NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: Delight for Dylan as returning star strikes late winner to earn victory for St Neots Town
Lewis Irwin scored one goal and made another as St Neots Town beat Kings Langley. Picture: CLAIRE HOWES - Credit: Archant
Leading St Neots Town scorer Dylan Williams could hardly have made a more spectacular return from injury yesterday.
St Neots Town players celebrate their second goal - from Lewis Irwin (left) - in the victory against Kings Langley. Picture: CLAIRE HOWES - Credit: Archant
The attacking ace hit a high-class late winner as Saints saw off Kings Langley 3-2 to ensure they will end 2017 in the top half of the Southern League Premier Division standings.
Williams, who missed five matches with an ankle ligament problem, struck from 25 yards with eight minutes to go aAnd manager Matt Clements was thrilled by the substitute’s contribution during his earlier-than-scheduled return to action.
“We didn’t expect to see Dylan again this year, but his rehabilitation has gone superbly,” said Clements. “We thought it would be an eight to 12 week layoff, but he is back in a month!
“He’s received plenty of treatment at his former club, Cambridge United, which is obviously very much appreciated.
Dylan Williams made a goalscoring return from injury for St Neots Town. Picture: CLAIRE HOWES - Credit: Archant
“We were playing well and creating chances, but I just felt we needed a different option and Dylan provided it.
“He will get the plaudits for an excellent goal, but all the lads were fantastic in the second half when doing exactly what I asked of them at half-time.
Most Read
- 1 MBR Acres releases image of graffiti message
- 2 Met Office weather: Yellow storm and flood warning for East of England
- 3 80th birthday celebrations for the East's longest-serving lollipop lady
- 4 Work starts on affordable 56-home development in Huntingdon
- 5 RSPCA investigating 'welfare of beagles' at Huntingdon dog breeding unit
- 6 Family pay tribute to brothers, 13 and 17, killed in horror BMW crash
- 7 Huge Victorian house with pool and gym on sale for £1.75m
- 8 Councillors vote to continue school transport for special needs schools
- 9 Judge makes contempt of court ruling against Camp Beagle protesters
- 10 Recap: Severe disruption on Great Northern and Thameslink trains to London
“It was a bit like basketball in the first half with the two teams having a go at each other, but we were dominant after the break and I would have been disappointed to only come away with one point.”
Saints received a rude awakening when the struggling visitors went ahead courtesy of a Sam Tring half-volley in the second minute.
Johnny Herd created a goal at the right end and scored at the wrong end as St Neots Town beat Kings Langley. Picture: CLAIRE HOWES - Credit: Archant
The raised flag of an assistant referee denied Nabil Shariff an almost immediate reply, but three further goals were scored in the first half.
They all arrived in a five-minute spell with Saints claiming two of them to briefly hit the front before being pegged back again.
Lewis Irwin was a key figure in that exciting spell as he laid on a leveler for Dion Sembie-Ferris before heading Saints’ second goal himself after being picked out by a Johnny Herd corner.
But fortunes continued to fluctuate and Herd was unfortunate to turn a low Mitchell Weiss cross into his own net only 90 seconds after playing a hand in that goal at the right end.
Kings Langley goalkeeper Martin Bennett denied Sembie-Ferris and Shariff with outstanding saves during the second half, but he was powerless to prevent Williams settling the contest with a curling effort from 25 yards.
St Neots have now lost just one of their last 12 league games ahead of a Boxing Day home clash against title challengers Kettering.
