Mens 4 vs St Neots 3 

St Ives Mens 4s have had a tricky season to say the least. 1 point from the previous 9 results had St Ives sitting at the foot of the table.

However, after a promising performance against St Neots 2s earlier on in the year, only losing 3-1, the 4s believed this was the chance to pick up some points against fellow strugglers, St Neots 3s. An early 10am kickoff awaited.

Despite being first on the pitch, kickoff was slightly delayed owing to a shortage of umpires. However, we finally got going. Unlike most games this season, the 4s made a quick start. A Rich Kellett short corner was drilled at the keeper before following up himself to score a tidy flicked goal into the roof of the Neots net. 0-1!

The match continued in a similar vein, and both sides had some decent chances, before St Neots equalised a few minutes before the break. It was 1-1 at Half Time with the game on a knife-edge.

The second half began and there was some clear frustration in the Ives team as balls wouldnt trap closely to sticks and there were a lot of wayward passes. The strong St Neots centre midfielders changed the game, and after some questionable backing into the D, St Neots turned it around to lead 2-1.

However, St Ives continued to battle hard, and play improved. A run down the wing for Tom Hingston made the space for him to fire a lovely pass to the other winger, Miles Dickens, who managed to connect with a great ball into the D, for that man Rich Kellett to deflect in nicely. The equaliser was the least St Ives had deserved.

However, St Neots themselves rallied, and won a short corner, which was converted past Alex in goal. Alex himself having made some fantastic saves and clearances throughout the match.

But St Ives continued to battle! A miscontrolled ball in the D, after a Jack Benham cross, fell to Hingston at a tight angle (and if you ask him, about 0.5°) for him to reverse flick into the bottom corner, beating the keeper at his near post.

But the action wasnt over! Another ball into the Neots D fell to Hingston to finish into the bottom corner. 6 minutes remaining.

St Ives battled nicely and defended nicely in the final few minutes, with Michael Balson and Si Penney making some great blocks, and Tristan Johnstone filling the midfield tidily.

And luckily, St Ives 4s managed to hold on and get their first win of the season! 3-4 away victory! Cheers erupted at the final whistle!

A match played in really good spirits with an opposition who also battled just as hard. A great start to the day. Can St Ives carry this momentum on into future weeks?...