Kempston bow out of the League Cup

A stoppage time Aaron Smith goal was enough to send the Saints through in this encounter.

The visitors couldn’t capitalise on an early chance as Mutswunguma couldn’t find a finish after he somehow bustled past Jordan Wright and rounded Carl Knox. The same player hit the post shortly after the quarter hour. Between these chances for the visitors, Kempston had two corners cleared off the line as Alfie Powell saw a back post header blocked before the Saints effected a goal line clearance. Philp made good save from a Powell snap shot midway through the half, but as both sides traded testing jabs, neither could land a clean punch and went in to the break goal-less.

Early in the second half Knox was again showing his early season form to deny Sutton’s poked shot. Moments later, at the other end Rovers clipped the bar through Emmanuel Dahie’s header from a corner. With clear cut chances at a premium and the spectre of penalties looming, St. Neots grabbed a stoppage time winner. A burst into the box by Gomarsall saw him cut the ball back to the edge of the area, where Smith was on hand to drive it low through a crowd of bodies and into the net. Moments later, Rovers could’ve levelled matters, a launched free kick from Hunt was flapped at by Philp and fell to Shortt, the young forward’s attempted lob was gathered by the keeper. There was almost a grandstand finish to the game as Knox came forward for a do or die set piece and faced a mad dash back into his box as Saints broke forward through Nkala. The substitute squared the ball rather than shooting himself, which allowed Knox to recover and smother the danger and the game finished, decided by the single goal.

Saints go on to face Yaxley in the next round, while Rovers turn their attention back to the league and to Saturday’s visit from Welwyn Garden City. Rovers reserves travel to Cogenhoe while the third team take a short trip to Haynes to face Real Haynes Reserves.