St Neots v Barking FA Cup draw means midweek replay

Each side led the other in an entertaining match, but St Neots were left counting the cost of a midweek replay in Essex after squandering a host of second half chances.

Fortune also played a part with three second-half efforts from the home side rebounding from the woodwork and visiting goalkeeper Max Spence left the town after a memorable display behind his overworked defence.

Barking was a determined and resolute opposition but having been outplayed in a one-way second half, they will regard a second chance as a bonus. With Dan Walker cup-tied and Nathan George and Lil Francisco rested, into the side came Harvey Williams, Dammy Nickels and skipper Robert Parker.

St Neots thought they should have been awarded a second minute penalty when Kieran Barnes tumbled in the penalty area in their first attack, but the referee waved play on.

However, in their first foray into the St Neots half after nine minutes, the visitors took a surprise lead as lone striker Juwon Akintunde chased a long ball into the penalty area and somehow managed to squeeze the ball past defender and goalkeeper from a narrow angle.

The equaliser came after 24 minutes when the referee played a good advantage when Michael Amaeshike was brought down. Allowing play to continue the lively Connor Furlong set Sam Willis through the visiting defence to level the scores with a crisp finish.

With Lil Francisco on for Nickels, St Neots took the lead in the second minute after the break when the lively Furlong set up Kieran Barnes for St Neots’ second goal with the visiting keeper looking unsighted.

Kieran Barnes scored the second goal for Saints. (Image: St Neots Town FC)

From that point on, St Neots looked likely winners with Spence in constant action denying Barnes and Thorpe.

A second St Neots substitute Danny Baulk should have added to the score after a defensive error, but he skied his effort over the bar after 65 minutes.

Then in a rare breakaway attack completely against the run of play, the visitors levelled the scores as Juwon Akintunde wide on the bye line sent his narrow-angled shot off the body of the St Neots keeper into the net to level the scores.

So, it is now off to Essex for a midweek replay.