A LAST-minute derby winner from Dan Jacob dug St Neots out of a hole at St Ives and clawed back some of the ground lost to King’s Lynn at the weekend.

UCL Premier Division

St Ives Town 1-2 St Neots Town

A LAST-minute derby winner from Dan Jacob dug St Neots out of a hole at St Ives and clawed back some of the ground lost to King’s Lynn at the weekend.

Five minutes into added time at the end of derby day at Westwood Road, Neots looked as if they were about to drop a further two points, before Jacob popped up with the crucial decider.

Allied with King’s Lynn’s surprise 1-1 draw at Cogenhoe United, the result clawed back two of the three points St Neots lost to King’s Lynn on Saturday, and re-established their three-point advantage at the summit of the UCL Premier Division.

The result was cruel on St Ives, who had the better of the game until the final 10 minutes.

The home side went ahead after 44 minutes, when Barry Albone prodded home from short range as the St Neots defence stood waiting for a linesman’s flag.

It took St Neots until the 71st minute to get on terms, when Stefan Moore fired home left-footed.

St Ives passed up a gilt-edged chance to win the game on 80 minutes, when Ozie Foster had time to set himself from six yards, but Tim Trebes – back in the Neots lineup after being dropped on Saturday – denied him with a point-blank stop. The follow-up from Conor Washington was also blocked by a reaction save from Trebes.

With that reprieve, Neots took heart and, though Roy Essandoh wasted a chance when he cushioned a header into home keeper Niall Conroy-Owen’s arms, they finally found the goal they needed through Jacob.

Lewis Webb picked up the ball on the break in midfield, and fed Jacob on the left edge of the penalty area, who took a touch and fired across Conroy-Owen.