IN THE end, St Neots Town wore Fleet Town down on Saturday – and Stefan Moore saved the best of the team’s four goals till last when he latched onto a marvellous through ball from new boy Ben Mackey.

Captain Moore was already man of the match when he raced clear of his markers after a wonderful turn and pass from St Neots’s new signing, and daintily chipped the Fleet goalkeeper late on in this 4-1 win at the Hunts Post Community Stadium.

Moore could have completed his hat-trick after that, but missed by inches, while Dan Jacob also had the chance to make it a five-star performance, but saw his shot ping off the crossbar.

Despite going into half-time level at 1-1, the Saints did grab an early lead through Shane Tolley – and it looked for a while like they would have all three points sewn up by the break. But, just as they have so many times previously this season, they flattered a little to deceive and let Fleet, playing in a horrible yellow and black striped away kit, back into the game.

Tolley’s second-minute goal came after some great work down the right wing by Pearson Mwanyongo – the diminutive striker putting away his second shot after the Fleet goalkeeper had parried his first. But a Luke King header sailed over the top of the stranded St Neots goalkeeper Michael Duggan in the 18th minute to cancel that one out. Moore, Mwanyongo, Jacob, Moore again (from further Mwanyongo trickery) and Jordan Gent all had chances to restore the Saints’ lead before the break, but Fleet were lively too and Adrian Sear had to clear one chance off the line before he was twice forced to throw his body in the way of shots. Player-manager Craig Davis even struck the St Neots crossbar with a powerful header from a mean inswinging corner.

But, within minutes of the re-start, the Saints had scored their second; the goalkeeper parrying a Jacob shot, which popped out nicely for Sear to put away neatly.

Moore made it 3-0 in the 64th minute, from 20 yards, before Mackey replaced Tolley and Lewis Webb came on for Mwanyango.

Webb found Moore moments later and the St Neots striker was held before putting his shot wide: the referee ignored his call for a penalty.

Then Mackey put Moore through for the fourth: the new man’s vision was excellent to pick out the pass for Moore to run on to.

Keiran Davies, back from his loan spell at Boston, came on for Sear with four minutes remaining, before Moore and Jacob went oh so close in the 89th and 90th minutes.

The Saints will now travel to fellow Southern League Division One Central high-fliers Biggleswade Town on Boxing Day, before making the journey to Chalfont St Peter on New Year’s Eve.

On Monday, January 2, Barton Rovers face St Neots at the Hunts Post Community Stadium.