UCL Premier Division Desborough Town 2 St Ives Town 1 BELEAGUERED St Ives slid to a narrow defeat at fellow high-fliers Desborough as any faint promotion hopes were all-but extinguished. By next Wednesday St Ives will have played 10 games in the space of

UCL Premier Division

Desborough Town 2 St Ives Town 1

BELEAGUERED St Ives slid to a narrow defeat at fellow high-fliers Desborough as any faint promotion hopes were all-but extinguished.

By next Wednesday St Ives will have played 10 games in the space of 23 days as they play catch-up from their successful FA Vase run.

On Saturday, Chris Logan gave Desborough a first-half lead with a scrappy effort from a corner but Liam Kennett replied for the visitors shortly after half-time.

Jamie Gilsenan won the game for the hosts with a 56th-minute effort from 30 yards.

Last week saw St Ives slide to a 4-2 home defeat by Deeping Rangers on Tuesday, with Jamie Blackwell's double strike not enough.

Saints then hosted Biggleswade in the quarter finals of the Hinchingbrooke Cup on Thursday, coming out 3-0 winners.

Will Fordham netted from the spot on the half-time whistle, Scott Fielding added the second with a smart finish before Kennett rounded the game off near the end.

Joint-manager Jez Hall said his side's fixture list was causing his side severe difficulties. "It is too much," he said. "We lost 10 Saturdays during our FA Vase run and we have been playing catch-up ever since. The league needs to look at the situation and consider playing more games earlier in the season.

"We put in a really good performance at Desborough but we paid for not taking our chances - they had two shots and scored twice.

"We were extremely frustrated after the game because we were still in with a shot at promotion but now we will be looking to finish fifth and win the three cups we are still involved with."

- Next up on St Ives' hectic schedule is a Hunts Premier Cup game at Wootton on Thursday, UCL trip to Cogenhoe on Saturday, Hinchingbrooke Cup semi-final at home to Blackstones on Monday and a trip to Sleaford next Wednesday.