The man who shot St Ives Town to promotion glory was back among the goals as began their preparations for a first-ever season of Southern League Premier Division football.
Local lad Ben Seymour-Shove hit a stunning winner in Saints’ Division One (South) play-off final triumph against AFC Rushden & Diamonds back in May.
And he also provided the club’s final goal in their opening friendly of the summer as they beat lower-level Oakham United 3-1 at ProEdge Westwood Road today.
Seymour-Shove struck with a quarter-of-an-hour to go, with the aid of a deflection off a defender, after St Ives had taken command with two goals in the space of four minutes just before half-time.
Andrew Phillips got the first of them and it was quickly followed by a first for summer signing Sam Ives. Oakham scored a late consolation.
The St Ives starting line-up featured four players who featured in the promotion charge last season - Seymour-Shove, Phillips, Harry O’Malley and Jordan Jarrold - in addition to six new signings.
The other member of the 11 was goalkeeper Tom Spenser, who stood in with number one Tim Trebes unavailable. Spenser is an American who spent time with Ware last season.
Saints boss Ricky Marheineke substituted all bar one of his outfield players as the game progressed and gave minutes to three of the club’s scholarship talents - Mark Lloyd, Sam Davidson and Sam Land - from the bench.
Among those being introduced was former Huntingdon and St Neots man Guy Mailancol, who is on trial with Saints.
They are back in action on Tuesday night when they enetertain a Peterborough United youth side at ProEdge Westwood Road, 7.45pm.
United Counties League Premier Division side Huntingdon Town also made a winning start to their friendly schedule today by beating tenants British School of Sport, who are to play in the Peterborough & District League this season, at Jubilee Park.
Town won 2-1 but manager Bob Warby refused to reveal the identity of their goalscorer, saying it was an ‘unnamed trialist’.
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