Blues battered by Saints in Calor Southern League Red Insure Cup

First half goals from Lewis Hilliard (three), Ben Ford (18) and Jay Davies (22) saw St Neots Town ease to a 3-0 victory at Dunstable Town in the third round of the Red Insure Cup on Tuesday night.

Despite the heavy rain and a morning hail storm that had left standing water on the pitch a 3pm pitch inspection past the Creasey Park surface fit.

Dunstable were without the likes of injured duo Nathan Frater and Marc Leach and suspended skipper Moses Olaleye.

Craig Butler made his Town debut with fellow new boys Trevaun St Leonce, Aston Grant and Harrison Carr were named on the bench, while exBlue Ryan Frater, brother of Nathan, was named in the Saints side.

The Premier Division visitors dominated the opening stages, stunning Town with a three-goal salvo inside 22 minutes.

Saints took the lead on three minutes when Hilliard’s effort took a deflection on its way in before Ford doubled their lead direct from a corner on 18 minutes.

And Davies added a cracking third on 22 minutes when his free-kick sailed into the top right-hand corner.

Nothing much went right for the hosts and their best chances in the first half came from a Tony Burnett cross that Lee Roache just failed to reach and a neat flick on from Chris Marsh as Roache was foiled again.

Young substitutes St Leonce, Griffith and Carr all showed plenty of eagerness in the second half.

Top scorer Roache enjoyed more ball in the second half but was foiled by the visiting defence, while BJ Christie couldn’t convert a Danny Hutchins cross.

Roache did his best to pull a goal back, seeing one shot blocked, while another drew a good save rom underworked Saints keeper Daniel Swan.

Referee Andrew Tonks was forced off with a pulled hamstring as St Neots football secretary Gary Wilson stepped in the breach as assistant.

Danny Murphy tried his luck with a shot, but Saints eased to victory.

Weather permitting leaders Dunstable host St Ives Town in Division One Central on Saturday.

Blues: Jamie Head, Danny Hutchins, Danny Murphy, Joseph Bruce (C), Danny Ryan, Craig Butler, Adam Watkins, Tony Burnett, Lee Roache, Bernard Christie, Christopher Marsh. Substitutes: Trevaun St Leonce, Taishan Griffith, Harrison Carr, Aston Grant, Louis Porcelli.

Saints: Daniel Swan, Dave Deeney, Arthur Lee, Ben Ford, Ryan Frater, Gavin Hoyte (C), Lewis Hilliard, Ben Farrell, Simon Thomas, Jay Davies, Lorenzo Ferrari. Substitutes: Jake Woolley, Shane Tolley, Lewis Wilson, Dean Cracknell, Alasan Ann.

Referee: Andrew Tonks.

Assistant Referees: Mark Wetherall and Daniel Hanna.