ON Tuesday night Jez Hall and Warren Everdell’s prolific St Ives Town beat Boston Town 4-2 in their fourth United Counties League Premier Division game of the season to go two points clear at the top of the table with maximum points from their four games.

Newport Pagnell Town, Deeping Rangers, Spalding United and Cogenhoe United make up the chasing pack with all four of those clubs on 10 points from three wins and a draw. St Ives have scored 18 goals in the league this season and have conceded just five.

Even without star striker Conor Washington, who was withdrawn from the starting line up for the after twisting an ankle in the warm up, St Ives brushed aside Boston as they once again proved they are the UCL Premier Division team to beat this season.

Washington had scored seven goals in the three previous games before pulling up hurt on Tuesday - but St Ives are strong all over the park and defender Will Fordham scored the first goal before striker Karl Gibbs notched up his sixth of the campaign in the 25th minute. Boston’s Oli Stead scored an own goal in the 55th minute to make it 3-0.

Still, there was a few nervy moments in the second half, Matt Barber’s tap in made it 3-1 before the visitors missed a penalty. Boston’s Sam Kirton made it 3-2 with 15 minutes remaining.

However, Saints goalkeeper Nick Berrion made an excellent point blank save before substitute Scott Fielding finished off a pass from new signing Ben Walshe from close range deep in injury time for 4-2.

“It was a bit hairy at the end,” said Hall. “But we did enough to hold on.

“Conor was injured in the warm-up but he’ll be alright for Saturday - he would have got a few tonight against their slow defenders.

“The result carries on the run...”

Last Saturday’s 3-1 defeat of pre-season favourites Spalding Town had already lifted the club to the top of the table on goal difference. In that game Washington opened the scoring on 17 minutes with a deflected shot that flew past the goalkeeper Lee Drury.

The Saints were 2-0 up just two minutes later when Jon Stead scored from the penalty spot after winger David Cobb had been felled in the area.

The Tulips could have made it 2-1 on the stroke of half-time but Scott Musgrove pulled his shot wide after St Ives goalkeeper Nick Berrion, making his debut, fumbled a high ball.

However, just 60 seconds into the second half, Franny Green scored his fourth UCL goal of the season to give the Tulips some hope.

It didn’t last. Washington made it 3-1 in the 60th minute and St Ives looked comfortable after that.

This Saturday they face Stewarts & Lloyds at Westwood Road.

Meanwhile, Junior McDougald has suffered a set back as he tries to regain his fitness in order to play a part in the campaign. The former Football League striker, 37, pulled a hamstring after making two substitute appearances and will now miss another couple of weeks at the very least.

St Ives v Boston Town: Nick Berrion, Jordan Lambert, Jamie Alsop, Dan Newman, Will Fordham, Jimmy Dean (Ben Walshe), David Cobb, Lee Ellison, Stuart Cobb, Karl Gibbs (Scott Fielding), Jon Stead.

St Ives v Spalding Town: Nick Berrion, Jordan Lambert, Jamie Alsop, Dan Newman, Will Fordham, Lee Ellison, Jimmy Dean, Jon Stead (Scott Everdell), David Cobb, Conor Washington (Scott Fielding), Karl Gibbs (Junior McDougald).