Neots hit the goal trail, but Ives are frustrated

UCL Premier Division

Raunds Town 0-6 St Neots Town

ST NEOTS Town answered their manager’s call for goals emphatically with the destruction of Raunds Town on Tuesday.

Dennis Greene had called for his strikers to get their shooting boots on after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Peterborough Northern Star, and they did so in style.

A tactical switch to 4-4-2 helped the cause, and the Saints rained in 10 shots on target in the first half alone.

Shane Tolley pounced for the solitary goal in the first half, and further strikes in the second period came from Jacob and Essandoh, before Greene looked to his bench.

Lewis Webb converted a penalty after Jacob was pushed in the box, then Jacob struck his second of the game, and Lewis Hilliard rounded off the game for the Saints.

There was still time for the Saints to win their second penalty of the game, unselfishly passed from Webb to Jacob, who was searching for his hat-trick. However, he crashed his shot off the bar, and the Saints had to settle for six.

UCL Premier Division

St Ives Town 0-0 Yaxley

ST IVES Town endured a frustrating night as a hardworking Yaxley side ground out a point at Westwood Road.

Co-manager Jez Hall said before the game he expected a tough physical contest from Yaxley, and his prediction proved spot-on, as the visitors hustled and harried Saints all night.

A lack of composure in front of goal cost Ives the breakthrough that would have given them their fourth consecutive win.

Hall said: “It was as expected really, as we knew they would come out and play tight against us. They worked hard all night and hassled us when we had the ball.

“We showed a lack of quality, especially in the final third where we created very little for the front two at times.

“It was a game of very few chances really. We had two in the first half with Matson and they came close just before the break. They deserved a point and we didn’t do enough to win it really – we needed more quality.”