UCL Premier Division Holbeach 2 St Neots 2 STRETCHED to the limit by suspension, injury and illness, St Neots were still unlucky to be held to a draw when they travelled to Holbeach at the weekend. With hardly anyone available to pick for his squad, mana

UCL Premier Division

Holbeach 2 St Neots 2

STRETCHED to the limit by suspension, injury and illness, St Neots were still unlucky to be held to a draw when they travelled to Holbeach at the weekend.

With hardly anyone available to pick for his squad, manager Marvin Johnson was forced to name himself as a substitute.

He said: "With the way things were before the match, I probably would have taken the draw. But, in the end, I think we deserved to win it, we were the better team."

The team were 2-1 up at half-time but were ultimately unable to hold onto the lead, and what would have been a much-needed three-point boost.

However, Johnson was happy. "I was pleased with the overall performance and the way the lads applied themselves," he said.

Defender Kevin Ashby got his senior debut and he fitted in well alongside Ben Dyett in the absence of Steve Dogbe and Dean McElroy.

A string of free kicks meant the start to the game was scrappy but two bookings later - the referee's first unfortunate victim being Luke Knight - the teams settled, with St Neots having three good chances to take the lead.

James Hall headed over the bar, Dyett beat the home keeper in the air to a Declan Rogers' free kick but saw his header loop over the bar, and then Matt Kenneford shot wide.

There was then a flurry of scoring, as three of the game's four goals were scored in less than 10 minutes before half-time.

Five minutes from the break, St Neots took the lead, when Rogers scored a penalty - his third goal in four games - after Luigi Rocco was hauled down.

The lead was doubled three minutes later. Dean Elston misjudged a clearance and the ball squirmed loose to Hall who tucked away a low shot.

Holbeach clawed their way back into the game in first-half injury time, as poor marking permitted Tommy Treacher to cross from the bye-line for Ross Nichols to net.

The goal gave the home side the impetus to come out and start the second half as the better team. Nichols took a return pass from Liam Nimmo to go past the last defender but, as he bore down on goal, Chatfield left his line to block the shot with his feet.

However, Holbeach were not to be denied and Broom's cross found Nichols on the right and he wrong-footed the defence by returning the ball to the far post for Treacher to angle a header just inside the post.

Saints are now unbeaten in their last four league and cup matches.

The weekend match on Saturday will be at home against Long Buckby.