UCL Premier Division ---
Northampton Spencer 2-3 St Ives Town ---
DECLAN Rogers clinched a late winner for St Ives after a controversial Northampton Spencer goal had threatened to end St Ives' perfect record on the road.
Spencer's equaliser looked to have gone in off their forward's hand, but the referee disagreed and awarded the goal. It seemed set to win a point for Spencer, who had appeared dead and buried when Saints went 2-0 up before half-time.
However there was still time for Saints to respond, as Dan Moyes crossed superbly to Stefan Lewis, who laid the ball back for Rogers to slot in goal number 10 of the season.
Saints co-manager Jez Hall was proud of his team's spirit to deal with the handball decision but felt the game should have been sewn up before then.
He added: "We should have put the game to bed in the first half. We had several chances that we didn't take, and nearly paid the price.
"Spencer kept going till the end and were dangerous from dead balls, but our lads deserve credit too.
"Even after conceding a late goal, that was clearly handball to everyone bar the officials, we still had it in us to go up the other end and win it."
Saints began well, and Matt Bannister and Carl Foreman could both have scored within the opening five minutes. The first goal came when Rogers whipped in a cross which Dave Kilby guided into the net.
Foreman crashed a shot off the bar before Conor Washington added the second goal from the penalty spot on 35 minutes. He dispossessed the keeper and was pulled down, but composed himself to send the keeper the wrong way.
Playing into the wind in the second half slowed Saints' progress, and Spencer got a foothold on 71 minutes with a header from a free-kick.
With the wind at their backs they pushed forward for the equaliser, and scored it in dubious circumstances on 87 minutes, before Rogers had the final word.
St Ives travel to Desborough Town on Saturday. Kick-off 3pm.
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