Ives return to form with FA Cup goalfest

ST IVES TOWN 6-1 DAVENTRY UNITED ||

ST IVES Town got their season back on track with an emphatic win over Daventry United in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup.

Saints were looking to the cup for a return to form, having already fallen to two home defeats this season, and found their UCL Premier counterparts in generous form on Saturday. The win takes Saints through to the next round of the FA Cup to meet Soham Town Rangers.

Striker Conor Washington started after impressing in the midweek defeat to Holbeach, and almost made the early breakthrough for Saints from a Declan Rogers cross.

Ives didn't have to wait long to give their fans the first goal of the season, as Washington found Jamie Blackwell who netted at the second attempt.

Saints kept Leo Farrow in the Daventry goal busy, and Rogers added a second just before the interval when he managed to beat the keeper at the far post.

Ozzie Foster put the game beyond reach after 55 minutes, but Ives were in no mood to let up, and Blackwell made it 4-0 with a low drive into the bottom corner soon after.

Foster scored his second on 77 minutes after a spell of one-touch football on the edge of the Daventry box, and Conor Washington scored the goal his performance deserved.

A late consolation for Daventry could not take the shine off the performance for St Ives boss Jez Hall.

"We looked nervous to start with and maybe that was understandable after our first two games ending in defeat, but we played well in the first half and managed to score, which gave us a boost," he said.

"We were awesome though in the second half and we played some really good football and if it wasn't for their keeper we could have made it into double figures.

"Daventry worked their socks off today but we deserved the win and the fans deserved to see some goals.