AFTER another five-star performance from St Ives Town at Blackstones, the United Counties Premier Division club’s joint-manager Jez Hall is now aiming for third place – and their highest ever finish.

Prolific striker Conor Washington scored two more goals in the win that saw the Saints close the gap on the current third-placed side Holbeach United to a single point.

Holbeach lost 3-0 away at second-placed Long Buckby – and St Ives have three games in hand over United as they make up for time spent in the FA Vase.

Indeed, Hall said the performance at Blackstones was “up there with the game against Gresley”. It was Gresley they beat 4-0 at home early last month to set up their disappointing quarter-final defeat at Staveley Miners Welfare.

Arron Last scored first for the Saints against Blackstones with Will Fordham making it 2-0 from the penalty spot.

Ozie Foster scored the third before Washington struck twice to finish Blackstones off.

“It was very enjoyable to watch,” said Hall. “All 14 players were excellent.

“It was all the more pleasing because Blasckstones are a good side – it was like when we beat Gresley who were also a good side. It means more when you beat teams like that.”

So who’s next for the Saints? Holbeach on Wednsday night, that’s who ... but in the semi-finals of the United Counties League Cup.

Hall hopes to have striker Junior McDougald back for that one after an injury in the Vase game at Staveley – but Jeff Minton and George Tolliday are still injured.

“Our first priority is to finish third,” said Hall, “we have finished fifth before but never higher. If we finish third then the Hunts Senior Cup is our next objective.”

St Ives face Godmanchester Rovers in the final of that competition at The Hunts Post Community Stadium on May 4.