Mens 4 vs Cambridge Nomads 3

After securing their first points on the season in the last game before the Christmas break, the 4s were keen to maintain the momentum.

Any worries that Christmas overindulgence might prove an issue were quickly dispelled as St Ives started very positively, dominating possession and finding time and space on the wings to attack. With Barry dominating midfield and providing great distribution Nomads were boxed into their own half and struggling to make their mark on the game.

With around ten minutes gone the pressure finally told - Nomads finding themselves with no options from a 16 yard hit due to the strong Ives press, with a loose pass out being intercepted by John Pawson on the right. A quick one-two with Tom Hickson later and Pawson buried it in the bottom left corner for Ives to take an early lead (Tom did specifically tell me to credit his assist).

Ives continued to press and took a 2-0 lead shortly afterwards from a short corner - and it was definitely intentional! With Pawson unable to trap at the top of the D he instead opted for the shot himself, with a well hit strike a the bottom corner cunningly deflected off the onrushing defender's stick to lob up and sail past both the keepr and post man into the top corner. Like I said, definitely intentional and no luck involved.

They were very nearly 3-0 shortly aftwards, Pawson returning the favour with a layoff to HIckson at the left post, with his shot well saved by the Nomads keeper getting down quickly to his right.

After this bright start Ives started to fatigue early, with their goal under almost constant pressure either side of half time. I honestly can't remember much about the Nomads goals, all I know is that they scored 3 unanswered to leave Ives rocking at 3-2 down.

The team showed great character to keep fighting through this setback and as the second half wore on they gradually fought they way back into the game - until with 5 minutes to go Warren guided a pass through to Hickson in the D. The goalie opted for the route 1 tactic of going for the ball via Hicksons legs and body, with the result being a penalty flick. It's since been pointed out that Pawson was on a hat-trick at this point - but with Pawson unaccustomed as he is to scoring multiple goals he was completely oblivious to the fact, so it was Hickson that stepped forward to send the keeper the wrong way and level the scores at 3-3.

If anything Ives had the better of the play in the final 5 minutes, but they were unable to capitalise so the game ended in a well earned draw at 3-3. That's 4 points from the last 2 games and a solid platfrom from which to rise up the table!