Match Report of St Neots Town FC v Rugby Borough, by football writer John Walker. 

As a distinct and marked contrast to their first two competitive performances in the past fortnight St Neots turned in an immature showing in this, their first defeat of the new season.  

They were facing a Rugby Borough side that celebrated a second half performance that took them to the top of the fledging league table despite being outplayed for the first hour of this match.  

St Neots had only frustration to show until early in the second half but then to concede three goals in less than 20 minutes must be a major concern for manager Cameron Mawer.  

He had kept faith with his initial choice of line-up naming an unchanged side for the third consecutive time, but he will have been desperately disappointed by the sheer incompetence of his side. 

Conceding an unlucky opening goal on the hour his side then imploded as they handed all three points to a visiting side that had hardly looked like bothering home keeper James Goff. 

Now, with matches to come in quick succession in the FA Cup and FA Vase he must rebuild his team’s confidence as his first priority.

St Neots began well enough with Jordan Brown having second minute effort blocked in his sides’ first attack.  

Their impressive start continued as on the quarter hour Kieran Barnes played Rhys Thorpe clear of the defence but visiting keeper John Meadows raved from his line to smother the shot.  

After their early promise St Neots began to look frustrated with too many forward passes either mishit or misdirected.  

However. They maintained control of the attacking play with the visitors only credible first half attack fizzling out with Shaun Rudvidzo dragging his finish wide of its target.  

St Neots domination continued but the visiting defence was seldom tested with too muck wayward passing spoiling St Neots possession.   Right on half time Thorpe squandered a great chance to capitalise on the home sides’ domination but he headed wide from a Barnes cross.

The visitors pulled off their main striker at half time and adopted a different approach.  However, after a probing attack Barnes had a shot blocked after good approach play by Michael Amaeshike, and when Thorpe was brought down in full flight towards the goal, Oran Jackson was booked but the free kick was wasted.  

It was becoming clear that St Neots needed some inspiration, and they turned to Harvey Williams who replaced Jordan Brown but before he had time to make an impact disaster struck as a clearance rebounded off another defender and the deflection fell to substitute Cyrus Bruce who -laved the ball in the unguarded net.  

Within 60 seconds of this setback, worse followed as in their next attack the visitors doubled their advantage as Bruce skilfully went along the bye line to set up Luke Downes for a simple tap in finish.  

St Neots sent on a couple of attacking substitutes but after 77 minutes any hopes of a St Neots comeback was dashed when in a breakaway attack another substitute Antonio Cristofaro put the outcome beyond doubt with his sides’ third goal.  

St Neots did not give up but their best efforts fell short of seriously testing the visiting keeper although substitute Danny Baulk shot narrowly wide and the lively Harvey Williams saw his net bound effort blocked.

Final Score: St Neots - 0 Rugby Borough -3

St Neots:  Goff, Nickels, Culkin, Willis, Parker. Bowen, Furlong, Amaeshike, Thorpe, Barnes, Brown

Subs:  Williams (for Brown 51 mins), Baulk (for Furlong 67 mins), Joseph (for Amaeshike 74 mins), George (for Barnes 88 mins), and Francisco.

Cards:  Baulk (Y – 87 mins)

Rugby Borough:  Meadows, Dawson, Fraser, Proudlock, Jackson, Todd, Downes, McGahey, Wilson, Rudvidzo, Sawyer

Subs:  Bruce (for Wilson 46 mins), Cristofaro (for Jackson 56 mins),  Blair (for Bruce 75 mins), Little (fot Rudvidzo 74 mins).

Cards:  Sawyer (Y – 32 mins), Jackson (Y – 49 mins), Todd (Y – 58 mins), Rudvidzo (Y – 79 mins)

Referee:  Paul McVey