A second half comeback saw the Bucks salvage a point at Westwood Road.

The first half started as a fairly even affair, but the Bucks were made to pay for an inability to deal with the Ives’ set pieces. Town took the lead in the 20th minutes when the Bucks switched off from a throw in in the corner that was turned back into the mix and went in off the unfortunate Jordan Piggott. And Ricky Marheineke’s side were two up in the 36th minute. Aaron Smith’s long throw caused chaos, and although Brandon Hall did well to divert the ball onto the bar, it fell for George Munday to tap home from close range.

After taking the lead, the Ives played with confidence and limited the Bucks to very little at all in the first half.

It was a different story after the break though, as Kevin Wilkin’s men made a fast start to the second period thanks to a rocket from Rhys Hilton in the 48th minute. The winger cut in from the right edge of the box and hit a fierce left-footed strike past Dan Wilks in the St Ives goal.

Hilton nearly repeated the trick moments later, but this time his effort crashed against the bar and was adjudged to not have crossed the line. The Bucks were on top, but still needed some heroics from Hall who made a superb save to keep the score at 2-1.

And Kevin Wilkin’s side were level in the 71st minute. Max Brogan showed some superb awareness to nip in and seize a loose ball on the left of the box, before picking out Jordan Cranston, who took a touch before blasting past Wilks at the near post.

Neither side could find a winner in the remaining time, and it finished 2-2. St Ives deserve credit for their first half performance and keeping Matty Stenson quite throughout, while Wilkin’s men will take heart from their comeback. A point was probably about right, and on another day the Bucks would view the result as a positive. Results elsewhere, though, mean that the Bucks lose a little ground in the title race.