Threemilestone were keen to get back to winning ways, following their midweek defeat but they knew that the game wouldn't be easy as visitors St Ives Mariners had already beaten them in the cup earlier in the season. Ian Jay continuing as temporary player manager in Phil Pascoes absence, made some positional changes to the team with Steve Howson coming into central midfield, Anthony Caddy pushing out to the right hand side with Tim Grose switching to the left.

The pre-match team talk called for the Stones to take the game to the visitors straight from the whistle and that's exactly what they did piling on the early pressure with some slick passing and close control in the gusting cross winds. The home side got the early breakthrough with Chris Bailey lashing in a close range effort following a goal mouth scramble, the lead was doubled minutes later when Dan Taylor found the back of the net and TMS finished off a solid first half performance when Anthony Caddy delivered a pin point corner to the edge of the eighteen yard box for Tim Grose to fire a shot goalwards only to have the lurking Bailey get a disputed touch and take the glory. The visitors had rarely threatened Pellows goal and on the few occasions they had the big keeper proved more than capable and with Howson, Bailey and the inspirational Phil Todd dominating the midfield TMS took a three goal advantage into the break.

The second half got underway and TMS continued to push forward at every opportunity and it paid off when man of the match Caddy found himself through on goal running in at pace from the right before calmly curling a shot around the covering defender and goalkeeper. St Ives then had their best passage of the game, and following some substitutions they pushed hard trying to break down the home sides defence. The Stones countered by switching to a four-four-two formation with Tim Grose dropping into defence, and the match was put to bed with a tap in for Mark Taylor following some good approach play from brother Dan. With the result secured the strikeforce was replaced for a well earned rest and TMS saw out the remainder of the game for a well deserved victory.

The Stones now go to Mount Ambrose in midweek before meeting St Ives again at the weekend where the Mariners will be a much tougher proposition on home soil.

Jeremy Hocking, Web Manager