Neots open up ten-point gap

A TEN-POINT gap was opened up by Saints at the top of the UCL Premier on Saturday as they went nap against Sleaford at The Hunts Post Community Stadium.

UCL Premier

St Neots Town 5 (Jacob 8, Green 51, Brown o.g. 71, Tolley 76, Webb pen 90)

Sleaford Town 1 (Llewellyn 82)

A TEN-POINT gap was opened up by Saints at the top of the UCL Premier on Saturday as they went nap against Sleaford at The Hunts Post Community Stadium.

Rivals King’s Lynn, who were involved in an FA Vase semi-final second leg on Saturday, have three games in hand while the two sides clash at the Walks - in what will almost certainly decide the title - on Saturday week.

The deadlock was broken eight minutes in as midfielder Lewis Webb cut through between two defenders to test visiting keeper Leigh Overton, who could only push the ball away at full stretch, and Dan Jacob headed back past him to open the scoring.

That was the way it stayed until the interval, although Shane Tolley did have the keeper beaten with a 20-yard drive, but the ball rebounded back off the crossbar.

Saints started the second half as they had the first and doubled their lead after 51 minutes, when Tolley cleverly dummied a Jacob cross and Dominic Green claimed his first St Neots goal at the far post.

Goalscorer turned provider on 71 minutes when Green sent over a deep cross to the far post and, when Dallas Moore won the ball in the air, his effort was helped into the net by Ben Brown for an own goal.

Five minutes later Tolley got himself on the scoresheet with a typical poacher’s goal - his 46th of the campaign in all competitions - and just one short of Francis Brand’s all time record of 47 that has stood for more than 40 years.

Eight minutes from time Lee Llewellyn was allowed too much space on the right and he lobbed Sleaford’s consolation goal.

But, in the final minute, sub Jordan Gent was shoved in the back as he rose to a Green corner and, from the penalty spot, Webb completed the 5-1 romp with his 19th goal of the season.

St Neots: McShane, D Moore, Davis (Scully 77), Webb, Fuff, Gayle (Gent 74), Davies (Hilliard 64), Strachan, Jacob, Tolley, Green. Subs not used: Hyem, Fordham.

> Tolley’s brace fired St Neots to a 2-0 win at Stewarts & Lloyds Corby last Tuesday - with Saints heading to Cogenhoe this weekend.

King’s Lynn, who lost their FA Vase semi-final 6-2 on aggregate at the hands of Coalville Town, must travel to St Ives on Thursday night in their UCL League Cup semi-final.

Then on Saturday, Lynn visit Daventry United.