UCL Premier DivisionRaunds Town 2 St Ives Town 2SAINTS got off to a flying start against lowly Raunds and led by two goals after only 18 minutes. After a great midweek win over high-flying Wellingborough Jez Hall and Warren Everdall s men were looking

UCL Premier Division

Raunds Town 2 St Ives Town 2

SAINTS got off to a flying start against lowly Raunds and led by two goals after only 18 minutes.

After a great midweek win over high-flying Wellingborough Jez Hall and Warren Everdall's men were looking to re-establish a serious challenge at the top of the Premier League even though the title seems destined to go to runaway leaders Stotfold.

Saints started positively and dominated the early exchanges. A couple of half chances yielded nothing before Hall's men took a deserved lead on 17 minutes when captain Will Fordham was coolly headed home as the Raunds defence left the door open.

One quickly became two within 60 seconds as the home defence had gone missing again and Barry Albone made the most of time and space to fire home.

Both teams had chances before the break but St Ives seemed to be in control and looked in little trouble as the half time whistle blew.

Raunds approached the second half with more purpose and took the game to the visitors who were happy to soak up anything that was thrown at them.

The surprise was that they allowed Raunds debutant Cavell Jarvis to reduce the arrears with a debut goal five minutes into the second half and Danny Frid to snatch an equaliser much against the run of play twenty minutes from time.

Hall said: "We had enough chances in the second half to put the points in the bag - on another day we would have left with a four or five goal win but it was Raunds' day."

The draw came on the back of a fine win at Wellingborough in midweek where Fordham's penalty and goals from Lloyd Howard and Dan Newman sealed a 3-1 win.

n St Ives welcome Stotfold on Saturday and go to Deeping Rangers on Tuesday.