HSCL Division One Buntingford Town 2 St Peter s 3 AN uneven playing surface contributed to a scrappy affair in which numerous goalscoring opportunities were squandered but St Peter s did enough to take all three points. This five goal thriller was the res

HSCL Division One

Buntingford Town 2 St Peter's 3

AN uneven playing surface contributed to a scrappy affair in which numerous goalscoring opportunities were squandered but St Peter's did enough to take all three points.

This five goal thriller was the result of a host of defensive errors with Saints dealt a blow before a ball had been kicked with three important players - Matt Hatchett, Gary Stuart-Neal and David Stevens - ruled out.

Buntingford started on the front foot but it was the visitors who scored first with a 25 yard piledriver from Richard Ellis that beat the despairing goalkeeper.

The lead didn't last long though with Buntingford hitting back immediately.

A free kick taken by Tony Gauthier was badly misjudged by the Town 'keeper with the ball sailing over his head and into the net to restore St Peter's lead.

A lapse in concentration at the back allowed Buntingford to reply though with their centre half heading home unchallenged from a corner.

Gauthier's free kicks were causing havoc in the Buntingford box and another led to Saints' winning goal, the Town defence unable to clear allowing Ellis to grab his second goal of the game and his 14th of the campaign.

Both goalkeepers kept the scoreline down as half time approached but the earlier errors all over the pitch had all ready been costly for the home side.

Unlike the opening 45 minutes, when a high scoring result was on the cards, neither side managed to find the net again despite further goal scoring opportunities.

Next Saturday a local derby awaits for St Peter's who make the trip to Harpenden Rovers (KO 2.30pm).

St Peter's: Barnes; Mardle, T Gauthier, Wiltshire, Jones; Laffoley (Veli), Eames, M Gauthier, Blyth; Ellis, Lee.