JEZ Hall has more than hinted that St Ives Town are missing former frontman Conor Washington after they drew 0-0 with Desborough Town on Saturday.

With so many games lost to the weather, the Saints now find themselves 17 points behind leaders Holbeach United in the chase for top spot in the United Counties League, and after the goalless draw, the joint manager told The Hunts Post: “We are missing the pace we had up front. We don’t really have that any more.

“We have always played with a big one and a fast one up front but now we are playing with a big one and a ball player. So we have a problem with our plan B.”

The shut-out was a bit curious considering it came four days after St Ives had beaten the very same team on the very same pitch but in the UCL Cup rather than the Premier Division.

The ‘big one’, Karl Gibbs, scored in that Tuesday night game with Jamie Alsop getting the second, and man of the match David Cobb getting the third and fourth goals late on.

Alsongside Gibbs for both games was Robbie Harris – the ‘ball player’ – but neither striker was able to find the net on what was again a sticky Westwood Road in the second game.

Will Fordham hit the bar with a header and Gibbs shinned a shot when the ball bobbled up as he was about pull the trigger. “We should have nicked it,” said Hall. “But for a mixture of reasons, it didn’t happen.”

This Saturday, the Saints are away ... at Holbeach!

St Ives: Nick Bennion, Jordan Lambert, Jamie Alsop, Dan Newman, Will Fordham, Jimmy Dean, David Cobb, Lee Ellison, Robbie Harris (Aaron Last), Karl Gibbs (Junior McDougald), Stuart Cobb (Jon Stead).