Landmark for striker Shane as Saints edge closer to title

UCL Premier

St Neots Town 4-0 Daventry United

ASSISTANT boss Tony Scully paid tribute to goal machine Shane Tolley after the striker bought up his half century of goals for the season during Saturday’s defeat of Daventry at a sun-baked Hunts Post Community Stadium.

Tolley netted goals 50 and 51 this campaign in all competitions on 41 and 67 minutes respectively, while strike partner Stefan Moore also scored in each half to edge Saints just one win away from their title-winning promotion party.

Scully said: “For Tolley to have scored the amount of goals he has done is an unbelievable achievement at any level of football.

“It’s is a great credit to him but also the rest of the lads for setting up the chances and working so hard for each other.”

On a roasting afternoon, Stefan Moore made the breakthrough nine minutes before the interval, smashing the ball home after visiting keeper Lee Farrow had parried a Dan Jacob shot.

It got even better five minutes later, as Stefan Moore forced a defensive error and Tolley was there to notch his 50th goal of a remarkable season.

Three minutes into the second half, it was 3-0 to the Saints. An excellent pass from Will Fordham found Jacob and he, in turn, fed Tolley who slotted a simple ball for Stefan Moore to score his second.

The scoring was complete on 67 minutes when substitute Junior Kanuda slipped the ball through to Jacob and Tolley nipped in to dink the ball over the keeper for his second and goal number four.

Reflecting on the win, Scully said: “It was another good win in tough conditions, for both sets of players, as it was fairly hot out there.

“It was hot just watching the lads, so I can’t imagine how they were feeling.

“To keep another clean sheet pleasing and that’s obviously credit to the keeper and back four, but also the lads in front of them.

“We defend from the front - that helps the midfield which helps the back four - and I thought Webby [Lewis Webb] again particularly worked his socks off.”

Saints: McShane, D Moore, Hyem, Webb, Fuff, Fordham (Gent), Green, Strachan (Davies), S Moore (Kanuda), Tolley, Jacob

Not used: Hilliard, Scully.

• Scully was himself in scoring form for Saints last Wednesday night - firing the only goal in the team’s 1-0 Hinchingbrooke Cup semi-final home win over Biggleswade Town.

He netted from 25 yards midway through the first half to set up a final clash with UCL Division One high flyers AFC Kempston Rovers.