WEEKEND FOOTBALL ROUND-UP

It was a frustrating weekend for local non-league sides, with both St Neots Town and Eynesbury Rovers suffering narrow defeats away from home despite battling performances.

For St Neots Town, it was another frustrating afternoon in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division, as they slipped to a 2–1 defeat at high-flying Carlton Town. The Saints showed real character after the break and created a host of chances but couldn’t find a way past an inspired home goalkeeper. The result leaves Cameron Mawer’s side still searching for their first away points since mid-September — but their second-half display offered plenty of encouragement.

Meanwhile, Eynesbury Rovers’ defence of the UCL Knockout Cup came to an end in controversial fashion at Kimberley Miners Welfare, where they were beaten 3–2. Rovers, last season’s cup winners, were left aggrieved after seeing a potential equaliser ruled out for a head injury to the home goalkeeper just moments before the ball hit the net. Despite dominating large spells and scoring twice, they were unable to complete the comeback.

CARLTON TOWN 2 – 1 ST NEOTS TOWN

(Northern Premier League Midlands Division)

St Neots Town returned from Nottingham empty-handed after a battling performance against another side pushing at the top end of the table. Carlton Town took the points but were made to work hard for them, surviving a second-half onslaught from the Saints, whose efforts were repeatedly denied by an inspired goalkeeping display from home stopper Felix Annan.

It was very much a game of two halves. St Neots’ own keeper James Goff kept his side in the contest with a string of first-half saves, earning the visitors’ man of the match award, but the decisive moments came before the break.

After early chances at both ends, Ashley Chambers put Carlton ahead on 32 minutes with a low strike past Goff, before Michael Amaeshike levelled three minutes from half time following good work by Connor Furlong. However, parity lasted only moments as a long throw from Lewis Durdin led to Chambers’ second goal right before the interval.

The second half belonged to St Neots, who threw everything forward. Rhys Thorpe was denied a strong penalty appeal, Murphy Culkin and Rob Parker both went close, and a header from Lamin Manneh was cleared off the line. In the closing stages, Annan produced a stunning save to deny Thorpe again and preserve the hosts’ lead.

Despite a dominant display after the break, St Neots were left to reflect on missed chances and a second successive away defeat — albeit one that offered plenty of encouragement for manager Cameron Mawer ahead of next week’s fixtures.

KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE 3 – 2 EYNESBURY ROVERS

(UCL Knockout Cup – First Round)

Eynesbury Rovers’ defence of the UCL Knockout Cup ended in controversy as they were narrowly beaten 3–2 by Kimberley Miners Welfare at Ilkeston Town. The hosts, whom Rovers defeated en route to lifting the trophy last season, benefited from a contentious refereeing decision that ruled out what looked a legitimate Rovers equaliser at 2–2.

The drama started early when Kimberley’s Tom Hilton escaped with a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Victor Osobu inside the opening minute. Rovers created several first-half chances through Luke Young, Scott Joseph and Harry Hurst, but fell behind five minutes before the break when Josh Timson fired in a superb 30-yard strike. In stoppage time, Oliver Ball made it 2–0 from a corner to leave Rovers with work to do.

Five minutes into the second half, Lewis Lynn halved the deficit with a fine free kick, and moments later Luke Young appeared to have levelled the scores — only for the referee to disallow the goal after the home keeper suffered a head injury in the build-up. With the goalkeeper unable to continue, outfield player Max Thornbury went between the posts, but despite Rovers dominating possession, they fell further behind when Ball added his second on 66 minutes.

Eynesbury kept pressing, with Joseph hitting the post and Lynn going close, before Victor Osobu pulled one back deep into stoppage time after a flick from Oliver Brookes. However, time ran out on the visitors, who will feel aggrieved not to have forced extra time after a spirited performance full of fight and frustration in equal measure.