The first-ever meeting of these two sides was always going to be tight.

Separated by just a point in the top five of the table and both with decent records, St Neots might well have settled for a draw before the match, but having the luxury of playing against 10 men for the last 45 minutes should have rendered a better result.

In fact, after a red card for home defender Sam Preston, Aylestone were reduced to nine men for 10 minutes with Lee Barrett sin-binned for verbal abuse at the referee in the same incident.

However, St Neots did come back from behind to earn their point and maintain their third place in the table.

There were three changes in the starting line-up with recent signing Charlie Bowen making his debut and Rob Parker and Rhys Thorpe returning to the side, at the expense of Magloire Muyembe, Michael Amaeshike and Josh Brown.

Harvey Williams broke though the home defence in the first minute but sent his effort wide and then the game settled as a very close contest between two well-match sides.

Aylestone struck the first blow in their first attack of the match when a cross from the right found Sam Hollis not closely enough marked and he netted with a smart finish after eight minutes.

Four minutes later in only their second serious attack, the home side could have added to their lead, but James Goff prevented further embarrassment diving bravely at the feet of Hollis.

The keeper also saved well from Cory Bucalossi but St Neots responded with skipper James Hatch twice just off target.

As half time approached the home keeper saved well pushing a Jordan Brown effort around a post and then Hatch had a shot blocked on the line. Hatch also had a header from a Murphy Culkin corner well saved by Lewis Landers

The second half was just six minutes old when Thorpe was brought down in the area earning Preston his early bath and the St Neots striker got up to level the scores from the penalty spot.

Playing against the depleted home side St Neots then basked in possession and territorial superiority but the home side filtered back in defence surrendering possession and denying St Neots best efforts to defend soundly.

St Neots sent on a couple of substitutes to vary their attack but met with some resolute defending and when they did get clear sight of goal their finishing was disappointing.

Rob Parker, (twice) Thorpe and Dean Dummett all sent efforts wide or high and with two minutes left Thorpe went clear of the home defence but shot over from a tight angle.

St Neots final effort in added time saw a Hatch effort deflected for a corner. It was disappointing not to take advantage but at least St Neots stretched their inbeaten league run to 10 league and cup matches

St Neots: Goff, Reynolds, Culkin, Parker, Brookes, Bowen, Jordan Brown, Dummett, Thorpe, Hatch, Williams Subs: Muyembe (for Dummett 61 mins), Rowley (for Brown 80 mins), Nickels, Amaeshike, and George Cards: none

Aylestone: Landers, Barrett, Kilburn, Preston, Peace, Towers, Hollis, Seal, Kee, Bucalossi, Keenan Subs: Wormleighton (for Seal 52 mins), Holley (for Kilburn 52 mins), Mitchell, Bessadi, Riley Cards: Preston (RED – 51 mins), Barrett (s/b – 51 mins), Towers (Y – 87 mins)

Referee: Chris Walton (Kettering)

AYLESTONE PARK 1 ST NEOTS TOWN 1