St Ives out of Hinchingbrooke Cup

Monday 21 April

Hinchingbrooke Cup

St Ives Town 1 Blackstones 2 (AET)

A HEARTBREAKING smash-and-grab raid by Blackstones on Monday night left cup holders St Ives Town boss Jez Hall deflated.

"We can't believe it," the joint-manager said. "The lads are gutted because we had enough chances to win by three or four goals."

The defeat saw last season's treble-winners Saints lose in a local cup competition for the first time in two seasons.

The deadlock was broken by St Ives when Lloyd Howard netted on 57 minutes but the batteries ran out two minutes from time when Blackstones scored to send the match into extra time.

The home side could have done without the burden of another 30 minutes and eventually had to accept defeat when the visitors grabbed the winner six minutes from time.

The game was St Ives' fourth in eight days, following on from a 2-1 league defeat at home to Bourne, 4-0 Hunts Premier Cup win at Wootton and 1-1 draw at Cogenhoe on Saturday.

At Cogenhoe, a bullet header from a home defender had given the Saints the lead after five minutes but the Cooks snatched a point eight minutes from time.

St Ives made the semi-finals of the Hunts Premier on Thursday with a 4-0 win at Wootton thanks to two from Barry Albone and one each for Will Fordham and Scott Fielding.

The Tuesday night game against relegation candidates Bourne certainly didn't go to form as the Wakes raced into a two goal lead at Westwood Road.

Rob Mackney kept the score down when he produced a great save early in the second half and Ives found the net when Liam Kennett converted a spot kick after Jamie Blackwell had been upended by the Bourne keeper.

On Wednesday, St Ives visit Sleaford and the following game is on Monday night (April 28) when Huntingdonshire rivals St Neots Town are the visitors.