United Counties League Premier Division St Neots 4, Boston 1 OF all the clubs in the UCL, Boston has the best playing record at Rowley Park but reputation meant nothing to St Neots as they inflicted a crushing 4-1 defeat on their visitors. Steve Kuhne

United Counties League Premier Division

St Neots 4, Boston 1

OF all the clubs in the UCL, Boston has the best playing record at Rowley Park but reputation meant nothing to St Neots as they inflicted a crushing 4-1 defeat on their visitors.

Steve Kuhne scored two more goals to take his recent tally to seven in his last six matches but the real star was Gary Walker, who laid on both goals for his gaffer before deservedly adding a third himself to effectively clinch the victory.

Gary Bull should have put Boston ahead after 18 minutes when he found himself alone on the six yard line as St Neots vainly appealed for offside but he somehow screwed his shot wide.

Then at the other end, Boston defenders managed twice to clear off the line from a Matt Endersby corner.

After 27 minutes, a Matt Endersby centre created panic and was headed down by Damian Matthews. Gary Walker's neat overhead flick was blocked and Kuhne followed up to register St Neots' 50th league goal of the season.

Seven minutes later things got even better as Walker outpaced defender Shaun Baker and then rounded him on the bye line to set up Kuhne for a cracking shot into the roof of the net.

Boston should have pulled one goal back on the stroke of half time but Steve Young made a fine instinctive save to deny a John Rowan close range volley.

The visitors made a storming start to the second half, pinning St Neots back in defence and it was against the run of play when Endersby broke clear on the left to find the head of the unmarked Gary Walker with an inch perfect cross and he claimed his 22nd goal of the season.

With 15 minutes left, St Neots made sure of their victory with a fourth goal, once again from an Endersby corner with Nicky Hurst powering a header into the net.

* Woodford 6 St Ives 0

AN INJURY and suspension ravaged St Ives side came away from Woodford with nothing but a hiding on Saturday, as the title chasers avenged a start of the season defeat against the Westwood Road outfit.

Despite the defeat, assistant manager Jez Hall was upbeat. "We were always going to be up against it," said Hall. "We'd have been hard pushed to get anything out of the game with a full strength XI, but we have three home games in a row now and, with players returning from injury and suspension, I hope we will see the side that did so well at the start of the season."

Town were without defensive duo Dan Newman and Will Fordham, while midfield trio of Craig Donaldson, Dan Pilsworth and Glynn Cooke were also notable absentees.

Three goals in each half did for St Ives, but they will be looking to bounce back this weekend against Holbeach.