, Francis, Humphries, Reid Subs: Pin (for Humphries 83 mins), Mattimore (for Dark 83 mins), Gardner, Heapy and Sampford.

Cards: McNeill (Y – 21 mins), Talboys (Y – 70 mins) Goals: Francis 2 (43 and 81 mins) Referee: Tom Staten (Gloucester) Attendance: 241 John Walker

SOUTHERN LEAGUE LEAGUE CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND Kempston Rovers A dramatic injury time winning goal saw St Neots through to the next round of the League Cup in their delayed tie at Kempston. Against expectation an understrength St Neots side progressed despite having to play with three of their usual back four injured. By complete coincidence the late winner came from Aaron Smith – the only survivor of that back four.

It was a much-changed St Neots side that took the field but the adaptability of players to perform in other than normal roles has got to be a bonus for Manager Marc Abbott. With Stevan Shaw and Mason Rhiney already on the injury list they were joined by experienced defenders Sam Goode and Jake Kerins and reshuffling his side with Panny Boxer at full back, the Manager brought in Jake Noble and Sam Gomersall as well as replacing Tim N’Kala with Prince Mutswunguma. The two sides had met at Kempston three weeks earlier in a league match that had resulted in St Neots only three points haul so far this season.

There was a very bright start to the match with both sides playing positive attacking football. St Neots created three openings in the first five minutes with the reinstated Prince Mutswunguma going clear of the defence but seeing two early goal bound shots both blocked – first by keeper Carl Knox and then by defender Jordan Wright. Three minutes later Joe Sutton sprinted past three home players only to see Wright block again. Kempston replied swiftly winning two corners in succession both pushed away by under pressure visiting goalkeeper James Philp. The game then settled with the home side having the edge for a period. Back in

0

St Neots Town

defence Mutswunguma gave the ball away and Wright had a low effort well saved by Philp and a free kick in a good position twenty yards from goal was skied over the bar by Finlay Brennan. The match was developing into a very tight contest with neither side able to break through despite some promising openings and in his unfamiliar full back role Penny Boxer advanced to set up Sam Bennett whose effort was narrowly over the bar.

Sam Gomersal making only his second league start was looking lively in attack and he shot just wide after clever work

by Mutswunguma and then he lifted a cross onto the roof of the net with home keeper Knox out of position. As half time arrived the final effort was also from Gomersal after good unselfish work by Sutton but once again Knox saved well.

The second half saw St Neots in control as they grew in confidence. Gomersal saw an early effort blocked by a defender and Mutswunguma was again tormenting the home defence to set up Sutton whose first effort was blocked by the legs of Knox and his follow-up from a narrow angle flew across the face of goal. Kempston looked dangerous on the break and from a corner by Brennan a towering header from Robbie Goodman brought the save of the match from Philp. Sutton was then brought down on the edge of the box, but Alfie Connor’s free kick was off target and wasted. Jake Noble was booked for a midfield foul after the Referee had played an excellent advantage for the home side that came to nothing but the St Neots player had to leave the field with an injury shortly afterwards with Jacob Joseph replacing him

1

and Gomersal reverting to the vacant defensive position.

Mutswunguma then saw a shot deflected over the bar and in the final twenty minutes St Neots enjoyed the bulk of the attacking play but failed to break down the stubborn home defence. As the ninety minutes drew to a close both sides sent on substitutes in preparation for the seemingly inevitable penalty shoot-out but two minutes into added time a St Neots attack on the right broke down and the ball ran loose to Aaron Smith whose first ever senior goal earned his side passage through to the next round and a visit to Yaxley.

St Neots: Philp, Boxer, Smith, Connor, Noble, Walker, Gomersal, Watkins, Mutswunguma, Bennett, Sutton Subs: Joseph (for Noble 67 mins), N’Kala (for Mutswunguma 83 mins), Quigley (for Bennett 90+3 mins), Olive and Bartlett.

Cards: Noble (Y – 63 mins) Goals: Smith (90+2 mins) Kempston: Knox, Goodman, Brennan, Wright, Powell, Sage, Boland, McGrath, Stratton, Dahie, Massaro Subs: Hunt (for McGrath 46 mins), Beldon (For Dahie 90+3 mins), Shortt, Andrews and Hudson.

Cards: Powell (Y – 48 mins), Massaro (Y – 72 mins) Goals: none Referee: Sean Barry (Northampton) Attendance: 89 John Walker

FA YOUTH CUP – FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND STOTFOLD U 18

3

ST NEOTS TOWN U18

Player injuries and a punishing 30 mins of extra time contributed towards St Neots crashing out of the FA Youth Cup at Stotfold.

It was a pulsating and at times physical contest with the home side only just holding on to their narrow victory in the face of a late comeback from the visiting side. St Neots twice came from behind to send the game into extra time but their overall record in this competition continues to be disappointing.

past three defenders to net with a low shot to level the scores. Parity lasted just three minutes before a similar move to the first home goal saw Brennan feed Temilola Akinbusong again, and his finish was positive leaving the St Neots keeper helpless. A late spell of defiance saw St Neots create a couple of late first half chances, but Joseph shot wide following a Jake Wood free kick and O’Hara was also off target with his effort.

The visitors made a promising start with home keeper Taylor Haddow having to save bravely at the feet of St Neots skipper Adrian O’Hara after five minutes. Callum Hills then tested the keeper with a rising shot but Stotfold then went ahead in their first real attack after 13 minutes with an impressive move that split the visiting defence, with Ollie Bishop finding the unmarked Oliver Brennan on the left and his cross set up Temilola Akinbusong to finish well. The same Stotfold player had the ball in the net two minutes later but was ruled narrowly offside, and Callum Mullins then brought a fine save from St Neots custodian Dylan Martin at the expense of a corner. By now the home side had built up a momentum that was to see them dominate much of the first 45 minutes. It was therefore against the run of play after 31 minutes when Jacob Joseph glided

The half time break saw St Neots Manager Alex Minall vary his sides’ tactics and the result was positive. St Neots began to compete and when Reif Clarke was upended after just two minutes it looked to be a penalty, but the kick was given on the edge of the area and Joseph’s low shot beat the defensive wall but Haddow saved well.

However, sixty seconds later Clarke’s disappointment vanished when Haddow fluffed a clearance and the St Neots striker put the ball in the net to level the scores. It was Clarke’s fifth goal in five matches this season. Now it was game on and Haddow saved well from Joseph but after 59 minutes Joseph was injured and forced to leave the field with Tommy Hamilton substituting. St Neots continued in a positive vein and Hills and Olive saw shots well saved by Haddow but St Neots inability to take

2

advantage of their superior possession was to cost them dear. A break by Clarke in added time saw his shot nestle in the side netting and then it was on to extra time. During the break three St Neots players including the two centre halves were found to have injuries so the remaining three substitutes were pressed into service.

What proved to be the deciding goal came just three minutes inside the last half hour as Ashbel Mensah set up substitute Dominik Robertson for a close-range finish. It was a disappointing ending to a courageous performance against a good host side.

St Neots: Martin, Olive, Wood, Watkins, Rowlands, Howell, Joseph, O’Hara, Clarke, Brown, Hills Subs used: Hamilton, Matzk, Tull and Smalley.

Cards: Clarke (Y – 105 mins)

Referee: Bradley Hallibone (Bedford)

(John Walker)

St Neots Town First Team

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Teams AFC Dunstable Berkhamstead FC Corby Town Aylesbury United Halesowen Town Barton Rovers Welwyn Garden City Bedford Town Daventry Town Yaxley FC North Leigh Didcot Town Kidlington FC AFC Kempston Rovers Biggleswade FC Coleshill Town Thame United Bedworth United St Neots Town FC Wantage Town

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

PTS

6

5

0

1

20

6

14

15

6

4

2

0

18

2

16

14

6

4

2

0

12

6

6

14

7

3

4

0

8

1

7

13

6

4

0

2

13

8

5

12

7

3

2

2

17

15

2

11

5

3

1

1

11

5

6

10

7

2

4

1

9

10

-1

10

6

3

0

3

8

12

-4

9

6

2

1

3

12

10

2

7

6

2

1

3

11

10

1

7

6

2

1

3

4

7

-3

7

6

2

1

3

6

10

-4

7

6

2

0

4

8

11

-3

6

6

1

3

2

7

11

-4

6

5

1

1

3

7

10

-3

4

5

1

1

3

6

10

-4

4

5

1

1

3

7

12

-5

4

5

1

1

3

6

12

-6

4

6

0

0

6

2

24

-22

0

Division One Central

St Neots Town Reserves TEAMS

Cherry Hinton FC Cambridge University Press West Wratting FC Over Sports Ely City Reserves Eaton Socon Comberton United Eynesbury United Great Shelford FC Foxton FC Chatteris Town Linton Granta FC Hemingford United St Neots Town Reserves Fulbourn Institute FC

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

PTS

6 6 5 7 7 6 6 5 6 7 7 7 6 6 5

5 5 4 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 0 0

1 1 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1

0 0 1 1 3 1 3 2 3 4 4 5 4 6 4

28 17 14 18 13 16 8 13 12 12 12 12 10 5 8

4 3 7 12 13 10 8 14 13 15 17 14 20 22 26

24 14 7 6 0 6 0 -1 -1 -3 -5 -2 -10 -17 -18

16 16 12 12 12 11 9 9 9 9 7 6 4 0 -2

KERSHAW LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

St Neots Town Under 18’S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

TEAM St Neots Town U18 Kings Lynn Town U18 Holbeach United U18 March Town United U18 St. Ives Town U18 Cambridge City U18 Deeping Rangers U18 Peterborough Sports U18 Wisbech St Mary U18 Godmanchester Rovers U18

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

PTS

3 3 4 2 3 2 1 1 2 1

3 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0

0 1 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 1

8 9 11 5 7 6 1 1 3 0

4 6 7 3 8 5 1 3 7 7

4 3 4 2 -1 1 0 -2 -4 -7

9 6 4 4 4 3 1 0 0 0

THURLOW NUNN YOUTH LEAGUE WEST DIVISION 2019/20

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01767 677559

2 -- 2

0 -- 0

4 -- 2

0 -- 0

Bedford Town

Corby Town

0 -- 0

Barton Rovers

2 -- 0

2 -- 0

4 -- 1

Aylesbury Utd

Coleshill Town

Biggleswade FC

Berkhamsted T.

Bedworth United

Bedford Town

Barton Rovers

Aylesbury Utd

AFC Dunstable

3 -- 2

AFC Dunstable

1 -- 1

2 -- 2 2 -- 3

Bedworth Town

4 -- 0

Berkhamsted T.

2 -- 0

Biggleswade FC

2 -- 2

Coleshill Town Corby Town

2 -- 0 1 -- 4

Daventry Town Didcot Town

1 -- 3 1 -- 2

Halesowen Town

1 -- 4

AFC Kempston

1 -- 1

Kidlington

0 -- 2

North Leigh

1 -- 2

St Neots Town

1 -- 2

Thame United

0 -- 7

Wantage Town Welwyn Gdn City Yaxley FC

0 -- 2

1 -- 1 2 -- 2

Yaxley FC

Welwyn Gdn City

Wantage Town

Thame United

St Neots Town

North Leigh

Kidlington

AFC Kempston

Halesowen Town

Didcot Town

Daventry Town

7 -- 0 0 -- 0 2 -- 1

1 -- 4 2 -- 1 0 -- 0 4 -- 0 1 -- 3

4 -- 1 2 -- 1 2 -- 1

1 -- 0

4 -- 1

0 -- 2

1 -- 0 0 -- 1

0 -- 2

1 -- 0

4 -- 0 3 -- 0

1 -- 2

2 -- 1 1 -- 5

2 -- 5

2 -- 2 1 -- 2 1 -- 2

1 -- 2

3 -- 1

2 -- 1

Opposition in CAPS denotes home fixture. Player name in bold CAPS denotes goal scorer.

St Neots Town FC First Team Result Date Opposition Comp Res

Att

1

2

3

4

5

17-Aug

Bedworth United

BETSL

0-0

211

Philp

Kerins

Smith

Connor

Goode

20-Aug

YAXLEY FC

BETSL

2-5

203

Philp

Kerins

Smith

Rhiney

GOODE

24-AugGodmanchester Rovers FAC

1-1

180

Philp

Kerins

Smith

Noble

Goode

26-Aug

AFC Kempston R

BETSL

2-0

143

Philp

KERINS

Smith

CONNOR

Goode

31-Aug

NORTH LEIGH

BETSL

1-5

172

Philp

Kerins

Smith

CONNOR

Goode

3-Sep GODMANCHESTER ROVERS FACR

3-1

231

Philp

Kerins

Smith

Noble

Goode

7-Sep BIGGLESWADE TOWN FAC

2-2

288

Philp

Kerins

Smith

Noble

GOODE

11-Sep Biggleswade Town

FACR

0-2

289

Philp

Kerins

Smith

Noble

Goode

14-Sep

Didcot Town

BETSL

1-2

241

Philp

Kerins

Smith

Connor

Goode

17-Sep

AFC Kempston R

SLKOC

1-0

89

Philp

Boxer

SMITH

Connor

Noble

ts, Appearances and Goals 2019/20 6

7

8

9

10

11

Sub 1

Sub 2

Shaw

Watkins

Shaw

Watkins

Sutton

N'Kala

Sutton

PRINCE

Shaw

Watkins

Sutton

Shaw

Sutton

Shaw

Watkins

Shaw

Bennett

Prince

Gomarsall

Rhiney

Bennett

Gomarsall

Fosu

N'Kala

N'Kala

BENNETT

Prince

Gomarsall

Connor

Rhiney

N'Kala

Bennett

Joseph

Noble

Logan

Walker

Noble

N'Kala

Bennett

Rhiney

Prince

Logan

Walker

Watkins

Connor

N'Kala

Bennett

PRINCE 3

Joseph

Rhiney

Shaw

Watkins

Connor

N'Kala

Bennett

Prince

JOSEPH

Boxer

Shaw

Watkins

Boxer

N'Kala

Bennett

Prince

Joseph

Sutton

Walker

Watkins

Boxer

N'Kala

Bennett

SUTTON

Gomarsall

Prince

Walker

Gomarsal

Watkins

Prince

Bennett

Sutton

Joseph

N'Kala

Sub 3

Joseph

Gomarsall

Quigley

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

SQUAD

SQUAD

Sam Bennett

Luke Abraham

Panny Boxer

Kyle Ajayi

Ben Bradley

Billy Baird

Alfie Connor

Newman Carney

Sam Gomarsall

Leon Cashman

Sam Goode

Bernard Christie

Jacob Joseph

Joshua Crawley

Jake Kerins

Nick Elliot

Dylan Logan

Nathan Frater

Prince Mutswunguma

Ryan Frater

Tim Nkala

Grant Fryer

Jacob Noble

Ashton Grant

James Philp (GK)

Dan Green

Jack Quigley

Terry Griffiths

Stevan Shaw

Jermaine Hall

Aaron Smith

Matthew Langston

Joe Walker

Kyal McNulty

Lee Watkins

Sonny Newbury-Barr

Mason Rhiney

Damen Pickering Martell Powell Taylor Rhiney Drew Roberts Christian Tavernier

Colours

Colours

Navy & Sky Blue

Red

The match line up will be displayed on the electronic scoreboard Today’s Officials: Referee: Daniel Todd

Assistant 1: Richard Fullicks

Assistant 2: Gavin Jolley

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