Ives v Leiston: Match Programme

The official matchday magazine for the home league clash against Leiston is now available to download. Inside our 41 page publication this week:

  • A match report from our last home game against Redditch
  • The latest round-up from around the league
  • A look back to last season when the Ives hit five against Leiston
  • And we introduce the latest new signings Coree Wilson and Amir Hadi

PLUS lots more. The link to download the match programme is HERE

Josh Allen signs for Ives

St Ives Town are delighted to announce the signing of Josh Allen. Josh is a centre forward, and arrives at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road from AFC Sudbury.

Josh, 20, started out at Luton Town as a youngster and was at Kenilworth Road for a total of 10 years. He first joined Sudbury on loan from the Hatters in February and scored eight goals between then and the end of the season as Sudbury avoided relegation on the last day of the campaign.

One of his last appearances for Sudbury was in a Suffolk Premier Cup tie where he scored a hat-trick against Hadleigh United. Josh will be available for selection for the Ives home game against Leiston tomorrow afternoon at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road.

Josh Allen in action during his Luton Town days. Picture: Luton Town FC

Three goals and three points for super Ives

Bedford Town 0 St Ives Town 3

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  09-11-2024

Nigel Howlett reports from the New Eyrie

Another thoroughly professional performance saw Ives claim all three points off the play-off chasing Eagles. Every player did their job to ensure a third clean sheet out of four tough games on the road but the real eye catcher was debutant striker Amir Hadi who proved a real handful for the Eagles back line the only blot on his copybook being a needless yellow card for pulling back Scott Thomas in midfield with plenty of cover in place to deal with the hosts attack.

The game started with the previously free scoring Eagles on the front foot. Leon Lobjoit blazed a fourth minute effort inches over from the corner of the box and it took a brilliantly timed recovery tackle from Benji Mensah to prevent the host’s skipper Ryan Blake getting a run on goal three minutes later.

Ives were coping well with this early pressure with the back three of Kymani Skyers, Jordan Williams and skipper Alex Collard well backed up by team mates ensuring that keeper Dan Wilks was not really troubled until 16th minute when he did well to cling onto a fierce drive from the edge of the box by Lobjoit. The chance arriving as the Eagles striker pounced on a wayward pass from Albie O’Keefe before powering forward.

Both sides had a long thrower in their armoury and the next two opportunities both came courtesy of the missiles that they were launching into the opposition box. Carl Mensah rose highest to get on the end of Sam Brown’s 23rd minute howitzer for the hosts. But the big man up from the back failed to direct his header on target.

Five minutes later it was Aaron Smith’s turn to hurl one in for Ives. Collard won the flick at the near post to present Williams with a chance that he really should have scored. Three yards out with only the keeper to beat, directing the ball left, or right of him would have seen the ball in the net but the big centre back’s header bounced away of the chest of a much relieved Nathan Macdonald who had made his first save of the game without really knowing a lot about it.

Just after the half hour it was Wilks turn to earn his corn as he pulled off a remarkable double save to preserve his clean sheet. Lobjoit got on the end of Kyle Connolly’s teasing free kick from the left and directed his close range header downwards only to be denied by the outstretched leg of Wilks. Carl Mensah pounced on the loose ball and lashed it goalwards but Ives custodian was equal to the effort plunging low to his right he not only saved but hung onto the effort.

Ives took the lead in composed style ten minutes before the break. Hadi did well initially to take down a long punt from Wilks and there followed a series of passes across the face of the Eagles box before Benji Mensah eventually laid it into the path of Will Glennon in a little space 25 yards from goal. That space was just enough to allow Ives powerful midfielder to look up and pick his spot curling the ball into the top corner just beyond the outstretching fingers of Macdonald who was perhaps a little slow to react.

Now with their noses in front it was Ives who started the second half on the front foot. Only three minutes after the restart Jernade Meade’s threaded through ball put Hadi clear to the bye line. His pull back ricocheted across the box before falling to Smith 16 yards out at the back post. But the wing back snatched at the chance firing well over the top.

But the all important second did arrive for Ives in 53rd minute. Wilks again played an important part in the goal. The keeper reacting brilliantly to keep out Ed Gyamfi’s powerful low drive from the edge of the box. From that save the ball was quickly channelled to the other end where half time substitute Peter Abimbola laid it into the feet of Hadi and his delicate clip over the top put Johnson Gyamfi clear. With defenders quickly closing him down the Ives midfielder still had a lot to do but he kept his cool and turned inside Carl Mensah before beating the exposed Macdonald low to his left from just inside the box.

Now two goals to the good the visitors were expecting to absorb a little more pressure and that did come with shots from Ed Gyamfi and substitute Albert Wood flying harmlessly across the face of Ives goal in a five minute spell just after the hour.

But as the hosts continued to press forward in search of a root back into the game it left them vulnerable to counter attacks from their pacy visitors. Substitute Coree Wilson should have made it three with ten minutes to go. Put clear by Abimbola he got his attempted clip past the fast advancing Macdonald just a little to close to the keeper who got just enough of a touch to divert the ball past the post.

Lobjoit was still looking the biggest threat for the Eagles and only ninety seconds later he forced another good save out of Wilks pouncing on a loose ball to fire in a rising drive from just outside the box that Ives custodian leapt high to his right to tip over.

But as time ticked down the hosts seemed to realise that it was not going to be their day and even the prospect of an added eight minutes did not seem to lift them. A frustrated Thomas took down Benji Mensah just outside the box in the first of those added minutes allowing quite a chunk of that time to be used up. Meade tried to curl the resulting free kick up and over the Eagles five man wall. The shot got over the wall comfortably but did not trouble Macdonald as it sailed over the crossbar.

However Macdonald quickly became a very troubled man three minutes later as under pressure from Wilson he made the huge error of handling Brown’s chipped back pass. Referee Neil Fyfield was right on the spot to see the mistake and was quick on the whistle. A whole lot more of those eight minutes was used up as the Eagles lined up their whole side on the goal line to try and keep out the indirect free kick from seven yards. They were unsuccessful as Meade tapped the ball sideways to Wilson who lashed it home as the crowd on the line broke up.

That goal perhaps not unsurprisingly prompted a mass exodus of home supporters from within the healthy crowd of over 800. It was the small contingent of travelling Ives fans who were left to celebrate this excellent victory with their heroes. The result knocks the Eagles out of the play off places and sees Ives move back into the top ten now only two points behind their hosts and four points off the top five.

Final Score:  Bedford Town   0   St Ives Town   3                Half Time 0 – 1

Goals:

ST IVES: Glennon 35, Gyamfi 53, Wilson 90+5

Team Line Ups:

BEDFORD: Macdonald, Odell-Bature (Soulya-Osekanongo 57), Brown, Thomas, C. Mensah, Green, Connolly (Wood 61), Simmons, E. Gyamfi (Hall 65), Lobjoit, Blake (capt), Unused subs: Dudley, Wilson-Braithwaite

ST IVES: Wilks, B. Mensah, Smith, Meade, Williams, Collard (capt), J. Gyamfi, Glennon, Hadi (Wilson 78), Skyers, O’Keefe (Abimbola 46) Unused subs: Creary, Adegbola, Obeng

Referee:  Neil Fyfield

Cards:  Yellow:  BEDFORD:  Connolly (51)     ST IVES: Hadi (61), Meade (80)       

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Amir Hadi

Attendance:  807

150 Club Winners

The latest draw of the St Ives Town 150 Club took place on Saturday at the game against Redditch United and the winners were:

1st: John Birt – wins £150.00

2nd: Mike Robinson – wins £100.00

3rd: Dave Finkle jnr – wins £50.00

The next draw will take place on Saturday 16 November following the Leiston game. There are still some numbers available and if you would like to take part, please contact Phil Moore: phil.moore01@btinternet.com

Updated fixture news

Supporters should note that the home Boxing Day clash against Royston Town has a new kick-off time. The clash with the Crows will now kick-off at 1:00pm at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road.

Elsewhere, the Ives have been drawn away to Eynesbury Rovers in the semi-finals of the Hunts Senior Cup. The match will take place at Hall Road on Tuesday 21 January 2025 with a 7:45pm kick-off.

Reserves lose out to Cottenham

St Ives Town Reserves were defeated by Cottenham United in their latest Cambs League Senior B clash on Saturday.

Despite the 4-2 away defeat, the result sees the reserves remain fourth in the table. The scorers for the Ives were Will Hutley and Jude Sedgwick.

The reserves are next in action on Saturday (9 November) when the Reserves host Over Sports Reserves at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road with a 3:00pm kick-off.

Below par Ives fall to Redditch defeat

St Ives Town 0 v Redditch United 3

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  02-11-2024

Nigel Howlett reports

The in-form Reds claimed their sixth win out of seven games on the road as they saw off a below par Ives with a burst of three well taken goals in a fifteen minute spell at the start of the second half. The win keeps the visitors in third place just one point off table toppers Kettering Town who were otherwise engaged taking down near neighbours Northampton Town in First Round Proper of FA Cup.

Ives welcomed new centre forward Coree Wilson but try as he might to impress on his debut the powerful striker was kept in check by Reds centre back pairing of George Burroughs and Kyle Rowley. The visitors took no prisoners all over the park giving Ives no time to settle at all and equally taking no chances at the back going long ball at every opportunity and then snapping in to pick up the pieces as they fell. Not the prettiest football to watch but very effective particularly away from home.

The visitor’s tactics were clear to see right from the off when keeper Callum Smith’s first punt of the afternoon on an almost windless day sailed through to his opposite number Dan Wilks. Wilks was the first keeper to be called into meaningful action in eighth minute when Johnny Johnston latched onto a knock down to send in a low drive from the edge of the box that Wilks held onto well low to his right.

Ives matched their opponents for hard work throughout the stop/start first half which was punctuated by 23 free kicks. One of those lead to Ives almost getting their noses in front in 19th minute. Amaru Kaunda was brought down Rowley 25 yards from goal on the right side of the box. Will Glennon struck the free kick which ricocheted off the Reds defensive wall straight to the feet of Jernade Meade inside the D. His first time effort was not struck cleanly but it found a way through the crowded box and was destined for the bottom corner of the net before Smith pulled off the save of the game hurling himself full length to his right to tip the effort around the post.

Yet another of those many free kicks before the break lead to the visitor’s best chance in 24th minute. George Atwal’s deep delivery from the left picked out Burroughs who had crept around the back. The big centre back’s header down landed at the feet of Jaiden White eight yards out and the Reds number eleven should have done better but he failed to make a clean contact and presented Wilks with a comfortable save.

Three minutes later Ives best move of the game carved out their best chance of the afternoon. Meade’s excellent cross field ball picked out Benji Mensah in space on the right. His first time ball into the box fed into the well timed run of Kaunda. The striker just beat Smith to the ball and managed to lift it over the spreading keeper but just past the post.

Ives had one more opportunity ten minutes before the break as Kaunda picked up a ball forty yards from goal in a central position but with Wilson to his left waiting for the ball to play him in the youngster tried to go for glory and let fly a shot from 20 yards that clattered off a defender straight into the waiting hands of Smith.

This was one game where both sides needed to be on their A game throughout to get a result but sadly Ives spent the first fifteen minutes after the break in a torpor and were duly punished by their very hard working opponents. The opener came only ninety seconds after the restart when Ethan Creary misjudged a long ball and Johnston latched onto it in a flash bursting clear to finish well past the exposed Wilks.

Only six minutes later the visitors made it two. A pacy run from White down the right saw him burst past David Adegbola and deliver a low cross to the near post where Billy Shaw got across his man to thump home from close range.

The frustrations were showing for Ives and Glennon was perhaps a little fortunate to only pick up a yellow card as he lunged in on Brad Burton right in front of referee Zachary Cunningham. Those frustrations were added to just after the hour as Adegbola took down Shaw just outside the box on the right allowing White to claim the goal of the day accolade as he whipped the resulting free kick around Ives four man wall and into the top corner just out of reach of the fingers of the diving Wilks.

Ives manager Ricky Marheineke made the decisive move of throwing skipper Alex Collard up front with 17 minutes to go to give the Reds centre back pairing a new challenge. Collard did manage to win a few flicks against his rugged opponents, but no one managed to latch onto them.

The hosts only real chance of a consolation did not arrive until the 89th minute when substitute Aaron Smith delivered a perfect teasing cross from the left that arrived at the feet of Collard by the penalty spot but as he went for the ball the Ives skipper somehow managed to get tangled up with his team mate Jordan Williams the end result being that neither player managed to get a shot away.

The result sees Ives drop one place to mid table eleventh. The worry may be that lapse which allowed the Reds to take the game away from them. No longer the free scoring side of last season they now find themselves a side who must ensure that they keep their concentration throughout to prevent their opposition scoring to ensure that a single goal can glean full reward. Next chance to get back on track is next Saturday when they make the short trip to face the divisions leading scorers fifth placed Bedford Town at the Eyrie.  

Final Score:  St Ives Town   0   Redditch United   3          Half Time  0 – 0

Goals:

ST IVES:

REDDITCH: Johnston 47, Shaw 53, White 61

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Wilks, Creary (Skyers 73), Adegbola (Smith 62), Meade, Williams, Collard (capt), Gyamfi (Abimbola 46), Glennon, Wilson, Kaunda, Mensah, Unused subs: Hottor

REDDITCH: Smith, Burton, Atwal, Burroughs (Fitzgerald 88), Rowley (capt), Dawkins, Onabirekhanlen (Cameron 77), Shaw, Ram, White (Leydon 81), Johnston (Davidson-Miller 73), Unused subs: Flanagan

Referee:  Zachary Cunningham

Cards:  Yellow:  ST IVES: Meade (28), Glennon (56)        REDDITCH:   none    

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Jernade Meade

Attendance:  335

Match Programme: Ives v Redditch

Our official matchday magazine for the home clash with Redditch this afternoon is now available to read. Inside our 45 page publication this week.

  • A report of our 0-0 draw with Sudbury last week
  • We take a look at the latest news from around the league
  • A look back at when the Ives secured a memorable 2-0 victory over our opponents last season
  • And our popular matchday quiz, Ten to Tackle returns for another week

PLUS lots more. It’s FREE to download and the link is HERE

Coree Wilson signs for Ives

St Ives Town Football Club have today completed the signing of striker Coree Wilson.

Coree joins from Hitchin Town where he has been a regular for the Canaries this season, scoring six goals in all competitions including a brace in a 2-2 against Royston.

Prior to joining Hitchin, he played for Biggleswade United where he was a prolific striker, scoring over 30 goals last season which saw him collect both the Managers and Players Player of the Year awards.

Coree will be available for selection for the home league against Redditch United on Saturday afternoon.

Coree Wilson in action for Hitchin this season (photo credit Hitchin Town FC)

Five star Ives make cup progress

Huntingdon Town 1 v St Ives Town 5

Huntingdonshire FA Senior Cup – Quarter Final  29-10-2024

Nigel Howlett reports from Jubilee Park

Four goals in eight minutes late in the first half saw Ives canter into the semi-finals of the Huntingdonshire FA Senior Cup for another year. The disappointment, and something for gallant step six strugglers Huntingdon to celebrate, will be the lapse in concentration late on which let Raj Badiani in to score the first goal that the all conquering visitors have conceded in the competition in six years.

It is always hard to motivate a side for a game where on paper they are expected to win by a cricket score and sure enough Ives started slowly with Dan Wilks being forced into an excellent save to prevent the visitors going in front after nine minutes. Kass Rajani and Ahri Chaddah combined well down the left before the latter picked out Ian King with a cross field ball. King’s clip to the back post was met on the volley by Marley Manser who was only denied by a brilliant reaction save from Wilks.

Will Glennon came within inches of putting Ives ahead in their first real attack four minutes later. Johnson Gyamfi danced down the right and delivered a cross into the mix that was only half cleared to Glennon on the edge. His careful curler looked destined for the top corner but struck the underside of the crossbar and was hacked away. The resulting throw in was hurled into the mix by Aaron Smith and bounced up for Kymani Skyers to get a header on target that was headed off the line by Ben Burton.

Ives then went into a period where they enjoyed a large percentage of the possession but were being kept at bay by the hard working Hunters. But as the half wore on the visitors began to wear down their opponents and chances began to appear. Amaru Kaunda was proving a handful for the hosts back line and in 26th minute he managed to get away down the left. His ball into the centre found the feet of Silvano Obeng who unselfishly knocked it on to David Adegbola arriving at the back post but the angle was to narrow and his first time effort was deflected into the side netting.

The opening goal arrived six minutes later when Aaron Smith was given acres of space on the left. He took his time and served up a delightful chip to the back post that Kaunda cleverly headed back across the exposed keeper Oliver Steinke to find the back of the net. After defending so well for the opening half hour conceding one goal suddenly seemed to open the flood gates. Kaunda should have made it two only sixty seconds later fed through by a precise pass from Ethan Cleary he turned back inside before guiding his shot past keeper Steinke but just the wrong side of the post.

The second goal arrived in 36th minute when Kaunda was again fed through and this time rounded Steinke before keeping his cool and picking out Glennon arriving in the centre. The bustling midfielder made no mistake prodding home from close range. Number three arrived only 50 seconds later as Adegbola burst down the right before picking out Glennon again arriving in the centre. His header was on target but keeper Steinke looked like he had it covered until defender Dylan Hughes intervened to direct the ball in the opposite corner of the net.

Obeng should have made it four, three minutes later as Smith served up the opportunity on a plate for the big man. Again left in acres of space on the left edge of the box the wing back picked out the unmarked Obeng at the back post. But the big striker failed to get over his header and directed the ball over the top from eight yards. By this time though chances were coming like buses and Obeng made up for his miss only seconds later. Adegbola cut out a poor pass out of defence and got away down the right again. His pull back found Glennon on the edge of the box. The midfielders low drive was turned home at close range by a relieved Obeng.

There were still more opportunities to add to the score before the break. Kaunda had a goal bound effort headed off the line by Jay Taylor and Adegbola had a close range shot turned away by the diving Steinke.

The question at half time was would Ives really put their foot down and try to crush their gallant opponents or would they ease off the gas and coast through the second half. They certainly started well lead by Kaunda who was still searching for more goals. Peter Abimbola fed him through on the right two minutes after the restart and the lively strikers pull back picked out half time substitute Benji Mensah on the edge of the box. But the young wing back’s shot was well held by Steinke.

Kaunda’s next effort stunned everyone as he conjured up a rocket from absolutely nothing. Side stepping on the left corner of the box he let fly a fierce effort that flew past the startled Steinke and rattled first crossbar and then post before rebounding away. A double opportunity fell to Kaunda in 51st minute. Put clear by Glennon his initial shot was blocked by Steinke with the rebound going back to the feet of the lively striker but this time he snatched at the chance from a narrow angle and fired over.

In a rare sortie for the Hunters Manser spurned a good chance for the hosts firing wide after being put through by King in 53rd minute. Back up the other end and it was Gyamfi’s chance to shine as twice in succession he danced his way past defenders to the edge of the hosts box. First time in 62nd minute he saw his curling effort pushed away at full stretch by Steinke. Seven minutes later he repeated the run but this time slid the ball into the feet of Kaunda who skilfully flicked it past the exposed Steinke to increase the advantage to five.

Gyamfi again failed to hit the target from a good position, firing well over from 20 yards having exchanged passes with Glennon with fifteen minutes to go. Then came the lapse in concentration to let the Hunters grab a consolation goal. Substitute Badiani found space in the centre to pick up a loose ball and punish Ives beating the exposed Wilks from just outside the box.

That was never going to be more than a consolation but it lifted the hosts and Badiani was again involved six minutes later when Chaddah tested Wilks at his near post with a powerful low drive that the keeper did well to cling onto.

There was a final chance for Ives to add a sixth with five minutes to go but they were denied by a brilliant double save from Steinke. The keeper initially dived low to his right to keep out a well struck shot from the edge by Kaunda. Mensah pounced on the loose ball and looked like he must score by Steinke recovered quickly to dive in and bravely block at the youngster’s feet. The ball again rebounded into play and Glennon fired in another follow up that deflected wide off the covering Taylor.

Overall job done with some players who have been on the fringes of the side or working their way back in after injury getting good game time. Newcomer Glennon getting a further chance to integrate into the side and youngsters Jamari Hart and Jacob Dickson making their first team debuts as second half substitutes. Ives will take their place in the semi-final draw alongside St Neots Town, Eynesbury Rovers and Eaton Socon and will once again be the team that the others want to avoid.

Final Score:  Huntingdon Town   1   St Ives Town   5              Half Time  0 – 4

Goals:

HUNTINGDON: Badiani 77

ST IVES: Kaunda 32, 69, Glennon 36, Hughes (own goal) 37, Obeng 40

Team Line Ups:

HUNTINGDON: Steinke, Hughes (Greviskis 66), Burton, Taylor, Chaddah, Quintero, Morton (Hutt 86), King (capt), Rajani, Manser (Badiani 69), Mendy (Allen 63), Unused subs: none

ST IVES: Wilks, Creary (Hart 69), Smith, Skyers, Williams (capt), Gyamfi (Dickson 75), Abimbola, Glennon, Obeng, Kaunda, Adegbola (Mensah 46), Unused subs: Collard, Meade

Referee:  Ryan Andrews

Cards:  Yellow:  HUNTINGDON: Burton (45)      ST IVES: none       

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Amaru Kaunda

Attendance:  83

Tuesday night: Hunts Senior Cup action

A reminder that St Ives Town begin their defence of the Hunts Senior Cup on Tuesday night (29 October) as they make the trip to Huntingdon Town for a quarter final fixture.

The Ives won the competition last season courtesy of a 2-0 win against Godmanchester Rovers. Their campaign saw them beat Eaton Socon and Eynesbury Rovers en-route to the final.

The other quarter final action this midweek sees Eynesbury host Godmanchester and Yaxley entertain St Neots. Eaton Socon have received a bye.

Kick-off on Tuesday evening at Jubilee Park is at 7:45pm.

Reserves exit Percy Oldham cup

St Ives Town reserves are out of the Percy Oldham Cup after they lost 1-0 at Sawston United yesterday.

The Ives, who won the competition in 2023, had their task hampered when they were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Adrian Hemmings. Ultimately it was the strike from Joe Norton-Palmer for Sawston that separated the two sides and it was the hosts who progress through to the next round.

The reserves are next in action on Saturday (2 November) when they resume their league campaign with a trip to Cottenham United. Kick-off at the King George V Playing Fields in Cottenham is at 2:00pm.

Stalemate at Sudbury

AFC Sudbury 0 St Ives Town 0

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  26-10-2024

Nigel Howlett reports from the MEL Stadium

A point a piece can be considered a fair return for both sides from this competitive encounter where both defences ruled the roost. Each side enjoyed their periods on top Ives shading the first 45 minutes and the Suds just edging the second. The hosts can take satisfaction from extending their unbeaten home run in the League this season and the visitors similar satisfaction in becoming the first side to prevent the previously free scoring Suds from finding the net in a league fixture at the MEL Group Stadium.

The Ives welcomed new signing Will Glennon into the centre of midfield where his physical presence and leadership qualities gave a much more solid look to the line up and it was the visitors who started by taking the game to their hosts. The game was less than two minutes old when Greg Kaziboni put David Adegbola away down the left. The youngster got to the bye line but was unable to find a team mate with his pull back.

The closest that the visitors came to finding the net was only two minutes later and it took a brilliant goal line clearance from Matty Miles to prevent Adegbola opening the scoring. Gennon won the ball in midfield before putting the lively Kaziboni away down the right. He hung up one of his trademark teasing crosses to the back post where Adegbola got the touch to force the ball past keeper James Bradbrook. The ball looked goal bound only for Miles to miraculously get around behind his keeper to hook it off the line. Appeals that it had crossed the line before the defender’s boot hacked it out were quickly waved away by a well positioned assistant referee.

Ives continued to press for the opener and it took a brave save from Bradbrook to maintain the parity in 14th minute. Ethan Creary’s long throw from the right was knocked down in the box by Glennon and Jordan Williams looked like he was going to latch onto it only to be denied by Bradbrook diving in to claim the ball at his feet.

Amaru Kaunda was next to go close for the visitors two minutes later. Kaziboni again being the provider dancing down the right before picking out the Cambridge United loanee in space ten yards from goal. A repeat of Kaunda’s spectacular opener against Biggleswade looked on the cards but this time the youngster failed to make clean contact and his first time volley flew over the top.

Kaziboni continued to torment the Suds defenders and he was chopped down 25 yards from goal by Ollie Peters to win Ives a free kick in a dangerous spot in 26th minute. With Jonny Edwards now departed to pastures new who was going to get free kick duty around the box. Johnson Gyamfi took the responsibility but failed to beat the hosts four man wall with his low effort.

Having weathered Ives early efforts the hosts slowly began to work their way into the game creating a couple of chances of their own in the ten minutes before half time. Dan Wilks in the Ives goal had to get down smartly to his left to keep out Joe Neal’s crisp low drive from 20 yards in 36th minute and three minutes later Ryan Henshaw got on the end of Peters free kick from the right but directed his near post diving header over the top.

The Suds came out at the start of the second period looking to continue where they had ended the first and the first half chance nine minutes after the re-start fell to Neal who curled his 25 yard effort about a metre wide of Wilks left hand post with the keeper confidently covering the shot.

Ives only half chance in the early period of the second half was 58th minute effort from Alex Collard as a Jernade Meade free kick from half way dropped to the feet of the skipper just outside the box but his well struck effort flew over the crossbar with keeper Bradbrook looking on.

Wilks was called into meaningful action again on the hour when substitute Simeon Jackson out muscled Benji Mensah to create himself a shooting opportunity on the left edge of the box. But Wilks was equal to the effort leaping high to his left to fingertip the ball around the post.

Jordan Williams had been outstanding throughout in Ives back line and his fantastic 66th minute block to deny Neal ensured that he was going to get the man of the match award from the travelling faithful. Ex Ives man Myles Cowling was the provider bursting forward into Ives backline before slipping the perfect ball into the well timed run of Neal who looked like he was clear with only Wilks to beat but Williams had other ideas and somehow managed to recover his position to make a sliding block as Neal tried to flick his shot past the keeper.

The pattern of the game in the first half had seen Ives on top until the last ten minutes when the hosts enjoyed a good spell. The pattern of the second half was almost a complete reverse of this as the half wore on Ives began to enjoy a little more possession in the oppositions final third. With fifteen minutes to go the hard working Gyamfi did well to rob a dallying Henshaw deep inside his own half. The speedy winger picked out Meade in a little space 25 yards out with his pull back. The silky midfielder took a touch and unleashed a fierce drive that was to hot for Bradbrook to hang onto but the keeper recovered quickly to pounce on the loose ball before Kaunda could prod it home.

Meade was involved at the other end of the park two minutes later when he upended Josh Allen just outside the box on the left. Wilks set up a four man wall and was happy enough to watch Peters free kick sail over the wall and inches over the crossbar.

It took a brilliant diving stop from Bradbrook to prevent Kaunda from claiming all three points for the visitors eight minutes from time. The youngster received the ball 25 yards from goal in a central position and looked like he had got it stuck under his feet. Somehow, with virtually no back lift he managed to unleash a screamer that was destined for the top corner before the flying Suds stopper leapt across to palm it away.

Both sides continued to look for a clincher in the remaining time but equally both were very aware that they had no intention of giving away the point that they had fought so hard to get. In the end a fair result that keeps both sides in middle of the table positions in the amazingly tight table.

As the travellers Ives will probably feel happier of the two sides at the shared return which is their first league draw of a season that is now one third of the way through. The lads from Cambridgeshire can be equally pleased with their four point return from a group of three tough away games in a row. After a midweek trip to Huntingdon Town for a County Cup tie they can look forward to welcoming the team with the best away record in the division, fourth placed Redditch United to quattro tech Westwood Road next Saturday.

Final Score:  AFC Sudbury   0   St Ives Town    0   

Team Line Ups:

SUDBURY: Bradbrook, Henshaw, Dickens, Miles, Peters, Neal (capt), Cowling, Page (Jackson 26), Pearce, Bradley (Isaacson 69), Allen, Unused subs: Lewis, Terminello, Goode

ST IVES: Wilks, Creary, Kaziboni (Abimbola 74), Meade, Williams, Collard (capt), Gyamfi (Obeng 90), Adegbola, Glennon, Kaunda, Mensah, Unused subs: Casey, Smith, Skyers,

Referee:  Charlie Roberts

Cards:  Yellow:  SUDBURY:  Henshaw (71), Peters (90+4)       ST IVES: Kaziboni (70)       

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Jordan Williams

Attendance:  311

Squad update

St Ives Town manager Ricky Marheineke has added to his first team squad by signing Will Glennon.

Will is a 21 year old centre back, and joins the Ives from Stamford. He started his career in the academy at AFC Rushden & Diamonds before moving to Bugbrooke St Michael to gain experience. He returned to Diamonds in March 2023 before making the move to the Zeeco Stadium to join Stamford. He has been a regular in the Daniels squad and will be available for the game today at AFC Sudbury.

Moving from the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road is Johnny Herd. Johnny joins Isthmian League Division One North outfit, Mildenhall Town on dual registration. The move will see Johnny get regular first team football but can be recalled to the Ives squad at any time.

Ives fall to narrow Stamford defeat

Stamford 2 St Ives Town 1

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  22-10-2024

Nigel Howlett reports from the Zeeco Stadium

Ives battled hard and matched the high flying Daniels for long periods of this game but failure to take their chances and a slow start to each half ultimately cost them all three points at the Zeeco Stadium.

The visitors were caught cold inside ninety seconds as Tobias Liversidge got down the left and delivered a low cross to the near post where the lurking Richard Gergory got across his marker to thump the ball home from close range.

Ives first half chance arrived with their first corner of the game five minutes later as Jernade Meade’s flag kick was knocked down to Albie O’Keefe on the edge of the box. His attempted shot ricocheted to Alex Collard ten yards from goal but the Ives skipper’s first time effort was blocked by the body of a Daniels defender.

The game continued in open fashion with both sides trading blows. Liversidge was again involved in creating another opportunity of the hosts in 13th minute when he combined well with Lee Shaw down the left with the latter’s low, driven, cross just evading Gregory sliding in at the back post.

Back up the other end three minutes later Ives had a shout for a penalty turned down by referee Tom Bingley. Collard rose highest to flick on Aaron Smith’s long throw at the near post and the ball fell to the feet of Amaru Kaunda inside the six yard box but with his back to goal. As the youngster tried to turn to get his shot away he went down under challenge from James Blunden but the well positioned Mr Bingley waved the appeals away.

Dan Wilks in Ives goal was forced into his first real save of the night in 27th minute when Tendai Chitiza threaded a ball through into the run of Robert Morgan. The Daniels skipper let fly from the edge of the box but Wilks was equal to the effort and held on well. Only sixty seconds later and it was Ives who spurned two good opportunities to get level in the same attack. Initially the ball arrived at the feet of Silvano Obeng just inside the box but he took a touch to many and his shot was blocked away by a covering defender, the ball rebounded to Kaunda by the penalty spot. This time it was keeper Tom Jackson who was bravely off his line to smother the young striker’s attempt at point blank range.

The game then descended into a midfield battle with neither side able to create another real opportunity until the last minute of the half when full back Charlie Marzano combined well with Chitiza down the right before the winger picked out Gregory on the edge of the box. But the Daniels centre forward again failed to find a way past the well positioned Wilks.

As in the first half Ives were again slow out of the traps at the start of the second period and almost gave away a second goal only two and half minutes after the restart. A ball over the top was taken down inside the box by Gregory who went down under challenge from Smith. Referee Bingley initially saw no problem with the tackle and gave a goal kick. But he was summoned over by his flag waving assistant on the far side. A discussion of almost two minutes followed between the two officials before Mr Bingley allowed himself to be overruled by his assistant and awarded the spot kick. However the long wait perhaps proved a little to much of Daniels skipper Morgan who saw his kick saved by the diving Wilks.

But having survived that massive scare courtesy of an excellent save from their keeper the sleepwalking Ives still proceeded to ship a second only moments later with Chitiza sprinting away down the right before picking out Gregory with his precise low cross. This time the centre forward made a complete hash of his shot getting it so wrong that the ball rolled on across the box to the unmarked full back Bill Bennett who made no mistake beating the exposed Wilks from 10 yards.

But going two behind seemed to wake Ives from their slumbers again and Kaunda won them a free kick in a dangerous position two minutes later. The tricky Ives striker got the better of Jordon Cooke on the right hand corner of the box forcing the centre back to bring him down. Meade seemed to get caught in two minds with the resulting free kick and ended up curling it straight into the hands of keeper Jackson.

Back up the other end Shaw pulled another excellent save out of Wilks on the hour forcing the keeper to leap high to his left to hang onto a curled effort from 25 yards. That proved to be the hosts last real opportunity of the night as they decided to sit back a little to preserve their advantage allowing Ives to push forward and the visitors did not need a second invitation. Manager Ricky Marheineke took the opportunity to introduce his trump cards from the bench bringing on the pace of Benji Mensah, trickery of Johnson Gyamfi and guile of Greg Kaziboni replacing Smith, Peter Abimbola and Obeng respectively.

Those three started to create inroads into the otherwise resolute Daniels back line. The first chance to pull a goal back following their introduction came in 77th minute as Mensah fed Gyamfi in down the right. Gyamfi’s pull back picked out Paddy Casey arriving in space at the back of the box but the defender snatched at the chance and fired well over from 20 yards.

The threat down the right also included David Adegbola and six minutes later it was he who fed in Mensah to the bye line. The young substitute carefully lifted the ball over keeper Jackson to try and pick out Gyamfi arriving at the back post. But under pressure from Marzano and the recovering keeper Gyamfi was unable to hit the target from a narrow angle. But Ives did finally pull one back four minutes from time as Gyamfi got his first for the club. Mensah fed him in through the right channel and his first time effort from ten yards found its was through keeper Jackson’s legs and into the back of the net.

Eight added minutes went up on the board to give Ives hope and they pushed hard for an equaliser but the experience in the hosts side showed through as they turned down opportunities to break away in favour of running down the clock by taking the ball to the corner flag. One last opportunity to make them pay did come Ives way in the final added minute but with Wilks up to add his height to the threat substitute Evan Watkins flag kick was well claimed by keeper Jackson.

The result sees the Daniels move up to second only one point behind league leaders Kettering while the Ives slip a place to tenth in a crazily compact table where only seven points separates the sides in the play off places from the relegation spots. A trip to fellow mid table side AFC Sudbury awaits Ives on Saturday.

Final Score:  Stamford   2    St Ives Town   1                Half Time  1 – 0

Goals:

STAMFORD: Gregory 2, Bennett 55

ST IVES: Gyamfi 86

Team Line Ups:

STAMFORD: Jackson, Marzano, Bennett (Hobbins 71), Offler, Cooke, Blunden, Chitiza, Morgan (capt), Gregory (Challinor 69), Shaw, Liversidge (Frew 88), Unused subs: Redfern, Butterfill

ST IVES: Wilks, Creary, Smith (Mensah 76), Meade (Watkins 85), Casey, Collard (capt), Abimbola (Gyamfi 67), O’Keefe (Skyers 58), Obeng (Kaziboni 67), Kaunda, Adegbola, Unused subs: none

Referee:  Thomas Bingley

Cards:  Yellow:  STAMFORD:   none            ST IVES:  none       

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Dan Wilks

Attendance:  326

Reserves hit Fordham for six

St Ives Town Reserves have moved up to fourth in the Cambs League Senior B Division as they recorded a 6-2 victory over Fordham.

The star of the show was Alfie Shepherd who bagged a hat-trick. There was also a brace for James Webb and Evan Watkins also got on the scoresheet. The Ives are level on points with third place Thurlow who are both two points behind second place Hartford Rangers. Sawston United are top and they will be the next opponents for the Reserves, albeit in the Percy Oldham Cup next Saturday afternoon, 26 October. The match is at Sawston, and will take place at Spicers Sports Ground at 3:00pm.

Kaziboni grabs the points as Ives move up to ninth

Alvechurch 0 v St Ives Town 1

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  19-10-2024

Nigel Howlett reports from Lye Meadow

A near perfect away performance with everyone doing their job to at least a 7/10 ensured Ives took all three points back to Cambridgeshire. The thing that made this result all the more remarkable was that it was achieved without inspiration skipper Alex Collard who missed the game having picked up a knock in Monday evening’s victory over Biggleswade. The man who came in to replace Collard was the ever reliable unsung hero Paddy Casey who fully deserved his man of the match accolade from the small group of travelling Ives fans. Church supporters will say that the game hinged on the sending off of midfielder Joe Willis who picked up two yellow cards from referee Alex Rolfe inside three minutes. Truth is that Ives had repelled everything that their hosts had thrown at them with a full compliment on the pitch and should have been in front long before substitute Greg Kaziboni grabbed the winner twelve minutes from time.

Apart from Collard’s replacement by Casey the only other changes to the starting line up for Ives was the return from international duty of Jernade Meade who came into his usual role with Montserrat at left wing back where he replaced Aaron Smith and Silvano Obeng coming back in at centre forward for Greg Kaziboni who dropped to the bench. The hosts coming off the back of an excellent away point at much fancied Telford made only one change with Sam Perry coming in for Dylan Allen-Hadley who dropped to the bench.

The game started in brilliant sunshine, but on the first soft pitch of the season after heavy overnight rain in the West Midlands. It was the hosts who were first out of the traps with the speedy Ammar Dyer getting outside Benji Mensah down the left in fourth minute and drilling in a low cross shot that was to hot for Dan Wilks to handle but Williams was on hand to hack the ball away before Tyrone Barnett could pounce. Wilks was called into action again four minutes later and this time did very well to hang onto Barnett’s crisp low drive from 15 yards after the big striker latched onto Callum Sullivan’s cross from the right.

Ives first half chance of the game came only ninety seconds later as Meade curled in an inviting free kick from the right that home keeper Ronnie Hollingshead only just managed to touch away from Williams arriving at the back post. The game then descended into a midfield battle with neither side able to create another decent opportunity for the next twenty minutes. But just before the half hour Mensah served up a little bit of brilliance to set up a golden opportunity for Amaru Kaunda to put Ives ahead. The tricky wing back jinked his way into the box going past a couple of defenders to get to the bye line. His attempted cross took a deflection and looped over Hollingshead. Kaunda arriving at the back post unmarked only had to bundle the ball over the line but he chose to try and chest it home and somehow lifted it onto the crossbar from point blank range.

Mensah continued to be in the game at both ends of the park. Kieran Wakefield managed to get the better of him just outside the box in 32nd minute before unleashing a fierce rising drive from the corner of the box that a well positioned Wilks plucked out of the air. Two minutes later at the other end of the park Mensah continued to cause problems for the hosts back line curling in a teasing cross from the right that picked out Kaunda by the penalty spot but the striker failed to keep down his first time volley.

The final opportunity of the first period six minutes before the break saw the same two players combine again with Mensah again getting deep into Church territory before delivering a cross into the centre that just evaded the stretching home skipper Krystian Pearce to get to Kaunda again arriving at the back post. But the young striker had to stretch to get to it and again was unable to keep his volley down.

The Church made a change at half time replacing Sullivan with Allen-Hadley in midfield and it was the hosts that made the best start after the break. Ethan Creary picked up one of six yellow cards for Ives players dished out by referee Rolfe in 54th minute as he pulled back the tricky Dyer. Omari Sterling-James took the resulting free kick and got it up and down over Ives wall but Wilks was perfectly positioned to take the ball into his midriff.

Wilks and Williams then combined to almost gift Church a goal on the hour. Wilks played the ball out to Williams in a central position on the edge of the box but he was instantly pressed by Barnett and his hurried sideways pass to try and find Casey was cut out by Perry. Wilks rescued the situation with an excellent diving save to keep out the midfielder’s powerful drive. Wilks was called into even more spectacular action two minutes later as an intricate Church move ended with Sterling-James feeding the ball into the run of Wakefield who saw his thumping drive from just inside the box turned around the post by the diving Wilks.

With Ives well and truly under the cosh manager Ricky Marheineke knew that he needed to change things to get back control of the game and a triple substitution followed in 66th minute with Johnson Gyamfi, Obeng and Mensah being replaced by David Adegbola, Peter Abimbola and Kaziboni respectively.

Before those changes even had time to bed in there followed a bizarre moment as Kymani Skyers slid into Perry. Referee Rolfe was immediately on hand to quickly issue a yellow card, equally quicky following it with a red. The official seemingly mistaking Skyers for Creary who he had earlier booked. Unlike at Worksop the pleas from Ives players for the referee to take time, have a more careful look at the numbers on the back of Ives black and white shirts and change his decision were listened to and he reverted the decision back to the original yellow card for Skyers. This decision so incensed Willis that he proceeded to berate Mr Rolfe sufficiently to talk himself into a yellow card as well.

That unnecessary yellow for Willis proved very costly for Church only three minutes later when the same player clattered into Albie O’Keefe. To remain consistent with all that he had done up to that point referee Rolfe had to pull out the yellow card and this time it was correctly followed by the red. All this meant that within three minutes Ives had gone from looking like being down to ten men themselves to now finding themselves up against ten men.

In the past Ives have struggled to break down teams that go down to ten but manager Marheineke remained on top of things quickly replacing the tiring Skyers with Smith to reduce the chances of the referee looking to even things up. With Adegbola and Kaziboni now operating in tandem down the right the visitors began to carve out opportunities to win the game. A 75th minute swift interchange of passes between the pair saw the latter feed in Abimbola to the bye line. It took a full length diving touch from Hollingshead to prevent Kaunda getting on the end of his low cross.

The only goal of the game arrived through that right hand channel three minutes later Adegbola ran clear onto Creary’s through ball. He hesitated half expecting the flag to go up with appeals coming from the Church defenders. But the assistant kept his flag down and the young midfielder went on before picking out Kaziboni ten yards out with his pull back. The Ives substitute did not hit his shot cleanly but he got enough on it to beat Hollingshead and go in off the inside of the post.

Two late substitutions by the hosts did not bring them any real hope of a route back into the game as Ives continued to move the ball around well effectively managing the remaining time. Even an added seven minutes did not cause any concern and when the whistle finally went everyone in the squad can congratulate themselves on a very professional performance and the second league win on the road in a row.

The result sees Ives leapfrog the Church into ninth only three points off the play-off places with at least one game in hand on most of the teams above them. The second of three tough away trips in a row comes up on Tuesday as the Ives visit Stamford before a trip to AFC Sudbury next Saturday.

Final Score:  Alvechurch   0    St Ives Town    1               Half Time  0 – 0

Goals:

ALVECHURCH:

ST IVES: Kaziboni 78

Team Line Ups:

ALVECHURCH: Hollingshead, Perry, Pearce (capt), Solademi, Willis, Dyer, Sullivan (Allen-Hadley 46, Batchelor 82), Wakefield (Shaw 82), Barnett, Crowther, Sterling-James, Unused subs: Sephton, Peets-Fearon

ST IVES: Wilks, Creary, Meade, Skyers (Smith 74), Williams (capt), Casey, Gyamfi (Adegbola 66), O’Keefe (Hottor 88), Obeng (Abimbola 66), Kaunda, Mensah (Kaziboni 66), Unused subs: none

Referee:  Alex Rolfe

Cards:   Red:  ALVECHURCH: Willis (2 x Yellow) (67) & (70)

              Yellow:  ALVECHURCH: Wakefield (41), Barnett (45)       ST IVES: Williams (28), Gyamfi (47), Creary (54), O’Keefe (56), Skyers (67), Meade (90+2)        

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Paddy Casey

Attendance: 350

St Ives U12s Winter Trials!

Our U12 side are looking for new players for the remainder of the season.

Full trial details can be found below:

Thursday 21st of November

Sign-in: 4:30pm

Trial time: 5:00 – 6:00pm

Location: Quattro-Tech Westwood Road

Successful players will be brought back for team training in the weeks after on an extended 3-week trial basis.

To register your interest in the upcoming trials, email Anthony at: stivesyouth@gmail.com

Ives announce fantastic new partnership with Autoglazing Ltd!

The club are very excited and proud to announce a fantastic new partnership deal with Autoglazing Ltd of Huntingdon as our main Everdell Stand sponsor. Autoglazing are a hugely respected business with a brilliant reputation which has been built up over many decades. 

They provide a complete windsreen replacement and repair service for all vehicle types from family saloon cars to lorries, to buses, to agricultural vehicles, to public utility vehicles. Autoglazing are part of a UK wide windscreen service, approved by all UK insurers, can normally offer same day fitting and technicians can visit the customer any time by prior arrangement.

Mark Taylor SITFC Commercial Director commented; ‘This is brilliant news for the club to have another fantastic local company supporting it and helps massively to cement it’s continued growth and development. The new signage on the stand is first class and really adds to the professional look of the ground.’

Andy Hodge Autoglazing Owner and Managing Director stated; “We are very proud of our new partnership deal with St. Ives Town F.C. and we look forward to a successful working relationship in the future.”

Kaunda nets super strike as Ives get the win

St Ives Town 2 v Biggleswade Town 1   

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  14-10-2024

Nigel Howlett Reports

A battling rearguard action gleaned ten man Ives maximum reward from a game in which they spent most of the second half well and truly under the cosh from a lively Waders who belied their struggling league position to put on a show that they will be hugely disappointed earned them nothing.

Manager Ricky Marheineke made four changes from the side that were unlucky to lose to Barwell only 48 hours earlier. Aaron Smith returned from suspension at left wing back in place of Paddy Casey. Greg Kaziboni made a rare starting appearance up front in place of Silvano Obeng and there were two changes in midfield with Benji Mensah coming in for David Adegbola and a surprise return to the club for new signing Kymani Skyers who replaced the unavailable Ed Hottor.

Having survived an early Waders free kick from the left edge of the box after seven minutes Ives proceeded to get their noses in front in spectacular fashion in their very first attack two minutes later. Fancy footwork from Kaziboni saw him dance past two defenders down the left. He delivered an inviting cross that dropped by the penalty spot where Amaru Kaunda met it with a flying volley that arrowed past the startled Jack Berman in the visitor’s goal and found the bottom corner of the net.

Theo Ofori was looking like a threat down the right for the Waders with his pace and trickery and the first of his many dangerous runs at Ives back line in 18th minute saw him cut inside to create some space before firing an effort just wide of Dan Wilks left hand upright with the keeper scrambling across to cover.

The Waders wasted another good opportunity six minutes later as they broke away from an Ives long throw at pace. Obi Onyeagwara robbed Johnson Gyamfi deep inside his own half and fed the ball into the run of Ed Panter who sprinted from half way to the edge of the box only to hammer his effort well over the top as Wilks came to meet him. Onyeagwara was next to have a go for the Waders as he fired a 25 yard screamer over the top in 26th minute.

The hosts then doubled their lead in fortunate style just after the half hour. The chance arising as Kaunda showed a spring in his heels to outjump the much taller Waders skipper Charlie Briggs and flick on Ethan Creary’s ball down the right. Mensah looked to be bursting clear onto his flick only to be pulled back by Callum Wilson. Kaziboni delivered an in-swinging free kick into the danger zone between keeper and defenders. It was missed by everyone at the near post and dropped into the crowd arriving at the back post where it deflected home off the boot of Skyers giving Berman no chance.

The visitors reacted well to going two behind and three minutes later Ofori again showed his threat worming his way through three defenders to get into the box. But fortunately for Ives his right foot effort from just inside the box lacked power allowing Wilks to make a comfortable save. But the visitors were not to be denied for long and they reduced the arrears three minutes before the break. Skipper Alex Collard lost possession to Cyrus Babaie just outside the box and was forced to bring the powerful striker down. Ives put up a five man wall but the Waders clever free kick routine caught them out as Ofori’s free kick was fed back to Panter and his low shot took a wicked deflection off the breaking wall to find the bottom corner past the unsighted Wilks.

There was still time before the break for Ofori to cause more trouble as he robbed Jordan Williams deep in Ives territory forcing the hosts centre back to haul him down leaving the referee little choice but to book him. Fortunately the resulting free kick came to nothing

Now with their tails up the visitors came at the Ives from the off in the second period. Three minutes after the restart Onyeagwara went close with a 25 yard effort that forced Wilks into a diving save high to his left. Wilks was forced into more action in 64th minute. An excellent cross field ball from Babaie picked out Ofori in space on the right. He again cut inside and tested Wilks with a fierce, low, drive that the well positioned keeper did well to cling onto at the second attempt.

By this time Ofori was proving a real handful down the right and with Smith at times lacking support to keep him at bay a potential equaliser looking in the offing every time the speedy winger got the ball. Three minutes after his previous effort Ofori again got the better of Smith to cut inside and unleash another low drive that the diving Wilks was forced to palm around the post.

The pressure on Ives back line continued to grow with Ofori at the heart of everything that the Waders were throwing at their hosts. He had two attempts at Ives goal in less than sixty seconds in 76th minute. Initially doing his trademark step inside onto his left foot before firing a low drive from the edge of the box that deflected wide off a covering defender. The resulting corner was taken short and fed back to him allowing him to fire a rising drive over the top from the right hand corner of the box.

As the clock continued to tick down manager Marheineke was using all of the cards at his disposal to shore up the Ives back line. The visitors continued to pour forward but with skipper Collard organising the defence and his colleagues all coming up to the plate and putting their bodies on the line to block away shots and crosses the unlikely began to seem more possible. Full back Luke Pyman was thrown forward and missed an excellent opportunity with three minutes to go when a Liam Andrews long throw from the right got through to him at the back post but he fired his first time shot straight at Wilks who was delighted to cling onto it.

Ives task got even harder in 89th minute when Williams took down Babaie clumsily just outside the right hand edge of the box to earn his second yellow card of the night. The resulting free kick came to nothing and Ives supporters were relieved to see only four added minutes go up on the board. Those four minutes seemed like an age to some, but the Waders were starting to run out of steam and the time was seen out without any major scares to enable Ives to claim maximum reward from what proved to be a very tough game.

With their next three league games all on the road against teams in the top ten this was a vital win for Ives who will not be back in action at quattro tech Westwood Road until 2nd November.

Final Score:  St Ives Town   2   Biggleswade Town  1        Half Time  2 – 1

Goals:

ST IVES: Kaunda 9, Skyers 32

BIGGLESWADE: Panter 43

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Wilks, Creary, Smith, Skyers, Williams, Collard (capt), Gyamfi (Abimbola 68), O’Keefe (Herd 76), Kaziboni (Obeng 54), Kaunda (Casey 89), Mensah (Adegbola 83), Unused subs: none

BIGGLESWADE: Berman, Pyman (Starszewski 89), Wilson, Andrews, Briggs (capt), Doherty, Ofori, Ibrahim (Yamfam 73), Panter (Gouldbourne 73), Babaie, Onyeagwara, Unused subs: Matyar,

Referee:  Oliver Sadd

Cards:   Red: ST IVES: Williams (2x yellow) (45) & (89)

              Yellow:  ST IVES:  Collard (42), Kaziboni (49), Creary (59)      BIGGLESWADE: Wilson (31), Ibrahim (63)         

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Kymani Skyers

Attendance:  251