ST IVES Town claimed an opening-day win for the first time in six years with victory at Holbeach.

UCL Premier Division

Holbeach United 0

St Ives Town 1

ST IVES Town claimed an opening-day win for the first time in six years with victory at Holbeach.

A single goal from new signing David Cobb was good enough to secure all three points from a tricky fixture for the Saints.

The home side fielded former Aston Villa and Leicester City player Julian Joachim, and despite late pressure on the Saints, he and his team-mates could not prevent the Saints taking the win.

Co-manager Jez Hall said: “We should have had the game won in the first 25 minutes, because we had so many chances. We didn’t manage to put them away though, and so we had a scary five minutes at the end where they threw four men up front and had their fans behind them.

“But we got through it and it feels great to have got off to a winning start for the first time since we’ve been in the UCL Premier.”

Saints got out of the traps quickly, testing Holbeach keeper Sam Cole twice in the early stages, but Saints debutant goalkeeper Jamie Chamberlain also had to produce an excellent close-range save.

The deadlock was broken when Scott Fielding advanced down the right, and released Cobb. He broke through the defence to sidefoot home past Cole.

Two late injuries to Cobb and Ellison took the sheen off a good afternoon for the Saints, and as they struggled to reorganise Holbeach turned up the pressure.

Though Holbeach huffed and puffed, they could not break down the Ives defence, which held on to secure the points.

Saints face Cogenhoe United in the FA Cup at Westwood Road on Saturday at 3pm.

Hall added: “We usually get a good turn-out for the FA Cup at St Ives, so we’re hoping the fans will be getting behind us in numbers again this week.”