UCL Premier Division St Ives Tn 1 Cogenhoe Utd1 A HARD-FOUGHT draw at Westwood Road saw Saints fail to win for the first time in eight games. Joint manager Jez Hall admitted he could not be too hard on his side who had come up against a very good team. T

UCL Premier Division

St Ives Tn 1 Cogenhoe Utd1

A HARD-FOUGHT draw at Westwood Road saw Saints fail to win for the first time in eight games.

Joint manager Jez Hall admitted he could not be too hard on his side who had come up against a very good team.

"They were well-organised, hard to break down and scored a fantastic equaliser," Hall said.

The game was a classic of two halves, with the hosts creating the best opportunities before the break and Cogenhoe having the best of the second period.

It was Jamie Blackwell who gave the home side the lead on the half hour with a bullet header from the penalty spot after a good ball from Liam Kennett.

Cogenhoe came out stronger after the interval and earned themselves a point midway through the half when Zac Nedimovic's volley from the middle of the area left goalkeeper Rob Mackney standing.

Hall said: "A draw was probably a fair result and our back line and goalkeeper stood up excellently against some very tricky opponents.

"The equalising goal was a beauty and Mackney never even moved, it just whistled past him. When teams score goals like that you have to hold your hands up and you would rather concede to brilliance like that than sloppy goals."

St Ives go to Leiston, on the Suffolk coast, on Saturday in the FA Vase, where £1,000 prize money and another step on the road to Wembley will be at stake.

Hall said: "We haven't had the kindest of draws so far but we went to Gorleston and got a result so hopefully we can do the same again.

"The season so far has been beyond our expectations and hopefully we can take a few fans with us and get the result we want."

# St Ives were due to travel to Newport Pagnell as The Hunts Post went to press. Saints travel to Leiston on Saturday and welcome neighbours Huntingdon Town on Tuesday for a League Cup fixture.

INFORMATION: St Ives Town are running a free supporters' coach to their FA Vase match at Leiston on Saturday. For more information contact chairman Neville Nania on 07850 709837.