Hunts Senior Cup Final St Ives 3 AFC Fletton 0 ST IVES finally got their reward for their gruelling fixture build-up as they claimed the Hunts Senior Cup for the second time in three years on Monday. A clever tactical performance gave Saints victory over

Hunts Senior Cup Final

St Ives 3 AFC Fletton 0

ST IVES finally got their reward for their gruelling fixture build-up as they claimed the Hunts Senior Cup for the second time in three years on Monday.

A clever tactical performance gave Saints victory over AFC Fletton in difficult conditions at Yaxley. Playing the first half against the strong wind, St Ives concentrated on keeping the first half tight on the bumpy pitch, and managed to restrict Fletton's chances before the break.

"The conditions were horrible, so we knew we had to keep it tight in the first half against the wind, and we sat a little deeper than we normally would," said co-manager Warren Everdell. "In the second half, we had most of the possession, and we managed to get the goals we deserved."

In the first half St Ives went close through Tim Quy, and Will Fordham sent a free kick just over the bar, with Saints goalkeeper Rob Mackney only called into action once, when he tipped over a Joe Duffy free kick. St Ives nearly took the lead before half-time when Barry Albone sent his shot over the bar following a corner.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Saints piled forward in search of a goal but found Tim Hudson in inspired form in the Fletton goal. First he denied Albone, then Liam Kennett, on as a substitute for the injured Scott Fielding, before Fordham saw his clever back-header cleared off the line. In between spells of Saints pressure, Fletton also had a chance to score, but Mackney was alert to the danger, and parried well from a Gareth Sanderson shot.

Saints regrouped and finally made the breakthrough when another Albone shot was parried by the goalkeeper, and Ozie Foster finished from close range. Saints defended soundly after taking the lead, and only scored their second with a minute of normal time remaining, when Liam Kennett slotted home from the edge of the area. There was still time for late substitute Connor Washington to win a penalty, which Will Fordham despatched to complete the scoring.

Saints have the chance to win two more cups this season, starting with the Premier Cup semi-final against Langford at Westwood Road on Friday night. They should be strengthened by the return of Nana Appieh-Adjei, and Scott Fielding may also be ready.

"We've certainly got the squad to do it," said Everdell. "The lads are buzzing after the win on Monday, and the spirit in the squad is great at the moment, so now it's down to us."

UCL Premier Division

St Ives Town 1 Blackstones 1

St Ives Town finished the season in sixth place in the UCL Premier Division after a draw at home to mid-table Blackstones on Saturday.

The result came off the back of three consecutive wins for Saints, but few could blame them for having one eye on Monday's Hunts Senior Cup Final against AFC Fletton.

Saints took the lead just seconds before half-time when teenager Arron Mackay latched onto a Scott Fielding throughball to score. Blackstones drew level after 62 minutes when Jon Stead fired in a free kick.