UCL Premier Division St Neots Town 0 St Ives Town 1 MANAGER Jez Hall was understandably delighted as St Ives claimed local bragging rights with victory at their nearest rivals. A Paul De Luca goal after 35 minutes handed St Ives victory against their riva

UCL Premier Division

St Neots Town 0 St Ives Town 1

MANAGER Jez Hall was understandably delighted as St Ives claimed local bragging rights with victory at their nearest rivals.

A Paul De Luca goal after 35 minutes handed St Ives victory against their rivals from down the Ouse and effectively means Saints will finish the season as the top-finishing side in the district.

Hall said: "It was an excellent performance. We thoroughly deserved the win and it is very pleasing to virtually secure our position as the area's top side."

St Ives dominated the match for much of the first half but managed to keep the home side at bay after the interval when St Neots raised their game. A fine save by goalkeeper Rob Mackney late on ensured St Ives did the double over their rivals.

Saints are enjoying a good season in the cup competitions, with a place in the Hunts Senior Cup final already in the bag and two more semi-finals to come.

Peterborough League side Hampton Athletic will be the opposition in the Senior Cup, with the match taking place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7. The match will be played at Huntingdon Town's Jubilee Park with a 3pm kick-off.

Thursday April 26 sees Saints take on Wootton or Biggleswade in the Hinchingbrooke Cup semi-final at Westwood Road while May 1 is the date of the Premier Cup semi-final at Potton.

Hall said: "We have been delighted with our progress in the cup competitions this season and we are confident of being able to reach three finals.

"The cup runs have caused a lot of fixture congestion with matches on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday but it will be worth it if we make three finals."

Hall, joint manager of the side with Warren Everdell, admitted that Saints were unlikely to better last season's ninth-placed finishing position.

He said: "Newport Pagnell have picked up a couple of good wins that we didn't expect them to so it will be tough to catch them.

"We should have been looking at finishing sixth or seventh but we haven't scored enough goals so we are paying for that.