Peterborough United midfielder Josh Capocci added to St Neots Town squad ahead of new season

BY CARL FIELD

ST NEOTS TOWN open their Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central campaign on Saturday and boss Dennis Greene says he won’t be under-estimating visitors Beaconsfield SYCOB.

Following United Counties League title glory and promotion out of Step 5, Saints kick-off the new season playing the highest level of football ever achieved in their history.

Overwhelming bookies’ favourites to land a second successive title and promotion, Greene’s side are also expected to brush aside Beaconsfield – who got a reprieved after finishing rock bottom of the division last term.

But Greene said: “There will certainly be no complacency from our point of view.

“Although the finished bottom last year, Beaconsfield are now a completely different proposition, as they have changed their manager and had a mass turnover of players over the summer.

“But if we prepare in the right way and play the way we know we can on Saturday, then of course I’m extremely confident we’ll pick up those first three points.”

The Neots chief also revealed that he has added highly-regarded 19-year-old Josh Capocci to his squad, after the central midfielder was released by Championship club Peterborough United.

Capocci started Saturday’s 2-2 pre-season friendly draw with Coalville Town and adds more competition for a place in the starting line-up.

Greene also admitted he is likely to trim down his squad and wage bill ahead of the season opener by releasing a central defender and a right-sided midfielder.

And, with 4-4-2 likely to be Greene’s formation against Beaconsfield, Junior Konadu and Neil MacKenzie will battle it out for a starting berth alongside captain Lewis Webb in midfield.

Greene said: “The option of starting with all three in midfield was one I thought about, but it probably now looks as though I’m going to need to make a tough decision an hour before kick-off on Saturday.

“One of them will have to go on the bench.”

Reflecting on his side’s pre-season preparation, Greene said: “We’ll have a light training session tomorrow night (Thursday) but we’re fit, ready and raring to go.

“I was delighted with how we performed in the warm-up games – not least the amount of goals we scored (32) – and that bodes well going into the new season.”