ST NEOTS squandered a two goal lead to draw away to Bourne Town on Saturday. The hosts almost led after 30 minutes when Lewis Cook set up Ian Dunn whose fierce shot bounced clear off the inside of the post. Matt Kenneford headed over for the Saints after

ST NEOTS squandered a two goal lead to draw away to Bourne Town on Saturday.

The hosts almost led after 30 minutes when Lewis Cook set up Ian Dunn whose fierce shot bounced clear off the inside of the post. Matt Kenneford headed over for the Saints after good play by James Hall, and the visitors then took the lead after Declan Rogers split the home defence and his through ball was slotted home by Hall for a narrow first half lead.

St Neots goalkeeper Carl Mackney did well to save a deflected Matt Hodgkin effort early in the second half, and Saints doubled their lead with Rogers crossing for Peter Okechukwu to volley home at the far post after 51 minutes. Sean Ridgway went inches wide with a free kick for the visitors after 60 minutes, and four minutes later Dunn dispossessed Jon Hoggett and beat a defender to drill his low shot into the corner and reduce the deficit for the home side.

Andy Toyne almost equalised and the hosts finally drew level after 71 minutes, with Tom Siddons scrambling home from close range after Mackney failed to gather Stuart King's free kick into the box. Late pressure by St Neots failed to produce anything and they had a late penalty shout dismissed.

St Neots manager Marvin Johnson said: "It's definitely two points lost rather than one gained under the circumstances as we were two goals ahead. We were a weakened side with three players suspended and two injured but to just get a draw when we were two ahead was disappointing.

"Irrespective of who we play we are capable of getting a result. They had hit the post and had some good chances and could have been one up. After we went two ahead I thought we would win the game but some basic errors on our part gifted them their two goals.

"Their first goal was a defensive mistake we made and not them playing well. Carl [Mackney] then made a mistake and they got their second. The first 10 or 15 minutes they looked a threat but I thought we would try and win the game and that we could.

"There have been times when we have been at full strength and I knew we were going to throw a lead away but on Saturday I really thought we would win and even add to our lead. We're safe in the table and I'm still hoping to finish higher than last year when we finished eighth."

St Neots currently sit 17th in the league and next play at Rothwell Corinthians on Tuesday 10.