MAKESHIFT striker Dan Jacob bagged a brace as Saints put five past perennial Premier strugglers Rothwell on Saturday to move seven points clear at the top.

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St Neots Town 5-1 Rothwell Corinthians

MAKESHIFT striker Dan Jacob bagged a brace as Saints put five past perennial Premier strugglers Rothwell on Saturday to move seven points clear at the top.

Kieran Davies, Stefan Moore and Will Fordham also scored for Neots, who warmed up for tomorrow night’s trip to Stewarts & Lloyds Corby in emphatic fashion.

Jacob shifted from the left wing to fill the number 10 shirt in place of rested top scorer Shane Tolley and partnered Stefan Moore – about to start a three-match ban – in attack.

It took Neots just six minutes to open the scoring, as Dominic Green beat his man and crossed to find Davies, who glanced the ball past visiting keeper George Anderson.

Stefan Moore flicked a Green free-kick on to a post on 18 minutes but, two minutes later, the lead was doubled when Davies slipped a pass to Dallas Moore on the overlap and his early cross found the head of Jacob, who left Anderson helpless.

Anderson produced the save of the match to deny Stefan Moore a first half goal, clawing the ball past the far post following good work by Gavin Strachan, but two did become three two minutes prior to the break.

The constant wave of home pressure paid off again as Theo Davis joined the attack to find Jacob unmarked and he applied the finishing touch for a 3-0 half time lead.

Rothwell’s Tom Greasley denied Jacob his hat-trick a minute after the re-start when he cleared off the line, before Stefan Moore scored a fourth on 54 minutes, after Fordham’s initial header from Davies’ cross rebounded back off the crossbar.

Fordham wouldn’t be denied his fourth league goal of the campaign, though, which he got by planting the ball into an empty net on 74 minutes, after Anderson had failed to get any significant distance on a punch to a cross from sub Lewis Hilliard.

The only downside came with seven minutes remaining when Saints keeper Luke McShane fumbled a Tom Johnson free-kick, allowing Tony Ielapi to score a consolation from close range.

Saints: McShane, D Moore, Davis, Webb, Fuff, Fordham, Davies (Hilliard 69), Strachan, S Moore, Jacob (Tolley 69), Green (Scully 69). Not used: Gayle, Gent.

• Neots were held to a 1-1 draw at Peterborough Northern Star last Tuesday, with Jacob’s 75th minute leveller cancelling out Karl Gibbs’ opener on 49 minutes - while King’s Lynn were 2-1 home winners over Stewarts & Lloyds Corby.

The Linnets went down 3-0 at Coalville in their FA Vase semi-final first leg on Saturday, ahead of this weekend’s second leg.

Tomorrow night (Tuesday) Lynn host Yaxley and on Saturday, Neots entertain Sleaford.