F.A. Vase
Round 5

St Ives Town  3    Needham Market  3

Saturday, 09 February 2008

A classic Vase tie saw the Saints earn a place in Monday's quarter final draw but they will view this as an opportunity missed after taking the lead three times against the Ridgeons League pacesetters.

Graeme Thackray gave St Ives the lead after just six minutes, firing home from 20 yards from a Simon Claridge pass but Needham Market were quick to respond with an eighth minute leveller from Jay Denniss who turned in a free kick at the far post.

With a quarter of an hour remaining Needham's James Evans failed to hit the target from a penalty after Nathan Szyszla was fouled.

An upset beckoned when Dan Moyes gave the Saints an 87th minute lead, converting a Claridge pass from the edge of the box, but the advantage again proved shortlived as Ben Wake levelled in the final minute from a scramble.

Extra time saw St Ives take the lead for a third time with a 104th minute Barry Albone effort after Claridge provided his third asist of the afternoon. They kept their noses in front for six minutes this time before Craig Parker's mazy run created Szyszla's goal and set up a replay in Suffolk.

Right at the death St Ives almost won it but Scott Fielding's volley was superbly turned away by Liam Jones in the Needham goal.