FA Vase Second Qualifying Round Kirkley & Pakefield 0 St Ives Town 1 A COOL finish from Liam Kennett ensured Saints kept up their fine cup tradition to progress to the first round proper. After winning three cups last season, St Ives are now the only Hun

FA Vase Second Qualifying Round

Kirkley & Pakefield 0 St Ives Town 1

A COOL finish from Liam Kennett ensured Saints kept up their fine cup tradition to progress to the first round proper.

After winning three cups last season, St Ives are now the only Huntingdonshire side still in the Vase - and face a trip to a lower-ranked side than Kirkley in the next round.

The backbone to the win was the form of goalkeeper Rob Mackney and centre-backs Will Fordham and Dan Newman.

Kirkley had knocked Saints out of the competition at the same stage last year but Kennett's strike on the hour gave the visitors the honours.

Just three minutes earlier, Graeme Thackray had seen a 30-yard piledriver crash back off the bar.

The only downside for St Ives was an injury to Jamie Blackwell, who joins Scott Fielding on the sidelines.

Mackney performed well to keep the Ridgeons Premier Division side out and Saints withstood heavy late pressure to earn the win - and £600 prize money.

Saints will travel to Ridgeons League Division One side Gorleston in the first round proper, on October 6.

Joint manager Jez Hall said: "It was a long trip but we played very well indeed. The defence was superb but it was a real team effort.

"It was a good day all-round for us with teams around us in the league slipping up.

"Hopefully, Jamie Blackwell's injury will not turn out to be too serious."

Meanwhile, St Ives are in league action tonight (Wednesday) at Holbeach, welcome Desborough to Westwood Road on Saturday and travel to Potton United next Tuesday.