St Neots were robbed of two precious league points in added time when visitors Racing Club Warwick mounted a late thrust to claim a deserved equaliser.
It was a disappointing outcome from a solid home performance with St Neots paying the price for not scoring more first half goals whilst they were in control.
In front of another 400- plus crowd, St Neots dominated the first 45 minutes but going all out for their share of the points, the visitors utilised five second half substitutes to vary their attack and it paid off in extra time.
The result saw the visitors drop one place to third in the table with Aylestone Park climbing to second and St Neots still fourth with their convincing victory away at Newport Pagnell.
The home side had intended to start with an unchanged line-up, but Robbie Parker broke down in the warm-up, so Dammy Nickels returned at right back.
From the start it was clear that these two evenly matched sides were going to produce a close contest as they sought to cement their positions in the packed play off area of the league table.
St Neots started in a positive vein and were rewarded after 13 minutes with a crisp attack that split the visiting defence as skipper James Hatch sent Jordan Brown away on the left and his early cross was converted at the near post by Rhys Thorpe.
Ten minutes later as St Neots maintained their positive approach the score should have doubled as Thorpe went clear of the defence but visiting custodian Sam Lomax sprinted from his line to smother the shot.
The visitors first significant effort saw James Hancocks sky his effort over the bar and as the game became more competitive Chris Tavernier and visiting Rico Taylor were booked.
Ten minutes before the break a Brown shot was parried by Lomax and Tavernier’s follow-up effort was over the bar. Five minutes later James Goff got a touch on a scorching shot from Luke Shearer that rebounded from the crossbar and the half ended with Goff cautioned for handling outside his area.
The second half started on a scrappy note, but the visitors signalled their intent as they sent on three attacking substitutes and that changed the pattern of the game.
On a break Thorpe was upended as bore down on goal but only a caution was deemed to be the punishment from referee Brian O’Sullivan.
Murphy Culkin then conceded a penalty bringing down Harry Sawyer but Goff saved to his right and the chance to level the scores was spurned.
More substitutions by both sides followed and in an incident packed added nine minutes at the end of the game, Thorpe shot wide after St Neots had sliced open the visiting defence.
Then with four minutes remaining visiting substitute Simon Colbourne snatched a late equaliser to ensure that the points were shared. St Neots were disappointed but stay 12 points clear of the pack chasing those play-off places.
St Neots: Goff, Nickels, Culkin, Tavernier, George, Bowen, Brown, Dummett, Thorpe, Hatch, Furlong Subs: Muyembe (for Tavernier 85 mins), Ajana (for Furlong 90 + 3 mins), Williams, Brookes, and Amaeshike. Cards: Tavernier (Y – 32 mins), Goff (45+1 min), Bowen (Y – 53 mins), Brown (Y – 54 mins), Thorpe (Y – 68 mins).
RC Warwick: Lomas, Sawyer, Carsley, Andrews, Barnett, Mulders, Willis, Hancocks, Monaghan, Shearer, Taylor Subs: Jones (for Taylor 64 mins), Burke (for Willis 65 mins), Colbourne (for Hancocks 65 mins), Dilonga (for Sawyer 82 mins), Ashmore (for Andrews 82 mins). Cards: Taylor (Y – 32mins), Andrews (Y - 40 mins), Hancocks (Y – 65 mins)
Referee: Brian O’Sullivan (Peterborough)
Final Score: St Neots Town 1 - Racing Club Warwick 1
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