Late goal sees St Neots Town beaten at Bourne

St Neots Town suffered a late setback away at Bourne Town, conceding a goal three minutes from the end to lose 1–0 and slip to 18th in the league table.

The visitors struggled to find an attacking rhythm, particularly after striker Neo Richard-Noel was forced off with a recurrence of an injury after 35 minutes. His withdrawal disrupted St Neots’ forward play, and despite efforts from his replacement Jessi Obeng, clear chances proved hard to come by.

Both sides started on the front foot, with early efforts testing the goalkeepers inside the opening minutes. Rhys Thorpe fired over for St Neots, while Eniola Agemoh-Davies made a crucial recovery tackle to deny Tom Simmons as the home side threatened to break through.

Obeng, introduced earlier than planned, worked hard to inject pace into the St Neots attack, but chances were limited before the break. Bourne came close just before half-time when Robbie Ellis powered through the visiting defence, only to lift his shot over the bar.

St Neots began the second half brightly. Obeng created an early opening with a cross for Thorpe, whose header was saved at full stretch by Bourne goalkeeper Will Lakin. Further efforts from Kieran Barnes and Agemoh-Davies both went wide as the visitors enjoyed a brief spell of pressure.

However, Bourne gradually gained control, pushing St Neots deeper into their own half. Agemoh-Davies again produced a timely tackle to halt Simmons, while Cullum Milne saw a shot deflected behind as the home side pressed.

With fifteen minutes remaining, St Neots introduced Magloire Muyembe in an attempt to strengthen the attack, but it was Bourne who finished the stronger. From a free kick three minutes from time, Robbie Ellis scored the decisive goal, securing all three points for the home side.

The defeat leaves St Neots Town in 18th place, with Bourne moving to within two points after the sides were promoted together from Step Five last season.