FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round ST NEOTS Town progressed into the preliminary round of the FA Cup with a hard-fought victory at Sawbridgeworth. Two second half goals from Mark Franklin and Russell Lawes saw Saints come from behind to progress into the ne

FA Cup Extra

Preliminary Round

ST NEOTS Town progressed into the preliminary round of the FA Cup with a hard-fought victory at Sawbridgeworth.

Two second half goals from Mark Franklin and Russell Lawes saw Saints come from behind to progress into the next round.

Sawbridgeworth's Dean McAteer gave the home side the lead on seven minutes when he confidently dispatched a penalty awarded after goalkeeper Martyn Patching had been left exposed.

The home side laid siege to the Saints goal and only goalkeeping heroics from Patching prevented Sawbridgeworth extending their lead.

Saints emerged from the dressing room at half time a different side and began to stamp their authority on the game.

On 56 minutes Franklin levelled the scores after a neat move involving four players led to player-manager Steve Kuhne supplying the final pass.

It was left to Lawes to clinch the victory with seven minutes remaining with a bizarre goal from a free kick. The Saints man's effort seemed to have been easily fielded by the Sawbridgeworth goalkeeper, but the ball squirmed through his arms and into the net.

Kuhne said: "We deserved our goals in the second half and it was a much-improved display, but again our defending in the first half was very poor.

"Time and time again we were exposed by balls over the top, and those are some of the most basic things you have to deal with, especially at this level."

Saints earned themselves £500 prize money with the victory and now face a home tie against Brackley Town on September 2 in the preliminary round.

Saints were back in league action at Potton United last night and take on Ford Sports at Rowley Park on Saturday.

Read details of Saints' match at Potton by visiting www.huntspost.co.uk