Meakin relaxed over the dropped points
ST MARTIN’S route to the top may have only been delayed by 66 hours or so, but the scoreless draw at Northfield gave Leon Meakin’s men a timely reminder that the title is not yet won.
‘We are not too disappointed,’ said Meakin, whose Saints side head to bottom side Rangers tomorrow when it seems almost inconceivable that they will not pick up three points.
Meakin admits he was surprised by Northerners’ performance in what he described as ‘a pretty dour game where both teams cancelled the other out’.
‘They impressed me and I thought it was our toughest game of the season. There was an intensity in their game which we haven’t seen this season and we didn’t play as well as we can.’
Meakin was happy to praise the performance of 16-year-old Northerners midfielder George McNeela, whose first Priaulx start really caught the eye.
‘He [McNeela] was excellent and I thought Tom Vaudin had a good game – he has had three good games against us this season,’ said Meakin.
On the same night Vale Rec surely ended any fears the club had of finishing as wooden-spoonists with a 4-0 triumph over Rangers.
Craig Tyrrell saw his side take a half-time lead through Dino Faria and in the second period Simon Shaw and subs Charlie Tostevin and Ethan Woodhead made sure of the points for a Rec side who were upset with a late tackle which led to Olly Goddard carried off.
‘We didn’t play great at all in the first 75 minutes,’ said Tyrrell, ‘but the last 15 minutes we played really well. The first 75 was awful.’
Tomorrow’s FNB Priaulx schedule sees North and Vale Rec clash at Northfield, Manzur host Alderney and Belgraves head to St Peter’s in a key game for third spot.
A prolific Saint is at No. 7 in our Top 100 – Page 37
