March Town Ladies were 10 minutes away from victory before a late horror show cost them on their return from lockdown.

Having held a one-goal lead, March were made to pay, losing 4-3 to St Ives Town Ladies Development in the Cambridgeshire Women’s County League Premier Division on Sunday.

Player of the match Yazmin Holmes found Josie Turner with a defence-splitting pass to give the Hares an advantage, before Kelsey Ramm and Emma Searle netted.

It was not all one-way traffic as St Ives, who forced Hares ‘keeper Tori Sharpe into some fine saves, scored before a penalty made it 3-2 at half-time.

Eleanor Mcleish and Abby Grist went close for the hosts after the break, but a speculative effort from distance dipped over Sharpe to level the score.

A point looked likely, but a goalmouth scramble on 88 minutes earned St Ives the win.

Gary Davis, manager of March Town Ladies, said: “The commitment from the team was first-class and we played with team members in unorthodox positions, but the ladies gave it their all and caused a lot of problems for the league leaders.”

March, who sit eighth in the table, visit nearby Leverington Ladies on Sunday, January 3.