St Neots Town Football Club's spectacular unbeaten start to their league season came crashing to an end on Bank Holiday Monday as a well-organised Newport Pagnell won 3-0.
Victory for the visitors in front of a bummer crowd of 483 moved them above the Saints into first place in the United Counties Football League Premier South Division.
It was a salutary lesson for Manager Cameron Mawer and his squad as the deliberately organised tactics of the visitors paid off, leaving St Neots with plenty to mull over post-match.
After a cagey start by both sides, St Neots began to dominate the first half possession but failed to turn their openings into goals.
Plenty of half chances went begging as St Neots failed to make their pressure tell, and then, as the match moved into first half added time, the visitors produced the sucker punch as Jack Bowen was allowed time and space to put Pagnell in front.
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The goal was Pagnell's first significant shot on target, who had set out to defend in numbers, scoring against the run of play.
However, their approach was very different after the break when they took the game to their hosts, creating two good chances in the first six minutes.
The second-half pressure brought its reward after 54 minutes when an incisive break through the St Neots defence left Dan Walker free at the far post to double the visitors' lead.
St Neots looked shellshocked and threw players forward in a bid to retrieve some reward but left gaping holes in defence fully exploited ten minutes from time when Dan Walker was once again left time and space to add his second goal and leave St Neots well beaten.
Firstly I have to say what a turn out, myself and the players are so grateful for every single saints fan that turned out today.
— Cameron mawer (@cameron2mawer) August 28, 2023
Today was the end of a fantastic run against a @nptfc side that deserved there win today.
We learn and move on 💙@StNeotsTownFC #inittogether https://t.co/y7li8lqQxL
Cameron Mawer's side must now re-group quickly to next host pre-season promotion favourites Daventry Town, whom they accompanied in relegation at the end of last season.
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