Late Comeback Not Enough For Sloppy Greens

Atherstone Town 3 Soham Town Rangers 2

A POOR first-half display consigned Soham Town Rangers to their second defeat in three days against a youthful Atherstone Town side.

The Greens conceded three goals in a torrid opening half-hour that all but sealed the match for the home side despite a spirited comeback late on from Ian Benjamin's men.

Boss Benjamin told the Ely Standard: "We missed a lot of chances that could have earned us something from the game but to be honest we didn't deserve it. We couldn't pass water let alone the ball and we just weren't doing it up front.

"We made a lot of poor decisions in the first-half and that cost us the game, if you concede three goals in the first half you won't win any games. I thought Deaken Napier was unplayable again last night but we just did not get the ball to him."

Atherstone took the lead after just 13 minutes as Simeon Smith slotted home. A mere 10 minutes later and the home side doubled their lead, this time through defender Todd Perry who capitalised on confusion in the Soham box to net.

On-loan Histon winger Josh Turner reduced the deficit after 25 minutes as Soham finally netted after a host of golden opportunities went awry. Their joy was short-lived though, as Atherstone's Luke Keen made it 3-1 just after the half-hour mark.

Benjamin rang the changes in the second-half and brought both frontmen Andy Furnell and Richard Gammon off in a bid to liven the Green's attack.

The move proved an astute one as Soham looked a much livelier proposition, particularly out wide where youngster Deakan Napier continued to find joy against the full-back.

Napier's persistence earned the Greens a lifeline late on as he found space enough to slot home, but it wasn't to be as Atherstone closed out the game in relative ease.

Deakan Napier was in fine form again on Tuesday night. 0943HD Photo: HELEN DRAKE