Issue 3 - Rugby Borough by St Neots Town Football Club

O f f i c i a l D i g i t a l M a t c h d a y M a g a z i n e S e a s o n 2 0 2 5 / 2 6

Established1879 Established1879

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From The Dugout

especiallyintheseearlyweeks.Stickwithus,keeppushingthe ladsonandIknowwe’llsoonbeturningperformancesinto wins.Enjoythegameandgetrightbehindtheplayers.

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With Manager Cameron Mawer

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CLUB WELFARE OFFICER

GEMMA KEECH

My name is Gemma Keech and I am the Club Welfare Officer (CWO) for St Neots Town Football Club.

Each football club that offers youth and open aged football is required to have a Club Welfare Officer. I am responsible for ensuring the wellbeing of the children, young people and vulnerable adults who attend the club, whether that be within the Academy or players aged Under 18 in the First Team.

My role is to be the first point of contact for all club members and parents / carers regarding concerns for the welfare of anyone within the club that fall within this group.

St Neots Town Football Club have appointed me to this voluntary role because of my employment roles in Education and Children’s Social Care, and therefore my knowledge and experience in Safeguarding and Child Protection.

My aim to be an approachable person for young p parents or carers, as well as club members, wher concerns may arise. These issues may range from about not fitting in or feeling left out, an individua dangerous incident or situation, other adult or yo persons’ behaviour or more serious allegations a another person, volunteer, member or profession the Club.

Please feel free to email me on sntfcwelfareofficer@gmail.com if you have any concerns or wish to discuss an issue, however big or small.

Hunts FA Safeguarding Team can also be contacted on 01480 447484 or by emailing Safeguarding@HuntsFA.com.

John Walker's Match Preview

MATCH REPORT

Belper Town (H) 09 Aug 2025

Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division

ST NEOTS TOWN 1

BELPER TOWN 3

St Neots baptism back to Step Four finished in disappointment as the fancied Belper Town scored twice in the second half to claim full points. After a two years’ break from the higher-level St Neots gave a good account of themselves against a visiting side who only narrowly missed out on promotion to Step Three in last season’s play-offs. After an evenly balanced first 45 minutes, St Neots were undone after the break when the visitors displayed their experience with two further goals to return home to Derbyshire with the spoils. St Neots were able to kick off in their new surroundings by claiming an almost unique experience of naming the same side that had won the triple last season with all their new signings on the bench. It was a disappointing start to the new campaign but moving up to Step Four St Neots are going to encounter some experienced sides and will have to fight hard for points.

In front of an opening day crowd in excess of 300 both sides made an attacking start to proceedings with early chances at both ends. A fifth minute net-bound shot by Michael Amaeshike was blocked by a defender and ten minutes later the visitors capitalised on this good fortune when they went ahead as a long throw was headed on by Wafula for Kevin De Bastos to net at the far post. St Neots hit back with Conner Furlong beating his man to cross through a ragged defence but there was no one to apply the finishing touch. Then after 26 minutes St Neots were back on terms when Charlie Bowen was hauled down in the area following a corner and a penalty awarded. Christian Tavernier sent the keeper the wrong way to level the scores, and the rest of the first half saw both sides create chances, but defences held firm.From a Sam Willis corner Amaeshike won the ball in the air but his effort was blocked on the line, Kieran Barnes also had an effort from a Murphy Culkin corner blocked by a well-placed defender and a neat turn past two defenders set up Amaeshike, but his fierce finish was the wrong side of a goalpost. So, the sides went to the break level with St Neots in the ascendancy.

MATCH REPORT

Belper Town (H) 09 Aug 2025

St Neots had Bowen booked in the first minute after the break for an ill-timed challenge and on the hour St Neots thought they were denied a second penalty when Thorpe was brought down from behind in the penalty area, but the wellplaced Referee waved play on. Jonathan Wafula had a shot blocked and at the other end and Tavernier pulled his shot wide following a corner. The visitors were beginning to get on top and after 65 minutes from a Louis Keenan corner, a late run into the area by Bejamin Rhodes saw him place a near post header in at the near post to restore the visitors’ lead. Minutes later Goff made a fine save to deny Wafula as the visiting side began to dominate. St Neots introduced a couple of substitutes, but they were unable to wrest back the initiative from the visiting side and when Wafula was brought down by James Goff as he tried to go around him, a penalty was awarded. With five minutes remaining man of the match Kevin Bastos a constant threat to the home defence netted from the spot and the visitors were home and dry.

St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Culkin, Tavernier, Parker, Bowen, Furlong, Amaeshike, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams

Subs: Obeng (for Furlong 78 mins), Stirling (for Amaeshike (78 mins), Henderson, Ankrah, and Sears.

Cards: Barnes (Y – 31 mins), Bowen (Y – 46 mins), Thorpe (Y – 85 mins), Culkin (Y –90+3 mins).

Goals: Tavernier (26 mins - pen)

Belper Town: Preston, Rhodes, Keenan, Austin, Broadhead, Evans, Bastos, Jordan, Wafula, Burrows, Gyamfi

Subs: August (for Gyamfi 80 mins), Tague (for Austin 87 mins), Edwards (for Wafula 89 mins),Tsolak, and Zerboni.

Cards: Evans (Y – 26 mins), Jordan (Y – 66 mins)

Goals: De Bastos (2) (15 & 85 mins - pen), Rhodes 65 mins)

Attendance: 309

Referee: Aimee Keir (Holbeach, Lincs)

(John Walker)

MATCH REPORT

Corby Town (A) 13 Aug 2025

CORBY TOWN 2 ST NEOTS TOWN 1

Despite turning in a solid performance St Neots found out how difficult life at the higher level will be following their elevation to Step Four. Hosts Corby were a solid opposition with strong defenders and swift attacking players and although St Neots competed well throughout, they can have little complaint about this narrow defeat.Creditably they came back to level on the stroke of half time after conceding an early goal, but the home side had the better of the second half exchanges with St Neots’ best openings coming from their counterattacking challenges. There was one enforced team change for St Neots with Michael Amaeshike still nursing the injury he sustained in the Belper match. Into his place for his full debut came Andrian Ankrah who fitted in well.

In fact, the newcomer featured in the visitors’ first attack when he freed Harvey Williams on the left and his cross found Kieran Barnes who put his near post effort wide of target after eight minutes. Four minutes later in their first significant attack the home side went ahead when Connor Tomlinson sent a speculative narrow angled effort over the St Neots keeper and in off the far post. That energised the home side and in their next two attacking moves Tyrone Lewthwaite saw his shot deflected for a corner and Harrison Jones shot wide after the visiting defence was breached. After 26 minutes Rhys Thorpe timed his run to go clear of the home defence, but skipper Rory McAuley timed his tackle to perfection to snuff out the danger at the expense of a corner. Connor Furlong was impressive for St Neots and he set up Thorpe to head over the bar before seeing a second effort blocked by a defender. Then, in added first half time Rhys Thorpe netted with a diving header from a Murphy Culkin cross to level the scores.

The home side came out in determined fashion after the break taking the game to their visitors. Aaron Nuttall carved through the visiting defence in the third minute to go round James Goff but fortunately for the visitors he ran out of pitch! In a St Neots counter-attack Furlong went clear of the home defence to be pulled down by Rhys Kelly earning the home defender a caution.

MATCH REPORT

Corby Town (A) 13 Aug 2025

However, Corby were in the ascendancy and Hugh Jones shot narrowly wide and Goff saved well from Gary Stohrer. Then, on the hour, Corby regained the lead when following a goalmouth scramble with a shot cleared off the goal line, Aaron Nuttall shot through the packed defence to reinstate Corby’s lead. Culkin then set up Williams but he dragged his shot wide, but the home side seemed in control with Goff having to save bravely at the feet of substitute Louie Gill. Substitutions by both sides saw the competitive nature of the contest lessen although Williams squandered St Neots best chance of a late equaliser with a shot wide of target. St Neots skipper Rob Parker picked up a late caution and both clubs now move on to weekend dates in the FA Cup.

St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Culkin, Tavernier, Parker, Bowen, Furlong, Ankrah, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams

Subs: Obeng (for Williams 83 mins), Stirling (for Bowen (85 mins), Henderson (for Ankrah 90+1 min), Hudson, and Sears.

Cards: Parker (Y – 90+6 mins).

Goals: Thorpe (45+3 mins)

Corby Town: Laban, Noble, Kelly, Edwards, Jones (A), McAuley, Tomlinson, Jones (H), Lewthwaite, Stohrer, Nuttall

Subs: Daire (for Noble 68 mins), Marshall (for Tomlinson 68 mins), Keeble (for Lewthwaite 77 mins), Challinor (for Jones (H) 85 mins), Gill (for Nuttall (90+2 mins).

Cards: Kelly (Y – 54 mins), Stohrer (Y – 68 mins)

Goals: Tomlinson (12 mins), Nuttall (60 mins)

Referee: Samuel Lee (Market Harborough)

Attendance: 519

(John Walker)

Lowestoft Town (A) 16 Aug 2025

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BLAST FROM THE PAST

April 2025 - Rugby Borough (A)

GCE Hire Fleet United Counties

League Premier Division South

SAINTS TO BE PROMOTED – AS CHAMPIONS !

RUGBY BOROUGH 1 ST NEOTS TOWN 4

After just their second season back at Step Five St Neots will be promoted back to the next level as United Counties League Premier Division South champions. They achieved their target with three matches to spare, away at third placed Rugby Borough with a sparkling haul of four goals after falling behind early in the match. The spectacle was spoilt by a strong gusting wind that made their usual style of neat passing impossible, but they persevered to recover from the shock of conceding an early penalty goal to score twice in the final quarter of an hour to give them the solid final scoreline their play had deserved. The home side battled well and only two outstanding saves from St Neots’ man of the match goalkeeper James Goff cemented this important result. Manager Cameron Mawer was able once again to name an unchanged line-up and this solidity has been a feature of the sides’ eleven match winning run. Roared on by around ninety travelling supporters St Neots finished strongly and will look forward to being presented with the trophy at their next home match on Easter Saturday.

That early shock of conceding a penalty after just five minutes that was confidently tucked away by Daniel Fraser will have galvanised the visitors resolve who set about repairing the damage. Furlong lively on the right flank produced a searing shot that passed just beyond the far post and then at the other end James Goff had to race out of his area to clear when his defence had been breached. Joining his attack Sam Willis cut in to see his net bound shot blocked by a defender and then after 21 minutes Harvey Williams was upended in the penalty area, but St Neots appeals were waved away when the Referee spotted a late offside flag. The visitors were now having the better of the play and Rhys Thorpe twice cut into the penalty area – the second time to be brought down by a defender. For the second time in the game the Referee pointed to the penalty spot and Sam Willis stepped up to confidently level the scores after 37 minutes to the delight of the travelling supporters. Williams was again brought down in the area but once again the offside flag saved the home side and then three minutes before the break St Neots struck a significant blow when leading scorer Rhys Thorpe burst through the home defence with a burst of speed and when his first effort rebounded from the advancing keeper’s body it fell kindly for the St Neots striker who was able to walk the ball into the net to put his side in front. On the balance of play this was well deserved.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

April 2025 - Rugby Borough (A)

Two minutes after the restart Goff had to be at his best to dive full length to turn a shot from Thabang Dube around a post but St Neots were quickly back in the ascendancy with Williams firing over the bar, and Kieran Barnes seeing his effort pass the wrong side of a goalpost. Off balance Thorpe managed to send a closerange header high over the bar as St Neots dominated the attacking play, and then after 70 minutes Goff again came to his sides’ rescue when substitute Shad Riza went past two defenders to send a low shot just inside the far post. Rugby now stepped up their attacking and another fine Goff save from Antonio Cristofaro kept St Neots ahead. Then in the final fifteen minutes as the home side appeared to tire St Neots took full advantage. After 78 minutes Thorpe against used his speed to breach the home defence to make the score 3-1 and five minutes later from a Murphy Culkin free kick, Charlie Bowen rose above the home defence to claim St Neots fourth goal and snuff out the home team’s resistance. At the final whistle the side celebrated with the enthusiastic travelling support,

St Neots Town: Goff, Willis, Culkin, Tavernier, Parker, Bowen, Furlong, Amaeshike, Thorpe, Barnes, Williams

Subs: Baulk (for Harvey 85 mins), Butler (for Furlong 88 mins), Hatch (for Thorpe 90 mins), Fox (for Barnes 90 mins), and George.

Cards: Furlong (Y – 29 mins), Tavernier (Y – 77 mins).

Goals: Thorpe 2 (42 & 78 mins), Willis – pen (37 mins), Bowen (83 mins).

Rugby Borough: Meadows, Dawson, Fraser, Downes, Jackson, Todd, Dube, McGarry, Wilson, Grocott, Cristofaro

Subs: Henson (for McGarry 59 mins), Kolodynski (for Wilson 66 mins), Tellyn (for Todd 90 mins) Riza, and Sainsby.

Cards: Jackson (Y – 37 mins)

Goals: Fraser (5 mins)

Referee: Nicholas Marriott (John Walker)

The Saints Community

Memorial Wall

The Wall is completely under cover and protected from the elements and the flowers/shrubbery are cared for and tended to on a daily basis by our dedicated grounds staff. We would like to thank Kite Utilities, Ballinger Construction and Oasis Promotions and Print for all their collective help in getting this project from an idea by Chairman Barry Cavilla to a quite splendid addition to our stadium.

Stainless steel wall plaques are now available for loving messages to be engraved in the following two options:

6” x 4” Stainless Steel Wall plaque – Lasered with black text (feels smooth to touch)

Can come with 4 countersunk screws – or they can be without and glued

Total cost £36.00

8” x 4” Stainless Steel Wall plaque – Lasered with black text (feels smooth to touch)

Can come with 4 countersunk screws – or they can be without and glued

Total cost £48.00

Any interested supporters should contact Chairman Barry Cavilla for further details via email on bcavilla77@gmail.com or in person at The Premier Plus Stadium on a matchday.