Wilson is Ives’ hero in a dull stalemate

SAM WILSON proved the St Ives hero after saving a penalty in his side’s draw with Stourbridge.

The Mansfield Town loanee leapt to his right to keep out Rob Thompson-Brown’s penalty on the hour as neither side could break the deadlock.

That incident, which saw Owen Wallis and Ollie Snaith bring down Brad Birch, was the main talking point from a game where the visitors enjoyed the majority of possession and bombarded the Ives box but found the hosts 18year-old centre back pair Jarvis Wilson and Sam Cartwright in uncompromising form.

The Glassboys did have the ball in the net in 25th minute when Aaron Hayden rose highest to force home a Thompson-Brown free kick at the back post but the referee’s whistle had blown.

Ives’ well organised back line ensured the visitors were generally restricted to long range efforts and keeper Wilson dealt well with these he was only tested once more nine minutes from time when he failed to hang onto a low drive from Kaiman Anderson, then reacting well to deny Darryl Westlake.

As the frustration began to show, Ives had one chance to nick all three points when substitute George Bailey sprinted away onto a flick only to be halted by an assistant’s flag.