SAINTS ALIVE AS KINGS CRASH
Kings suffered a disappointing setback in their quest for Southern League survival eventually succumbing to a three goal deficit against St Neots; themselves battling to pull clear of the drop zone.
 
The home side settled much the quicker and looked threatening from the start. The Kings rear guard, featuring debutant Eddie Asafu –Adjaye at centre back were hard pressed to contain the early pressure.
 
Prodigious long throws in the swirling conditions were proving to be a regular menace to the visitors defence and It was this tactic that saw the home side take a deserved lead in the 9th minute when the throw evaded everyone and allowed the prolific Jervani Brown to head home from close range.
 
It got worse for Kings just ten minutes later when Ryan Plowright was harshly adjudged to have fouled Lee Clarke in the box and Brown confidently despatched the resultant penalty.
 
Kings, at last, awoke from their slumbers and a great shot by Turner beat keeper Archer only to strike the bar. This was followed by a heart-stopping moment for the home side when Archer raced outside the penalty area to contest a through ball with the advancing Jerry Amoo only to impede the Kings forward illegally. The officials deciding the scoring opportunity was not obvious enough to warrant the ultimate sanction and only issued the relieved custodian with a caution.  
 
Saints soon made the most of this ‘let-off’’ when Bell-Toxtle was on hand to tap in their third after Comas had saved Hyem’s initial attempt.  Kings still had time to extract a brilliant point blank save by Archer from Amoo’s first time effort before the half time whistle brought an end to a torrid first half for the visitors.
Not surprisingly, Kings Manager Paul Hobbs rang the changes at half time, introducing both Ollie Cox and Steve Ward to increase attacking potency and within two minutes of the restart Michael King had reduced the arrears turning smartly to fire low into the corner.
 
Kings had some momentum now and Keiran Turner was proving particular effective on the left sending over some dangerous crosses. One such delivery again drawing a superb save from Archer as he somehow kept out Steve Ward’s bullet header. 
 
Inevitably in pushing forward gaps were left and the ever dangerous Jevani Brown completed his hat trick when he deftly converted a left wing cross in the 90th minute.
 
Almost immediately Kings responded when King grabbed his second, again giving Archer no chance with a firm drive into the corner.
However, the home side were still to have the last word as virtually the final action of the match saw Gary Connolly deflect a left wing cross into his own net.
 
A below par performance from Kings which they will need to recover quickly from as they enter a series of crucial fixtures.