Popular defender Ryan Frater insists he could not refuse the opportunity to return to St Neots Town.

Frater re-joined the Saints late last week after spending the opening months of this season at Southern League Premier Division rivals Biggleswade Town.

And he was immediately handed the captain’s armband when being thrown straight into the team for a 1-1 draw at high-flying Redditch last Saturday.

“It was a no-brainer to come back when I knew St Neots were interested,” admitted Frater ahead of the club’s trip to second-placed Leamington last night (Tuesday).

“I never really wanted to leave in the first place, but it was just a case of being unable to agree terms in the summer. I’m happy to be back and to be made captain was a real privilege.

“It is no exaggeration to say St Neots is the best club I’ve played for. We have good support, a good manager, a good chairman and some top facilities.

“There is no doubt in my mind that we’re in a false position in the table.

“It has been tough with so many injuries in the first half of the season, but getting into the play-offs is the aim.

“We had a great second half to last season when we only lost one league game and the challenge is to do something similar again.”

Lee Clarke hit a late equaliser to earn Saints a point at Redditch before also being on target as they twice came from behind to battle to another pleasing away draw at second-placed Leamington last night (Tuesday).

Clarke hit Saints’ first equaliser in a 2-2 draw before Mat Mitchel-King levelled a second time for a side who had Ryan Hawkins dismissed for collecting two cautions.

Saints dropped back into the bottom half of the Premier Division despite their latest draw, but they have closed to within eight points of the play-off places.

They complete a run of five successive Premier Division away games when travelling to Slough this Saturday ahead of a home derby against Histon at the Premier Plus Stadium on Tuesday.