Ives men secure Premier promotion

PROMOTION to NE14 East Men’s League Premier B for next season was secured for St Ives men’s firsts on Saturday as they won 6-0 at Dereham seconds in Division One.

PROMOTION to NE14 East Men’s League Premier B for next season was secured for St Ives men’s firsts on Saturday as they won 6-0 at Dereham seconds in Division One.

After the battling draw against Old Southendians last week, Ives went into the game knowing three points would ensure a top-two finish and it was achieved thanks to Darren Coles’ hat-trick, a brace from Jonny Saltmarsh and a sole effort from Ben Scarrow.

They remain top of the table with two games remaining, starting with a trip to Cambridge City seconds on Saturday, as they bid to cap a memorable season with Division One championship glory.

On the ladies’ side, the firsts are in mid-table in East Women’s League Division 1N after Abby Holland, Anne Selfe and Claire Young sent them to a 3-2 win at home against Ipswich thirds.

This weekend, they face a tough home match against table-topping Wisbech Town.

The men’s seconds won 2-0 at March Town seconds in Division 3NW, Nicholas Beattie and Oliver Milner scoring, while the thirds, with Matt Keightley and Simon Rees – making his thirds debut - on the scoresheet, as they defeated St Neots seconds in Division 4NW.

Emily Skidmore and Laura Ball both bagged a brace as the ladies’ seconds won 4-1 at Huntingdon in the Cambridgeshire Ladies League: Premier Division.

The thirds, meanwhile, were handed a Division One walkover win against Market Deeping seconds, who conceded the game.