Promoted St Ives 1sts made a terrific start to life in Division Two North of the East Men’s League with a season-opening success last Saturday.
The locals triumphed 4-2 at Dereham 2nds in their first outing thanks to two Rory Mooney goals and other strikes from James Harris and Garth Mooney.
The 2nds also triumphed in their first Division Four North-West outing when seeing off Cambridge South 2nds 2-1.
Sam Helme saw an opener disallowed, but the St Ives side didn’t have to wait long to hit the front as Neil Fassam struck.
Goalkeeper Tom Laskey stood strong behind a makeshift defence as South applied pressure before his side doubled their lead when Pete Liddle buried a Tim Jones pass.
Laskey was beaten by a penalty flick late on, but St Ives 2nds survived a penalty corner in the final minute to pocket the points.
Charlie Evans hit St Ives 3rds’ goal as they were beaten 2-1 at Spalding 4ths in their Division Five North-West curtain-raiser.
And there was also a losing start to the new East Women’s League season for two St Ives female sides last Saturday.
The Ladies 1sts suffered a 3-1 home reverse at the hands of Dereham in Division One North.
A fine performance from goalkeeper Ness Brown, as she pulled off a host of good saves, helped to keep the St Ives team in the contest against well-drilled opposition.
She was eventually beaten by two goals in quick succession in the second half, but Ellie Burgess halved St Ives’ arrears following a slick short-corner routine.
The locals were only a whisker away from a leveller when Olivia Shears was denied in a goal-line scramble, but it was Dereham who struck again to end any hopes of a fightback.
St Ives 2nds were beaten at fellow promoted side – and local rivals – Cambridge South in their first Division Two North-West fixture.
Julie Drummond cancelled out an early opener from the hosts, but South struck again to seal victory.
Huntingdon 1sts were on the receiving end of a heavy defeat in a disappointing start to the new season. They went down 6-1 at Ely City in their Division Three North-West opener. Jo Abel hit their consolation.
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