Halesowen Town 1 v St Ives Town  0

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  24-08-2024

Nigel Howlett reports from The Grove

Keeper Dan Wilks was again in imperious form and his efforts and the teams battling display deserved more but for the second successive away game in a row Ives found themselves beaten by a single goal that once more took a huge deflection on its way past Wilks.

Having suffered a heavy defeat in their previous home game the Yeltz supporters were going to be looking for a big reaction from their players. But Ives knew that if they could get their noses in front the vocal home support could quickly heap pressure on their own team.

With Alex Collard and Jordan Nicholson both absent there were first Ives starts for Ethan Cleary and Kobe Chong respectively. Following their home defeat last time out Yeltz manager Russ Penn had also been quick to bolster his squad and they had ex Gloucester City and Banbury United midfielder Josh Smile making his debut for them.

The first half chance of the game fell to Ives skipper Jonny Edwards who was fed in through the right channel by the lively Chong. But the big centre forward was quickly closed down by his opposite number Ryan Wynter and could only find the side netting with his 12^th minute effort from 15 yards.

The hosts first effort at goal came from Kieren Donnelly only moments later as the tricky number ten bustled his way into the heart of Ives defence but fired well over from 25 yards. Wilks had his first bit of action five minutes later when he comfortably held a Conor Tee effort from 25 yards.

It was not all one way though and Ives worked themselves another shooting opportunity halfway through the first period as Chong combined well with Paddy Casey down the right to work their way into the box but Casey’s eventual effort from a good position was miss hit and bobbled into the hands of keeper Dan Platt.

Wilks first big save came in 33^rd minute as he hurled himself full length to his left to tip around Donnelly’s flick to Tee’s in swinging free kick from the left. But from this point the hosts enjoyed a purple patch up to half time. A 36^th minute flowing move down Yeltz right involving Jak Hickman and Todd Parker ended with the former picking out Tee just outside the box. But his strike lacked conviction allowing Wilks to make a comfortable save.

Ives keeper denied the hosts again three minutes before the interval. Hickman fed in Donnelly down the right and the speedy striker got around the outside of Aaron Smith before laying the ball back to Tee just inside the box, Creary reacted quickly to make a vital block. But the ball was only half cleared and fed back in to Tee who again tested Wilks with a crisp shot that the keeper got down smartly to his left to save.

In a repeat of the first half the initial chance after the break fell to Edwards only three minutes after the restart. Theo Alexandrou did well to get down the right and delivered a teasing cross to the near post where Edwards got in front of keeper Platt but could only steer his header wide of the post.

Wilks was called into more action only moments later as Josh Smile combined well with half time substitute Reece Mitchell to get down the left. Mitchell’s clip inside found Tee but Wilks was again equal to the effort palming over the midfielder’s power strike.

The only goal of the game came in 51^st minute as Ives struggled to clear a ball down the right. Donnelly pounced on it and ran into the box going down under challenge from Smith. Referee Elliott Kaye waved away the Yeltz shouts for a penalty but the ball ran on to Tee whose first time effort from ten yards struck a defender and looped over Wilks into the net despite the keeper’s desperate attempts to recover and claw it away.

Getting their noses in front lifted the boisterous home crowd to spur on their charges further and Ives came under a period of home pressure. A poor defensive header from Creary almost gifted Tee a second in 56^th minute but again Wilks was equal to the effort clinging on to powerful drive from 20 yards.

Wilks was still keeping Ives in the game and he again did well to keep out Ben Cassidy’s clever header just before the hour. The host’s number eleven got on the end of Tee’s deep cross from the left and tried to steer his header over Wilks but the big custodian was again equal to the effort quickly back peddling to tip the ball over the top. Ives had a big let off from the resulting corner as Ryan Woollacott ghosted in unmarked at the back post but steered his free header wide from eight yards.

But Ives steadied the ship and as the clock ticked down they finally began to carve out some chances to grab something from the game. Edwards 77^th minute challenge on Wynter as the pair battled to get on the end of a Wilks punt saw the ball drop to the feet of Peter Abimbola just outside the hosts box. The all action midfielder had time to take a touch but then snatched at the opportunity and fired well over the bar.

Four minutes later substitute Silvano Obeng slid a ball through to Edwards who again failed to hit the target from the edge of the box. Back up the other end Wilks performed more heroics in 83^rd minute. Nat Kelly got on the end of another Tee free kick at close range but Wilks reacted brilliantly to dive to his left and keep the ball out with Casey scrambling the loose ball clear.

It looked like Donnelly was going to kill the game as he was put clear in 87^th minute but a brilliant recovery tackle by substitute David Adegbola robbed the tricky striker just as he was about to shoot.

The final action of the game saw Edwards come within millimetres of grabbing Ives a point. Put through by Alexandrou in third of four added minutes he beat the keeper with his clip but saw the ball bobble agonisingly wide of the post. It could have been worse as the linesman’s flag had gone up so had it gone in the “goal” would have been chalked off anyway.

Another tough defeat to take on the road but once more Ives have travelled to a team who will be fancied to challenge for a play off place this season and matched them for long periods of the game. With a little change in fortune these are the sort of games where a point, or even more reward is well within their grasp. They will get a quick opportunity to get the result out of their system in only 48 hours time as they host Spalding United at quattro tech Westwood Road on August Bank holiday Monday.

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

Goals:

HALESOWEN: Tee 51

ST IVES:

Team Line Ups:

HALESOWEN: Platt, Hickman (Mitchell 46), Kelly, Smile (Holmes 86), Wynter (capt), Woollacott, Parker, Tee, Yussuf (Boothe 90), Donnelly, Cassidy, Unused subs: Postle, Lokeba

ST IVES: Wilks, Meade (Hottor 86), Smith (Lawrence 61), Herd (Kaziboni 86), Williams, Creary, Alexandrou (Obenga 89), Abimbola, Edwards (capt), Chong (Adegbola 66), Casey, Unused subs: none

Referee:  Elliott Kaye

Cards:   Yellow:  HALESOWEN:  Parker (81), Donnelly (85)            ST IVES:  none          

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Dan Wilks

Attendance:  749

Relive the late drama of the Ives superb win over Banbury United at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road on Saturday afternoon. Jonny Edwards scored his first goals of the season as the Ives secured a 2-1 victory. A reminder that you can also subscribe to the club YouTube channel.

Watch the post-match interview with Ives boss Ricky Marheineke as his side beat Banbury United 2-1 courtesy of two late goals from Jonny Edwards. The win moved the Ives up to sixth in the embryonic Southern League Premier Division Central table.

St Ives Town 2 v Banbury United  1 

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  17-08-2024

Nigel Howlett reports

A late brace opened Jonny Edwards account for the season and claimed Ives second home victory of the week. The success over pre-season favourites to win this division was entirely down to the hard work and camaraderie within this side but they can all thank goalkeeper Dan Wilks for an amazing double save six minutes from time that proved to be the catalyst for Edwards late heroics.

With Paddy Casey coming through a late fitness test prior to kick off manager Ricky Marheineke had the rare luxury of being able to name an unchanged starting eleven. There was more good news pre-kick off with summer signing Byron Lawrence recovered sufficiently from the injury picked up pre-season to take his place on the bench with youngster Evan Watkins making way.

With both teams fired up from Monday night victories over Lowestoft and Barwell respectively the crowd were expecting plenty of entertainment to add to the suntans that they were getting on another gloriously August day. Ives were first out of the traps and Peter Abimbola went close in the second minute. Jordan Nicholson showed good pace down the right before feeding inside to Abimbola who stung the fingers of Puritans keeper Jack Harding with a fierce rising drive that the keeper turned around his near post.

The visitors first opportunity materialised in eleventh minute as AJ George robbed Johnny Herd in centre of the park before putting Keon Lewis-Burgess away down the left. His low cross picked out Dylan Reason at the near post but the Puritans centre forward steered his first time effort wide.

The two sides continued to work very hard but both defences remained on top with chances few and far between at both ends of the park. Theo Alexandrou was trying hard to create something as he constantly probed the visitors back line. Tia Fleming was generally dealing well with the young wide man’s runs but he was caught out in 27^th minute and was forced to bring down Alexandrou to concede a free kick wide left. Herd delivered it to the near post where Edwards got in front of his man but he got to much on the header and powered it well wide.

Casey was working well to support Nicholson and Abimbola on the right and he managed to win the ball high up the park to set up a shooting opportunity for Nicholson in 32^nd minute. But Ives number ten curled his effort a metre wide from the corner of the box.

The first real save for Wilks came only moments later when Jernade Meade was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the D. George Ball fired the free kick low around Ives five man wall but Wilks was equal to it diving to his left and holding on well as attackers closed in on him.

The final opening of the first half also went the way of the visitors four minutes before the break when Ball played in Dylan Reason. But the Puritans striker had started his run just to soon and much to Ives relief the flag went up.

So ended a first half which had it been a boxing match Ives would have edged on points but in football parity remained. The visitors were first out of the blocks at the start of the second half and carved out an opportunity only a couple of minutes after the restart. George combined well with Reason down the left working a shooting chance that the former curled wide from just outside the box.

Ives first half chance after the break came four minutes later as patient build up down the left saw Meade thread a ball through to Alexandrou. The youngster drilled his low cross but Harding was equal to it plunging bravely in to claim it on his six yard line just ahead of Edwards arriving in the centre.

Manager Ricky Marheineke went to his bench early as he made a double change in 56^th minute. Jordan Williams had tweaked his groin and was replaced by Ethan Creary with the tiring Nicholson replaced by the exciting talent of Kobe Chong.

Chong had made an instant impact off the bench on Monday and he almost did it again as only four minutes after his introduction he combined well with Edwards to get the striker to the bye line. But Harding was again equal to the cross leaping high to his right to claim the ball off the head of Alexandrou.

A similar move in 74^th minute saw Chong combine with Abimbola. This time his inviting low cross to the centre evaded all and was just begging for someone to arrive and fire it home but no one appeared allowing the defence to scramble the ball away. Ives continued to probe and all action Abimbola was again involved in 81^st minute. This time he picked out Edwards in the centre with his cross from the right. But the big centre forward was stretching and could only direct his header from six yards over the top.

It was beginning to look like the game was destined to end goalless but then the action really ramped up with six minutes to go. First to star for Ives was Wilks as he made a fantastic double save, initially denying George at close range then doing even better to recover his position and bravely block the same players follow up attempt at point blank range.

Almost immediately play swung to the other end where a brief period of Ives pressure ended up with Edwards opening the scoring. Abimbola was once again the provider and this time Edwards was in the perfect place to thump home his low cross from close range.

Falling behind forced the Puritans hand and as they threw players forward they left themselves vulnerable at the back. Two minutes after the opener Alexandrou put Edwards clear cutting in from the left. The big striker very cleverly diverted his path to go across the desperate covering attempt from Yaw Ofosu forcing the visitors skipper to clumsily take him down just inside the box giving referee Mario Stetakovic a simple decision to make. Coolness personified Edwards picked himself up and calmly sent Harding the wrong way from the spot.

It looked like Ives were very cleverly playing out the added seven minutes to claim an excellent three points and a clean sheet into the bargain only for them to lose concentration in the last of those added minutes and allow their visitors a consolation goal. Harry Reilly delivered a low cross from the right into the feet of George who found room inside the box to turn and fire high past keeper Wilks from 15 yards.

The second win in a week moves Ives up to sixth in the embryonic early season table and the games come thick and fast at this time of year. Next weekend sees a Saturday trip to Halesowen Town which is quickly followed by a Bank Holiday Monday home fixture at quattro tech Westwood Road against Spalding United.

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

Goals:

ST IVES: Edwards 85, 88 (pen)

BANBURY: George 90+7

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Wilks, Meade, Smith, Herd (Hottor 89), Williams (Creary 56), Collard (capt), Alexandrou (Obeng 90+2), Abimbola (Lawrence 89), Edwards, Nicholson (Chong 56), Casey, Unused subs: none

BANBURY: Harding, Reilly, Okito (M. Donaldson 64), Fleming, Ofosu, Jones, Lewis-Burgess (C. Donaldson 86), Hollyhead (Dias 74), Reason (Westwood 64), George, Ball, Unused subs: Ferguson

Referee:  Mario Stetakovic

Cards:   Yellow:  ST IVES:  Edwards (37), Meade (52), Alexandrou (55), Collard (83)    BANBURY: Fleming (27), Lewis-Burgess (55), Ofosu (88)

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Peter Abimbola

Attendance:  274

Get set for our home league match against Banbury United by reading our online match programme.

Inside our 38 page publication this week:

A review of the Ives first win of the season against Lowestoft on Monday night
We take a look around the league and review the early games of the season
We go into the archives and take a look at when the two teams met in season 2019/20
And our popular matchday quiz returns with 10 questions about Premier League grounds.

PLUS much more. You can download your free copy HERE

St Ives Town 3 v Lowestoft Town 1 

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  12-08-2024

Nigel Howlett Reports

Ives claimed their first victory of the season at quattro tech Westwood Road with an emphatic win against an inexperienced Trawlerboys side. Without the heroics of their keeper Luke Holt the visitors would have headed back to the Suffolk coast on the wrong end of a real spanking but the agile stopper and at times a lack of composure in front of goal from Ives ensured that the winning margin was kept to two.

Holt started his heroics as early as the fifth minute hurling himself full length to his left to palm around Alex Collard’s fierce drive from the edge of the box after an early Johnny Herd free kick had been half cleared to the big man. Collard also managed to get his head to the resulting corner but his downward header into the mix was scrambled away before Jonny Edwards could pounce.

Theo Alexandrou should have put the Ives in front in 16^th minute as he ran clear onto Collard’s clip over the top. The young strikers calmly rolled the ball past the advancing Holt but agonisingly it rolled inches wide of the post.

Ives continued to press and it took a stretching clearance for Josh Hazell to just prevent Jordan Nicholson getting on the end of Aaron Smith’s driven cross from the left two minutes later. The opening goal came in bizarre fashion only seconds later as Smith hurled in one of his trademark long throws from the left. Trawlerboys skipper Travis Cole rose highest in the crowd but completely misjudged his attempted clearing header instead flicking the ball into the roof of his own net past the bemused Holt.

Ives continued to sweep forward in waves and Peter Abimbola should have doubled the advantage in 23^rd minute. Jernade Meade fed a teasing ball in from the left and as Edwards and Cole came together and went down in a heap the loose ball popped up to Abimbola just inside the box. He went for placement and carefully side footed the ball past the exposed Holt but just the wrong side of the post.

The black and white tide continued to flow towards the visitor’s goal and Edwards went close again in 27^th minute as he got across in front of his man at the near post but could only succeed in directing Alexandrou’s low cross wide of the post. Ives centre forward is desperate to open his account for the season and in 35^th minute he almost got on the end of Williams flick to another Smith long throw.

The brilliance of Holt again came to the fore two minutes later as he hurled himself full length to his left to fingertip away Abimbola’s stinging drive after the powerful midfielder had side stepped a defender and let fly from just outside the box.

The visitors then just gave Ives a reminder that they were still in the game as they twice forced saves out of home keeper Dan Wilks in the last few minutes before the break. The home custodian comfortably saved Gabriel Overton’s low drive from the corner of the box in 43^rd minute and then was forced into a more spectacular save two minutes later hurling himself low to his left to keep out Flynn Clarke’s crisp 25 yarder.

Just a slender lead at the break with Ives supporters wondering if they were going to be left ruing the missed chances in that first period that they had dominated. Sure enough they were caught out only four minutes after the re-start as the second own goal of the game levelled things up. Sam Johnson got down the left wing and fired in a low, driven, cross that Williams turned past his own keeper as he stretched to prevent Overton getting on the end of it.

Being pegged back forced Ives into renewed efforts and only seconds later it took a clumsy tackle from Charlie Norman to prevent Alexandrou dancing into the box as he cut in from the left. Edwards on free kick duty fired his fierce effort through the four man wall but the deflection took it wide of the post.

The hosts thought that they had got back in front in 64^th minute as Williams again rose highest to flick on another Smith long throw. The flick beat the flying Holt but was somehow scrambled off the line, or was it over the line, by a combination of two Trawlerboys defenders.

With twenty minutes to go manager Ricky Marheineke introduced new signing Kobe Chong to the fray in place of the tiring Nicholson and the young substitute had an instant impact as with his first touch he received possession on the edge of the box, side stepped his marker and set off across the face of goal before firing powerfully past the diving Holt from 15 yards.

Now with their noses back in front Ives went for the jugular. A flowing move in 76^th minute saw Meade fire a perfectly weighted cross field ball into the left sided run of Alexandrou and it took a brilliant defensive header from Cole to prevent Chong from turning in the youngster’s clip to the back post.

But the reprieve was only brief for the visitors as Ives finally killed them off in spectacular fashion with twelve minutes to go. Herd’s corner from the right was knocked back to him and he curled in a teasing cross that Collard bravely attacked diving in amongst the flying boots to power home a header into the roof of the net.

The ever alert Wilks dealt brilliantly with a rare Trawlerboy’s foray into Ives box in 86^th minute as he was smartly off his line to block Sam Aldous’s shot at close range after the young substitute had been put through by Hazell.

The Ives were happy to play out the remaining time without further scares to claim their first maximum of the season. The performance is a massive step up from their gut wrenching late defeat at Stourbridge only 48 hours earlier. The performance and the result lifts sprits ahead of another big home game on Saturday when early season favourites for a quick return to step two Banbury United arrive at quattro tech Westwood Road.

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

Goals:

ST IVES: Cole (own goal) 19, Chong 72, Collard 78

LOWESTOFT: Williams (own goal) 49

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Wilks, Meade, Smith, Herd (Obeng 88), Williams, Collard (capt), Alexandrou (Adegbola 85), Abimbola, Edwards (Watkins 90+5), Nicholson (Chong 70), Casey (Creary 90+5), Unused subs: none

LOWESTOFT: Holt, Norman, Ruffles (Murphy 76), McIntosh, Cole (capt), Hazell, Haylock, Clarke, Overton (Aldous 59), Sayer (Haddoch 76), Johnson (Delgado 76), Unused subs: Eagle,

Referee:  Zachary Cunningham

Cards:   Yellow:  ST IVES: Nicholson (39), Edwards (67)     LOWESTOFT: none

PADDED SEAT SPONSORS MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex Collard

Attendance: 271

The curtain goes up on the home league programme on Monday night as St Ives Town welcome Lowestoft to the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road.

Both teams meet after losing their respective opening day fixtures at the weekend. The Ives fell to a last gasp 1-0 defeat at Stourbridge whilst Lowestoft lost 1-0 at home to Redditch United.

INTRODUCING LOWESTOFT

Lowestoft are back at step three after gaining promotion from the Isthmian League North last season. The Trawler Boys finished as Champions, four points ahead of their nearest rivals Bury Town. Lowestoft were last at this level in season 2021-22 when they were relegated after finishing bottom of the league, winning just nine games, collecting 33 points.

IVES TEAM NEWS

St Ives go into the game looking for their first points of the campaign. Jordan Nicholson and Jernade Meade signed on the eve of the season and look set to continue with injury doubts over Michael Richens and Byron Lawrence. Jonny Edwards will continue to spearhead the attack, supported by Theo Alexandrou. With Richens out injured, Alex Collard looks set to captain the side.

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE

A reminder that you can purchase tickets online in advance for the match. Cash sales are also available at the gate, but if you want to purchase online, then the link is HERE

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Once again this season, the matchday programme will be published online. You can download you copy HERE

WELCOME….TO THE PADDED SEAT

Kick-off at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road is at 7:45pm.

Get ready for our first home game of the season against Lowestoft on Monday evening by reading our online match programme. Inside our 38 page edition:

There’s a review of the Ives pre-season programme

We go back in the archives to season 2019/20 when the two teams met before

We look ahead to our forthcoming matches

And our matchday quiz, ten to tackle returns for another season.

PLUS lots more. Download your free copy HERE

Stourbridge 1 v St Ives Town  0

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  10-08-2024

Nigel Howlett reports from the War Memorial Athletic Ground

Football can be a cruel game as hard working Ives had what would have been a deserved point snatched from them by Alex Moore’s wickedly deflected goal right at the death. Prior to the late kick in the teeth the visitors had held their own with a defence well marshalled by debutant skipper Alex Collard generally looking very solid and when the Glassboys did find a way through they found another of Ives six debutants in excellent form as goalkeeper Dan Wilks was equal to everything thrown at him. His display topped off by a world class save hurling himself full length to his left to one handedly keep out Alex Bradley’s powerful free kick. Sadly at the other end of the park Ives lacked creativity and were unable to force a single save from home keeper Ollie Taylor.

The season kicked off in glorious sunshine on a very firm pitch with the grass mown sow low that a number of bare patches were showing through. Both sides struggled early on to deal with the bouncing ball but both showed that they were very much up for the game with tackles flying in. Jordan Williams went in a little to robustly on Miro Pais to pick up the seasons first yellow card in sixth minute.

From early on it looked like Ives main threats were going to come from dead ball situations and a couple of long throws from Aaron Smith caused the hosts a minor problem in twelfth minute. The second was flicked on well at the near post by Collard but the loose ball was quickly scrambled away before Jonny Edwards could get on the end of it.

Ives continued to work hard and five minutes later Peter Abimbola won the ball inside the hosts half and tried to feed Edwards through. The big striker’s first time effort was blocked out for a corner but Jordan Nicholson’s flag kick was comfortably claimed inside his six yard box by Taylor.

The game’s first shot on target finally arrived in 18^th minute courtesy of Pais but the left sided wide man’s effort was comfortably saved by the well positioned Wilks. Ives big stopper made another routine save four minutes later as he clung onto a powerful drive from just outside the box by Ethan Freemantle. The chance being set up by good work from Jourdain Masidi.

The flow of the game continued to go the way of the hosts but chances were being kept to a minimum by Ives hard working back line. Wilks was quick to come off his line to snuff out the opportunity after a clip over the top looked like it had put Freemantle clear. The Glassboys number nine then spurned the best opportunity of the first half in 37^th minute. Moore’s threaded through ball perfectly picked out the well timed run of Freemantle but as Wilks came to close him down the hosts striker slid the ball just past the post.

The second half started almost identically to the first with an Ives defender picking up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on halfway. This time it was Paddy Casey that picked up the card for taking down Freemantle as he tried to break away. The hosts continued to probe and Pais fired inches over the top from just outside the box in 57^th minute.

A 40 yard run from Theo Alexandrou on the hour sparked the start of a brief period of Ives possession. The unfortunate thing about Alexandrou’s run was that it started 20 yards inside his own half and ended with him taken down by a defender 20 yards into the Glassboys half. The free kick came to nothing. But ten minutes later Alexandrou managed the first Ives effort on goal of the game. But his 30 yarder flew well over the top with keeper Taylor looking on.

Ives “good” period ended with ten minutes to go and two minutes after that came the amazing save from Wilks that looked like it was going to earn Ives a point. Substitute Mani Sidibe had only been on a few minutes and made an instant impact as he jinked his way through Ives back line before being taken down by Jernade Meade 25 yards from goal. Alex Bradley’s well struck free kick beat Ives five man wall and was headed for the corner of the net before the hand of the flying Wilks arrived to spectacularly palm it away.

Now it was all the hosts searching desperately for a winner. Home manager Liam McDonald played all of his cards bringing on all five available substitutes and one of those replacements, Callum Coyle, went close as he cut inside from the left and curled a right footed effort just wide in 85^th minute.

A brief respite saw Ives win a corner in 90^th minute to give them a chance to snatch it. But although Collard got up highest to win the header he was unable to direct his effort on target under heavy pressure from defenders.

Back at the other end the hosts forced two quick corners in succession in the first minute of added time. Joel Kettle rose highest to the second of those at the back post but could only direct his downward header into the side netting. That escape looked like getting Ives the point that they had fought so hard for but with just ninety seconds of the five added minutes remaining a ball in from the right fell to the feet of Moore on the edge of the box. His curled effort was heading straight into the waiting hands of Wilks when it took a wicked deflection off a defender to go into the opposite corner and spark wild delight amongst the home faithful.

Looking back one cannot fault the level of effort from any of the Ives players and the back line and keeper look as good as we have ever seen but creativity was sadly lacking at the other end. Michael Richens sadly out with a cruciate ligament injury may be the spark that is missing. But at least the players get a very quick opportunity to put it right as we entertain Lowestoft Town at quattro tech Westwood Road on Monday evening.

Final Score:  Stourbridge   1  St Ives Town   0           half Time  0 – 0

Goals:

STOURBRIDGE: Moore 90+3

ST IVES:

Team Line Ups:

STOURBRIDGE: Taylor, Bavanganga, Portman, Brown, Kettle, Moore, Freemantle (Sadibi 81), Pais (Coyle 69), Masidi (Verma 76), Jones (capt) (Bradley 69), Durrell (Prosser 81), Unused subs: none

ST IVES: Wilks, Meade, Smith, Hottor, Williams, Collard (capt), Alexandrou (Obeng 85), Abimbola, Edwards, Nicholson (Creary 64), Casey, Unused subs: Watkins, Adegbola

Referee:  Simon Kavanagh

Cards:   Yellow:  STOURBRIDGE: none       ST IVES: Williams (6), Casey (48)

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex Collard

Attendance: 540

The 2024/25 Pitching Southern League Premier Division Central campaign gets underway on Saturday when St Ives travel to Stourbridge.

After a month of pre-season friendly action, the Ives will go into battle for the curtain raiser against a team who finished in 12th place last season, six points and three places below the Ives. The ninth position that the Ives finished was their highesgt place they have finished since becoming a step three team.

IVES TEAM NEWS

Ives go into the game on the back of a 3-1 victory in their final pre-season outing against AFC Dunstable last weekend. There are fitness concerns over Michael Richens who has been out with injury for some of the warm-up campaign. Elsewhere, new signing Alex Collard looks set to make his Ives debut at the heart of the defence alongside Jordan Williams. Debuts are also expected for the likes of goalkeeper Dan Wilks and midfielder Byron Lawrence. Whilst Peter Abimbola looks set to start after returning to the Ives during the summer. Elsewhere, fellow new signings Silvano Obeng, Gedeon Okito and Ethan Crearey will also travel as part of the squad.

INTRODUCING STOURBRIDGE

It will be a new look Stourbridge who take to the field for the opening game. In May, they appointed Liam McDonald as their new manager and has rebuilt the squad over the closed season. One of the new signings is goalkeeper Ollie Taylor who has made the switch from Bromsgrove Sporting where he made over 100 appearances. One of the latest signings is Elliott Durrell. The central midfielder joins after spells with Telford, Hednesford, Wrexham and Chester. Pre-season for Stourbridge finished with a 0-0 draw against Leek Town last Saturday.

LAST SEASON

Tuesday 12 December 2023: Stourbridge 2 Ives 0. Ives return empty handed after the Glassboys record a comfortable victory.

Saturday 13 April 2024: Ives 4 Stourbridge 1. Ives get their revenge as Theo Alexandrou gets the opener with Jonny Edwards and Josh Tomlinson adding to the score before Stourbridge pull one back. Greg Kaziboni restores the three goal cushion for the Ives 11 minutes from time.

GOING TO THE GAME

Like the Ives, Stourbridge have an online ticketing system, and they offer savings if you purchase in advance. Sales are also available on the door, but are £1.00 more. The online prices are below and the link to the ticketing website is HERE

Admission prices if purchased online in advance are as follows –
ADULTS – £13
OAP’s 65 & OVER – £10
JUNIORS 13-17 YEARS OF AGE – £7
CHILDREN AGED 6-12 YEARS OF AGE – £5 (must be accompanied by an adult)

Stourbridge FC
War Memorial Athletic Ground
High St, Amblecote
STOURBRIDGE
West Midlands
DY8 4HN

Kick-off is at 3:00pm

St Ives Town host AFC Dunstable on Saturday in their final pre-season friendly before the big kick-off at Stourbridge next week.

The Ives scheduled match at Corby was postponed on Tuesday, and they will be looking to put in a good performance against their South Midlands League opponents who narrowly missed out on promotion, losing in the play-offs at the end of last season.

Given it is the last friendly before the league campaign starts, boss Ricky Marheineke may elect to go with his strongest line-up to get match fitness before the trip to Stourbridge.

Kick-off at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road is at 3:00pm.