NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE – MIDLAND DIVISION

Cambridge City 1 St Neots Town 1

Trey Charles’ 23rd goal of the season a minute from the end of normal time rescued a point for St Neots against neighbours Cambridge City and confirmed their end-ofseason play off place in the Midland Division of the NPL. If they are to be playing at Step Four next season, they must now prepare for a sudden death home play-off match on 29th April against a side (to be confirmed) from Step Five of the National League system. Charles’ contribution to the side cannot be understated because the rest of the squad collectively have only contributed four League goals more than the striker’s personal tally.The Charles goal took him to club fourth equal highest in a season with Ben Mackey, since the club were promoted to Step Four of the National League system. There were just two team changes for this match with Joe Rider and Manny Osei returning to the side in the places of Charles (who started on the bench) and Panny Boxer.

St Neots began well and produced one of their best first half performances of the season.However, the missing factor was their finishing because they should have been at least two or three goals ahead before the home side staged a comeback in the last ten minutes of the half. Restored to the starting line-up, Joe Rider led the way with two chances in the opening four minutes. He first brought a full length save from home keeper Joe Welch with a low shot from fifteen yards, and then, driven wide by a defender he dragged his finish wide of the far post. However, Robbie Mason was the main culprit in squandering the best openings created by the visitors. After 11 minutes he was left unmarked ten yards from goal when Dan Barton left his marker for dead and crossed to find the striker’s head but the effort went wide of goal, and ten minutes later from another Barton cross, Mason sent the ball high over the bar. It was 25 minutes before the home side seriously threatened the St Neots goal and then Mikey Davis headed narrowly wide from a free kick and St Neots created another chance when Manny Osei cut in from the left to set up Liam Hook but his effort was comfortably saved. Then ten minutes before the break Cambridge won a corner headed back from the far post and Scott Bridges pounced to force home from close range to give the host side the lead.