There were numerous postponements due to waterlogged pitches, especially in the south and west, but there was less rain as we travelled further east and the pitch at St.Neots was in excellent condition, although the blustery wind throughout made conditions difficult for the players, but we scored twice in the first half-hour despite facing the wind and were never in danger thereafter, but we failed to take advantage of the wind in a rather drab second half. The win put us up to third place, although the top half of the table is very close and several teams are still in with a chance of the play-offs.
Set to face the wind from the kick-off, we were soon on the attack and James Clark popped up on the right to give us the lead in the 10th.minute with a well-placed cross-shot. Nat Jarvis nearly got on the end of a back pass, but the goalkeeper cleared the danger. Diak John was prominent with several attacks down the left and Matt Day was always pushing forward in support and shot over the bar in one attack, before providing the cross from which Nat Jarvis dived forward to head home after 29 minutes.. The home side only had one real goal attempt, a hard low shot just past the foot of the post by Tom Meecham as half-time approached.
We somehow failed to take advantage of the wind behind us in the second half and seemed content to sit back and shut down any attacks from the Saints. Goalkeeper Ben Jackson was injured when he raced off his line to punch the ball away and was taken off with bruising and a cut to his eyebrow, but the home side had a ready replacement on the bench in Andy Wilton, who had been the first-choice keeper until he had been recently injured, and he commanded the penalty area thereafter without having many shots to save, although he did pull off a good save from Stefan Brown near the end, but the game was already well won by then. It had been a solid performance, even if the wind had made it difficult for both sides.
Team;Strudley, Horgan, John, Boardman, Day, Rusby, Tyler, Jones(Rees),Jarvis(Goodger), Brown, Clark. Subs; Draycott, Herring, O’Brien