Just a single point separated these two promotion hopefuls at the start of this match and after a tense competitive contest it was St Neots who persevered to take all three points.  

March were denied by the woodwork twice and by the save of the match by St Neots custodian James Goff so they will have gone home disappointed but St Neots’ double over their Fenland rivals could prove significant at the end of the season.  

After their disappointing midweek Hunts Senior Cup home defeat, manager Cameron Mawer reshaped his side making five team changes and adopting a more positive approach.  

Rhys Thorpe and Jordan Brown returned in attack, Dean Dummett was restored in midfield, and fit again Nathan George was preferred to Ollie Brookes in defence.  

The fifth change saw a debut for new signing Connor Furlong who replaced the injured Harvey Williams, and he went on to earn the supporters’ player of the match award. 

In a rather tense first 45 minutes there was great deal of possession football from both sides but there was little positive end product in the first half hour.  

From a set piece free kick Danny Emmington shot over for the visitors and James Goff saved well from Ben Seymour-Shove after neat work by Josh Burrows. 

Making an impressive start for his new club Connor Furlong twice took on the March defence to test the visiting keeper and then after 20 minutes James Hatch saw a shot rebound from a post.

Former Saint Joe Rider had a quiet return to the ground but saw his best effort deflected for a corner.  

A Seymour-Shove volley three minutes before the break was pushed over the bar by the St Neots custodian and the half ended with a Hatch header from a Jordan Brown cross well saved by visiting keeper Jonah Gill. 

St Neots positive start after the break was rewarded after just two minutes when from a Brown cross, Dean Dummett ghosted in at the back post to open the scoring.  

Goff saved well at the feet of Greig Gillies, but St Neots were looking comfortable with their narrow advantage and the visitors’ response was to introduce three substitutes and adopt a more attacking approach.  

Jack Saunders thought he had found an equaliser, but his shot rebounded from the woodwork, and then lively substitute Callum Carolan twice shot wide after working his way into good positions. 

With seven minutes remaining the March late offensive almost paid off but Carolan’s best finish was pushed onto as post by the St Neots keeper to preserve his sides’ narrow victory.  

The result cemented St Neots position in the table in fourth place just two points behind Racing Club Warwick who are the next visitors to the Premier Plus Stadium on Saturday, but now four points ahead of March. 

St Neots:  Goff, Parker, Culkin, Tavernier, George, Bowen, Brown, Dummett, Thorpe, Hatch, Furlong                                                                                                                                                              Subs:  Muyembe (for Tavernier 85 mins), Nickels, Brookes, Amaeshike, and Ajana.                                                                                                                                                            Cards:  Brown (Y – 34 mins), Hatch (Y – 45 mins) 

March:  Gill, Bucciero, Saunders, Whyatt, Emmington, Withers, Burrows, Green, Gillies, Rider, Seymour-Shove                                                                                                                                                             Subs:   Foy (for Burrows 67 mins), Carolan (for Rider 67 mins), Brumby (for Whyatt 76 mins), Cavozzi (for Seymour-Shove 82 mins), and Edwards.                                                                                                                                                           

Cards:  Saunders (Y – 90+6 mins) 

Referee:   Anthony Leadbitter (Peterborough)