Northern Premier League Midland Division Saturday 8 November 2025
Once again, the Mikes introduced some fresh faces, the left wing featuring Tolani Omotola (arrived from Bedworth United: I gather he lives in…Milton Keynes!) and Kyle Byrne, returning from the Royals. Proceedings began in dignified manner, a bemedalled British Legionnaire placing a wreath on the centre circle, as we marked Remembrance Day, complete with “They shall not grow old…” and the Last Post, coming over the tannoy. This struck you as being a nice Club, who offered you a sincere welcome with your half time refreshments.
The Saints began on the front foot, the day’s biggest “Ooh!” arriving after only two minutes, when a smart home move finished with the Boldmere post being rapped from twenty yards – after our official (not for the only time) failed to pick up on a foul. Home superiority continued, the dangerous Harvey Williams curling one just wide of the post from just outside the box. Soon, Murphy Culkin managed to put a corner over the bar from two yards, and it came as no surprise when, eighteen minutes gone, Williams cut into the box and fired the hosts ahead. The Mikes kept plugging away, and were showing flashes of connected play, just missing the frame on a couple of occasions, but half time arrived with them being 1-0 down.
Boldmere began the second period like one of the express trains that was whizzing past the far touch line, and within two minutes had a golden chance to level. Charlie Manners ran through on goal…was impeded by home keeper James Goff…and our referee was pointing to the spot. Daniel O’Callaghan sent the ball just inside the foot of the left-hand post…and Goff pushed it away for a corner. Excellent save; but were we looking at the Mikes’ seventh successive defeat? Undeterred, they kept up the pressure, and the second half’s opening period mirrored the first half’s, St Neots now hopefully punting the ball up field. Ben Lund was soon denied by the keeper’s feet and, significantly, the Saints were the first to bring on a substitute, before the sixty minutes was up, whereas the Mikes brought on no one until the last quarter of an hour. The equaliser came right on the hour, Pierre Phillips heading a corner home from close in. Even so, their predilection for passing around their defence nearly put them behind once again, when Kieran Barnes nearly picked up on a hospital pass…but his intervention screwed wide of the post.
It needed a great Goff save to prevent a Kyle Byrne swerver putting the visitors ahead, and the Saints then gave the Boldmere defence a severe examination, the Mikes heading the ball intelligently up field as they emerged from defence. It took some desperate intervention to keep Boldmere out six minutes from the end of standard time; but from the resulting corner, the ball bounced around the goal area… and Manners prodded home from close range for what turned out to be the winner. As Goff came up for corners, the Saints were playing with urgency, and Jonathan Brown needed the physio’s attentions after being fouled as he dived on a ball. The Mikes saw out five minutes’ added time, to end a run of six defeats. Gracious congratulations from our opponents, joy for the Boldmere contingent, hope for avoiding relegation, and a long, raucous coach journey home.
St Neots Town: James Goff; Sam Willis; Murphy Culkin; Andrian Ankrah (James Stainsby 80); Robbie Parker (Harvey Henderson 87); Charlie Bowen; Connor Furlong; Eniola Agemoh-Davies (Mj Muyembe 60); Rhys Thorpe; Kieran Barnes; Harvey Williams. Sub. not used: Pharrell Anderson.
Boldmere St Michaels: Jonathan Brown; Pierre Phillips; Jordan Gough; Aris Christophorou; Daniel O’Callaghan; Connor Armstrong; Fraser Doyle; Charlie Manners (Freddie Cockerell 89); Tolani Omotola (Henry Ikieje 90+3): Ben Lund (Jayden Bailey-Hunter 90+3); Kyle Byrne (Brett Lloyd 79). Subs. not used: Nathan Oyemade.