St Neots’ season is in danger of imploding after four defeats in their last five matches, writes John Walker.

Their results include recent exits from the FA Cup, the League Cup and now the FA Vase. Saints lost 2-0 and Downham Town on Saturday in the Isuzu FA Vase second round qualifier.

So, with only the two local cup competitions (Huntingdonshire Senior Cup and Hinchingbrooke Cup) left to play for in addition to their league programme they must now concentrate on finding consistency if they want to aim for promotion at the end of the season.

However, if they are to achieve that they must first look for improvement and belief in their performances and results because this defeat must rank as they worst single showing so far.

Of course, having two players sent off in the final 20 minutes did not help their cause, but without those dismissals the overall performance was sloppy and disappointing, against opponents who scored once and were then happy to hold on for the narrowest of victories.

With Dan Walker and Charlie Bowen back in the side it was a bench start for Harvey Williams whilst Dammy Nickels was rested.

There was little positive action from either side in the 20 minutes other than a lengthy effort from Lagshaw Sivacumer that James Goff turned over the crossbar and a low shot from Connor Furlong at the other end that warmed the hands of the visiting keeper.

Then St Neots had to reshuffle when skipper Robbie Parker limped off with a muscle problem with Lil Francisco substituting. Dan Walker tried to get St Neots going and from his cross Michael Amaeshike saw his effort well saved.

Five minutes before the break in a rare attack the visitors scored what was to prove the only goal of the match. Following a corner Lashaw Siveacumer scored with an angled shot that deflected in off the far post. In the next few minutes Rhys Thorpe headed wide from a Walker cross and then brought a good save from McAnally after clever play by Furlong, but St Neots went to the break trailing their visitors still unable to make their superior possession count.

Seven minutes into the second half defender Charlie Bowen won the ball in the air from a Kieran Barnes corner but saw his effort rebound from the crossbar to be scrambled clear.

Amaeshike should have done better from a Walker cross, but his effort was easily gathered by the keeper and after 67 minutes when the visitors broke forward Bowen was issued with a second yellow for a mis-timed challenge, having been booked eight minutes before in a penalty area scramble at the other end.

Although down to ten men St Neots continued to have the bulk of possession but never seriously tested the visiting keeper. Both sides used all their substitutes to little significant effect and in the nine minutes added time St Neots had Lil Francisco red-carded for a last man tackle offence, so St Neots finished with just nine men and a very forgettable performance and defeat.