Declan Rogers fired St Ives Town closer to clinching a play-off spot with his first goal for the club.

Rogers made the only breakthrough in a vital home victory against Ware in Southern League Division One (Central) today.

He struck six minutes before the break at ProEdge Westwood Road as Saints closed to within three points of the summit. They also maintained a six-point buffer over the team immediately outside the play-off zone.

“It is a really important win given that six of the other seven teams in the top eight picked up three points as well,” said Marheineke.

“With every victory we are getting closer to cementing a place in the play-offs.

“We produced a well-worked goal just before half-time and were able to defend our advantage in the second half against a Ware side who have been in fine form lately.

“It is about winning, rather than performances, at this stage of the season and all we can do is keep putting pressure on those teams around us by picking up points.”

St Ives created the better chances against a Ware side who had won of their previous six games.

Danny Watson saw a goalbound effort hacked away by a defender before visiting defender George Essuman headed a monster Tim Trebes clearance inches wide of his own net.

Ware were first to have the ball in the net, but an offside decision ensured Kieran Bishop’s effort didn’t count.

But there was nothing wrong with Rogers’ solitary strike as he latched onto a classy Jared Cunniff pass and clipped his finish into the net.

Saints were almost caught cold 30 seconds into the second period when Trebes gratefully grabbed a free header from Khale Dacosta before Rogers was denied a carbon-copy second goal when seeing an effort saved following another fine Cunniff ball.

Saints have four league games remaining and also contest the Hunts Senior Cup final when facing Eynesbury on April 13