A second Brandon Njoku goal in two games wasn't enough for a wasteful St Ives, who were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against league newcomers AFC Sudbury.
The hosts will rue the plethora of chances that they failed to convert whilst also failing to capitalise when the visitors were reduced to 10 men after Josh Okpolokpo picked up a second yellow card 10 minutes from time.
Njoku took his opener well as he powered home Michael Richens' in-swinging free kick after 18 minutes in a first half ruled by the hosts.
FT: Finishes 1-1. Decent game. Could have gone either way, but both sides settle for a point each. Att: 255.
— St Ives Town FC (@stivestownfc) August 14, 2023
Njoku and Tyrone Baker both went close in the following six minutes, and after a goalmouth scramble, a second goal was denied by the crossbar and a header off the line.
With the clock ticking towards halftime, Sudbury won their first corner of the game, and Ives failed to spot Jake Turner ghosting in at the back post, and he buried his free header to level things up.
READ MORE: St Ives consigned to first opening day defeat in 10 years
The second half was a little more even, with both sides going in search of the winner and Sudbury coming close when Ollie Caley-Brown's effort almost deflected over Eddie Brearey in the Ives goal.
With the dismissal of Okpolokpo ten minutes from time, The 200-strong Ives supporters were all hoping for a grandstand finish, but it was not to come, and Sudbury saw out the remaining time to claim their hard-earned point.
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