ST IVES kept their promotion hopes alive with a convincing away win against promotion rivals Boston on Saturday. The visitors started the better side with chances coming for striker partners Nana Appieh Adjei and Scott Fielding. Boston soon got back into

ST IVES kept their promotion hopes alive with a convincing away win against promotion rivals Boston on Saturday.

The visitors started the better side with chances coming for striker partners Nana Appieh Adjei and Scott Fielding. Boston soon got back into the game, with Miles Mason and Gary Bull forcing good saves from Saints keeper Robin Mackney as they began to boss the midfield.

Fielding wasted a good opportunity that came against the run of play, as Appieh Adjei's shot was well saved by Nick Conroy and then his shot was cleared off the line by the Poachers defence. Both teams wasted good opportunities to go ahead, and the game finished goalless at the interval.

St Ives made a few tactical changes and began to dominate the game after the break, and the deadlock was finally broken after 76 minutes when Carl Foreman's corner was headed into the top corner by Appieh Adjei. After 88 minutes the visitors secured the three points, when Will Fordham' through ball was collected by Fielding who raced clear and lobbed Conroy for his 26th goal of the season.

Ives maintained control of the game and stoppage time chances were missed by Tim Quy, Fielding, and 16-year-old substitute Leon Schweir as they comfortably won the game.

St Ives co-manager Jez Hall said: "We went there with five first teamers missing so it was a great result for us. We came with a game plan and we matched them player for player in the second half and fair play to the lads as we outdid them and got two goals in the last 15 minutes.

"Scott [Fielding] has hit the bar and missed a one-on-one early on and Rob [Mackney] has made some great saves to keep it goalless. Then we went down the other end and Nana [Appieh Adjei] grabbed one for us.

"He is an up and coming player who has been on the fringes. He definitely has it in him to do well but it's just difficult to find a space in the team for him with the squad we have at the moment.

"We have a lot of games to play and will have two or three a week so we will be up against it and will have to try and freshen it up every game. Confidence is high at the minute and we want to win every game but with four cups and the league that's a big ask.

"We will see how we are doing in the league at the end of the month and then see what we prioritise. A couple of cups and a finish as high in the league as we can would be nice."

St Ives are now unbeaten in eight league games and have won their last five. They sit seventh in the table with seven games in hand over leaders Deeping Rangers, who are 17 points above them. Ives could go four points clear at the top if they win all their games in hand, and can still go top if they lose just one.

They have lost just one in their last 18 games in all competitions (their FA Vase fifth round exit to Marske United last month) and are unbeaten in the league since November 1.