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 18^th 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 26^th 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 64^th 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 76^th 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 89^th 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 2^nd 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

St Ives Town Football Club can today confirm that striker Jonny Edwards has signed for Kettering Town. Jonny joins the Poppies for an undisclosed fee.

The 27-year-old joined the Ives in the summer of 2022 from FC Romania and instantly found form scoring 26 goals in his first season. During that campaign, he was part of an Ives team that reached the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup for the first time before bowing out against Edwards’ former club, FC Halifax.

But it was last season that Edwards’ goalscoring exploits hit the headlines as he finished the campaign with 30 league goals despite being sidelined for the opening couple of months.  His goals which included four in one game against Mickleover ensured that he finished the season as top scorer for the division.

The club would like to place on record their thanks for what Jonny has done for St Ives Town over the last two years.  He has provided everyone with several memorable moments and we wish him all the very best for the future.

St Ives Town 0 v Barwell 1 

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  12-10-2024

It looked like the two sides were going to cancel each other out in this hard fought, competitive, encounter that was never low on endeavour but lacked that little bit of extra quality from both sides. But as is so often the case in this type of tight game it is not a little bit of magic that wins the day it is sadly a mistake. The one that decided this one came when Ives shot themselves in the foot in 72^nd minute. With all of the big men up for a free kick to be delivered into the box they took a short one and lost possession. The ball was quickly channelled to the other end where Johnson Gyamfi compounded the initial error from his colleagues with an under hit back pass that allowed Ethan Hill to nip in and lash home past the exposed Dan Wilks. Both before and after that goal Ives created good opportunities that they failed to take leading to a disappointing second home league defeat in a row.

With Jernade Meade on international duty with Montserrat, Aaron Smith serving a one match ban for his very hash dismissal at Worksop in the FA Trophy, Kobe Chong out with a serious injury, Peter Abimbola still not yet back to full fitness and Jonny Edwards in transfer talks for a move away from quattro tech Westwood Road Ives were thin on the ground and manager Ricky Marheineke gave a first start to 17 year old Stevenage loanee Albie O’Keefe in central midfield with Silvano Obeng given the chance to lead the line. To counter that the Canaries came with a full strength side lead by the evergreen ex Reading veteran striker Leroy Lita.

With their youngsters to the fore, it was the hosts who took the game to their visitors carving out a couple of half chances in the opening five minutes. Two minutes in a flowing move saw the ball fed across the front line to reach the feet of Amaru Kaunda on the left, his step inside and teasing delivery into the centre was met by David Adegbola who got in front of his marker to steer a header over the top from ten yards. Two minutes later Gyamfi ran half the length of the park to get clear down the left but he failed to find a team mate with his low cross.

The next opportunity in 15^th minute was a true route one attempt as Wilks long punt evaded the two Canaries centre backs and was allowed to bounce deep in the visitor’s territory. Obeng ran onto the bouncing ball but delayed getting his shot away and when he eventually did unleash a powerful right foot effort the angle was to narrow and he could only succeed in finding the side netting.

The visitors were slowly working their way into the game and carved out their first chance of the game only one minute later. Hill and Lita combined well to feed in Deen Master who hit a crisp low drive from the edge of the box that Wilks gathered well.

The middle part of the first half descended into a midfield battle from which neither side could gain the ascendency. The flow of the game being constantly broken up by a series of free kicks as the battle continued. One of those free kicks saw Wilks become the next keeper called into action in 36^th minute. Hill tried to take advantage of the one man wall that the Ives stopper had put up to help him defend a free kick five yards outside the left hand corner of the box. Hill cleverly drilled in a shot at the near post that had Wilks scrambling across to make the save.

The best opportunity of the first period then fell to Kaunda four minutes before the break. Obeng held off a defender well to deftly feed the ball into the perfectly timed run of Kaunda who was clear with only keeper Will Highland to beat. But the youngster tried to go for power and ended up blasting his shot straight at the Canaries custodian who reacted well to tip the rising shot over the top.

Each side had one more half chance before half time. Hill robbed Ethan Creary on half way to give Ollie Brown-Hill the chance to try and lob the out of position Wilks from fully 45 yards but the effort drifted wide as the Ives stopper fast retreated to cover it. At the other end Obeng had the last attempt of the half right on the whistle when he spanked an effort from the edge of the box straight into the hands of the well positioned Highland.

Another golden opportunity came and went for Ives five minutes after the restart. Kaunda showed some brilliant footwork inside the Canaries box to create the space to get a shot away. The ball struck a defender and looped to the unmarked Obeng lurking eight yards out at the back post. But the big centre forward snatched at the chance and fired his first time effort high and wide as desperate defenders tried to close him down.

The game then went through a period where most of the half chances were going the way of the visitors. Master screwed a 52^nd minute effort from 20 yards into the boards just wide of Wilks right hand post. Ben Challinor fired a 66^th minute effort over the top after Lita had held the ball up well to tee him up from a similar distance.

Then with just less than 20 minutes to go came Ives comedy of errors which lead to Hill putting the Canaries in front. Ives reacted well to going behind and it took some brave defending to prevent them grabbing an equaliser eight minutes from time. Substitute Greg Kaziboni got down the right and delivered a cross into the crowded box that led to shots from Obeng and Adegbola being blocked at point blank range by the bodies of flying defenders.

Ives knew it was not going to be their day when, with four minutes remaining, Obeng got on the end of Cleary’s clip over the top and drilled the ball home past the exposed Highland only to be denied by an assistant’s upraised flag.

The added five minutes were spent with Ives camped in and around the Canaries box. The visitors just survived three Johnny Herd corners, a couple of long throws and a free kick all from the same man. Despite all that pressure they were unable to test Highland with another on target effort in that time.

The final result sees the Canaries join Ives on twelve points. In a crazily tight table that means five points off the play offs but looking the other way only three points off the drop zone. Both teams have vital home games coming on Monday night with Biggleswade Town visiting quattro tech Westwood Road for a 7.45pm kick off.

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

Goals:

ST IVES:

BARWELL: Hill 72

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Wilks, Creary, Casey (Mensah 71), O’Keefe, Williams, Collard (capt), Gyamfi (Kaziboni 77), Hottor (Herd 88), Obeng, Kaunda, Adegbola (Abimbola 85), Unused subs: Watkins

BARWELL: Highland, Fridye-Harper, Brown-Hill, Ngoma, Rowe-Turner, McManus (Rogers 31), Master, Lita, Challinor (Medrano 75), Hickey (capt), Hill, Unused subs: Osbourne, Berry, Arthur

Referee:  Christopher Poole

Cards:   Yellow:  ST IVES: Adegbola (22)       BARWELL: Lita (68), Fridye-Harper (90)         

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex Collard

Attendance:  305

Worksop Town 2 St Ives Town 1

Isuzu FA Trophy 3^rd Qualifying Round 05-10-2024

Nigel Howlett reports from the The Windsor Foodservice Stadium

A much improved performance could so easily have seen Ives progress in this entertaining tie where sadly the focus will be on some excentric and at times outright bizarre refereeing decisions from Mr Alistair Wilson. Both sides saw a player dismissed in very unusual circumstances. Tigers striker Liam Hughes was first to take the early bath six minutes after half time when he remonstrated with referee Wilson over whether a ball had gone out of play for a throw in or a goal kick. Mr Wilson initially listen to the complaint, then produced a yellow card when it went on a bit to long. This was followed by him calling over hosts captain Hamza Bencherif to join the discussion then as it all appeared to settled down and the players walked away a second yellow was waved in the direction of Hughes presumably for a parting remark.

Aaron Smith was even more unlucky to join Hughes in the dressing room nine minutes later as he picked up a second yellow card of the game for putting a hand on Jordan Burrow to concede a penalty that one seasoned Tigers supporter termed the softest that he had seen given in 50 years watching the game. Even more unfortunate for Smith was how he had acquired the first yellow card when in added time at the end of the first half Mr Wilson waved the card under his nose whilst he was being prevented from taking a throw in by the assistant referee who had noticed a second ball had been thrown onto the pitch that Dan Wilks was clearing from by the goal. No one could persuade Mr Wilson of his error and Adam Fisher picked up a yellow card for trying.

Ives received a couple of blows prior to kick off with news coming through that the exciting Kobe Chong had ruptured his achilles playing in a corporate charity game, an injury that could well end his season prematurely. There were also only four players on the bench with Benji Mensah dropping out ill on the morning of the game. But one man who took the opportunity to sieze his chance was David Adegbola who had earned himself a place in the starting line up on the back of his eye catching substitute appearance in last weeks FA Cup tie.

It was Adegbola who set up the games first chance in only second minute feeding in Amaru Kaunda through the right channel. Kaunda’s progress towards the box was cynically halted by Bencherif who picked up a yellow card but was proved right when Jonny Edwards free kick cannoned into the hosts four man wall and Ives big striker volleyed the rebound well wide.

A seventh minute corner brought about an excellent opportunity for the Tigers as Hughes rose above the crowd to meet Terry Hawkridge’s in-swinging corner. Wilks did brilliantly to get down low to his right and turn away the striker’s powerful downward header.

After those two early opportunities the game settled down into an even encounter with both sides playing some nice football on the excellent 3G surface but both defences looking solid. All of that changed in 21^st minute when Kaunda broke the deadlock with a stunner. Picking up the ball just outside the box the young striker ran across the line of the box seemingly being closely followed by a Tigers defender but the pace of Kaunda earned him the half a yard that he needed and he fired a right foot screamer into the top corner past a startled Seb Malkowski in the home goal.

Adegbola came to Ives rescue five minutes later when Luke Hall got down the right and pulled the ball back to Jacob Gratton, his first time effort beat Wilks low to his right but was cleared off the line by the covering defender. The hosts went close again in 33^rd minute when Aleks Starcenko picked up the ball in centre circle and found space to run at Ives retreating back line. Fortunately his powerful 25 yarder was straight at Wilks who held on well.

Back up the other end two minutes later and Edwards was so unlucky not to double Ives advantage. Smith’s long throw was flicked on by Jordan Williams and the ball dropped to Edwards at the back post. His first time effort speared through the crowd and hit the boot of an unsighted Malkowski before ricocheting just the wrong side of the post.

The last action before the break was Smith’s bizarre yellow card. But the second half started with Ives again hugely unlucky not to double their lead. Only ninety seconds after the restart Alex Collard got on the end of another Smith long throw. His flicked header flew past the static Malkowski and hit the inside of the post. On another day it would have rebounded into the net but on this occasion it bounced straight back into the grateful arms of the keeper.

Next followed the strange dismissal of the unhappy Hughes. But going down to ten seemed to spark a reaction out of the previously low key hosts. Six minutes later half time substitute Luke Shiels volleyed over a corner that was played to him on the edge of the box. Then came the real turning point in the game as Smith was harshly adjudged to have pulled back Jordan Burrow at the back of the box after the Tigers substitute had latched onto a deep cross from the left. Vaughan Redford sent Wilks the wrong way with his spot kick as the unlucky Smith trudged off to the changing room.

It was now ten v ten but with the Tigers very much in the ascendency. Gratton fired a 25 yard curler just over in 68^th minute but the same striker got it right three minutes later as he ran clear onto Hall’s flick through Ives back line and thumped home from just inside the box past the exposed Wilks.

Even after falling behind Ives lifted themselves again and Kaunda should have grabbed an equaliser with twelve minutes to go as he nicked the ball of Bencherif and got away clean through with only Malkowsi to beat. He clipped the ball past the advancing keeper and was unlucky to see the ball rebound to safety off an upright.

They continued to work hard but that proved to be the final opportunity for Ives to take the game to a shootout. In fact the Tigers should have killed them off in the final few minutes as with bodies thrown forward in a desperate search of an equaliser the visitors were twice caught on the break. Deegan Atherton’s 86^th minute low cross from the right was turned wide at the near post by Burrow and Wilks did brilliantly to keep out the same players close range effort after Hall had unselfishly teed him up deep in added time.

An unfortunate exit from the Trophy for Ives. But as teams always say at this point it gives them an opportunity to concentrate on the league and with home games at quattro tech Westwood Road against Barwell next Saturday and Biggleswade Town on the following Monday there is every opportunity to force there way back up the table.

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

Goals:

WORKSOP: Redford 63 (pen), Burrow 71

ST IVES: Kaunda 21

Team Line Ups:

WORKSOP: Malkowski, Hutchinson (Shiels 46), O’Malley, Starcenko (Wedgbury 84), Bencherif (capt), Atherton, Hawkridge (Burrow 53), Redford, Gratton, Hughes, Hall, Unused subs: Wilde, Bramall

ST IVES: Wilks, Creary, Smith, Meade (Obeng 90), J. Williams, Collard (capt), Gyamfi (Casey 65), Herd (Hottor 65), Edwards, Kaunda, Adegbola (Kaziboni 73), Unused subs: none

Referee:  Alistair Wilson

Cards:   Red:       WORKSOP:  Hughes (2x yellow 50 & 51)         ST IVES: Smith (2 x yellow 45+3 & 61)

              Yellow:       WORKSOP:  Bencherif (2), Jeffs (Assistant Manager) (53)                    ST IVES:  Fisher (Assistant Manager) (45+4), Meade (67), Kaziboni (89)

SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Ethan Creary

Attendance:  377

St Ives Town 0 Kettering Town 3

Emirates FA Cup 3^rd Qualifying Round 28-09-2024

Nigel Howlett reports

Slow out of the blocks Ives found themselves blown away by the rampant Poppies well before half time as three first half goals saw the visitors comfortably advance to 4^th Qualifying Round in Emirates FA Cup.

Only two weeks ago the high flying Poppies were pushed all the way before eventually claiming maximum reward in a League fixture and it looked as if they knew they had got to lift their game to avoid coming unstuck in this cup tie at sunny quattro tech Westwood Road. Ives sadly did not seem to have come to same the conclusion that they to needed to be at their very best to get any reward from this game.

The visitors came flying out of the blocks and seized the early initiative with the impressive Andi Thanoj and Luca Miller finding space and time in the centre of the park to pick out their men with probing passes through, or over, the Ives back line. The opening goal after eleven minutes saw Ives back line pulled around with Ben Hart finding acres of space at the back of the box to take down a deep cross from the left and drive a low ball across the six yard line that the dangerous Nile Ranger turned home from close range.

With the hosts struggling to string passes together it was the visitors who continued to press. Aaron Powell was again given to much space to range forward from left back in 15^th minute but the full back fired his powerful drive from 30 yards well over the top. The same player also failed to hit the target with an opportunity from much closer two minutes later. Ranger got down the left and delivered a cross to the near post that Ives struggled to clear the ball eventually being knocked back to Powell on the edge of the box but just as before he fired high and wide.

Ives had an even bigger let off in 20^th minute as they again struggled to get the ball clear of their box. It eventually fell to Hart on the right edge and his low cross picked out Ranger again lurking by the back post but inexplicably the usually deadly striker completely missed his kick with the goal gaping.

Keeper Dan Wilks kept Ives in the game four minutes later as he plunged to his right to push away a curling effort from the right hand corner of the box by Tyree Wilson. The chance had come about as the Poppies got another overload down that side with Benji Mensah finding himself up against Hart and Wilson.

The hosts had been hoping to hang onto only a one goal deficit up to the break but the visitors doubled their lead thirteen minutes from the interval. The impressive Thanoj picked out a cross field run from Isiah Noah-Williams. He in turn picked out Bruno Andrade cutting in from the left at pace and the visitors striker did the rest in emphatic style as he spanked a first time effort into the top corner of the net from 20 yards that gave Wilks no chance.

Moments later manager Ricky Marheineke decided to ditch his idea of playing a twin striking partnership with Silvano Obeng up front alongside Jonny Edwards. Obeng being replaced by regular full back Aaron Smith with Ives reverting to their more familiar wing back formation. But before the change could bed in the visitors effectively killed the game with Ives again the architects of their own downfall as once more they failed to clear a ball into their box effectively, allowing Luca Miller to thump home through the crowd from the edge of the box.

The Ives carved out one half chance to grab a possible lifeline before the break in the final added minute. Smith’s long throw was knocked back to him and he delivered the perfect teasing cross into the no man’s land between keeper and defenders. With the big men still up there were three players attacking the ball a call from Alex Collard who was in the best position might have persuaded Jordan Williams to leave the ball but the big number five stretched for it and failed to keep his header down.

Unless Ives could find an early goal in the second half any sort of comeback looked very unlikely and that was how it proved to be. Mensah almost managed to put Edwards through five minutes after the restart but the underworked Dan Jezeph in the Poppies goal remained alert and was quickly off his line to bravely claim the ball at the striker’s feet.

The introduction of David Adegbola in place of the tiring Mensah in 56^th minute provided a bright spark in an otherwise gloomy afternoon for the hosts. He served up Ives next half chance in 67^th minute as he got past a defender down the right before delivering a cross to the near post that it looked like the fast arriving Collard was going to power home but a faint touch from Lewis White was just enough to touch the ball away.

A more route one approach created a shooting opportunity for Kobe Chong four minutes later as flicks from Edwards and Amaru Kaunda saw Wilks punt arrive at the feet of Ives number ten just outside the box. A side step and sharp low drive beat the diving Jezeph but just glanced the outside of the post on its way into the boards.

Another fantastic pass from Thanoj gave Andrade a clear opportunity to put the icing on the visitors day twelve minutes from time but rather than arrow straight for goal the striker inexplicably turned inside giving Paddy Casey the opportunity to get back and rob him.

Only ninety seconds later Ives had their final opportunity to claim a consolation goal as Adegbola and Edwards combined down the right. The latter’s low cross deflected off a defender straight into the path of Kaunda on the edge of the box but the youngster who showed such coolness to grab the winner last week snatched at this opportunity and fired his effort high and wide.

That was the signal for a number of home supporters amongst the big cup crowd to depart early to try and beat the traffic down Westwood Road. The early departees did not miss much as despite huffing and puffing Ives were unable to create anything more with the Poppies comfortably seeing out the remaining time to go into the hat for Monday lunch times draw.

Final Score:        St Ives Town  0  Kettering Town   3             Half Time 0 – 3

Goals:

ST IVES:

KETTERING: Ranger 11, Andrade 32, Miller 36

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Wilks, Mensah (Adegbola 56), Casey, Meade (Kaziboni 76), J. Williams, Collard (capt), Obeng (Smith 35), Hottor (Herd 66), Edwards, Chong, Kaunda, Unused subs: Creary, O’Keefe

KETTERING: Jezeph, Hart, Powell, Miller, Johnson (capt), White (Mbayo 83), Thanoj, Ranger, Andrade, Noel-Williams (Atcha 76), Wilson (Kawimbe 64), Unused subs: York, Alexander,

Referee:  David Jones

Cards:   Yellow:       ST IVES:   none             KETTERING:  none

SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:  David Adegbola

Attendance:  681

The eagerly anticipated Emirates FA Cup Third Qualifying Round tie between St Ives Town and Kettering Town takes place on Saturday afternoon.

The prize is a place in the final qualifying round, a stage that the Ives have only reached once before which was two years ago when they were eliminated by Halifax.

If the Ives are to get to the fourth qualifying round once more, then they will have their work cut out against a Kettering side who impressed when they visited the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road earlier this month. That match ended in a 2-1 victory for the Poppies, coming from a goal behind after Greg Kaziboni gave the Ives the lead.

The Ives go into the game following a 3-2 win over Bromsgrove Sporting last Saturday. Amaru Kaunda getting the late winner for the Ives, which gave them their first away victory in the league all season. To get to this stage, the Ives have beaten Harpenden and Berkhamsted.

Kettering arrive after securing a 2-0 victory over league leaders Stamford on Tuesday evening, a result that has moved them up to second in the PitchingIN Southern League Premier Division Central table, two points off the pace. To get to this stage of the competition, Kettering have beaten Stafford Rangers and Cleethorpes Town.

A large crowd is expected at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road on Saturday with the visitors expected to bring a large following. Fans attending are advised to arrive early, and can pay on the day with cash or card. But you can purchase tickets in advance via our online ticketing platform. The link to the page is HERE

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

Bromsgrove Sporting 2 v St Ives Town  3

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  21-09-2024

Nigel Howlett reports from The Victoria Ground

A half time substitution by manager Ricky Marheineke made the difference as Ives claimed their first victory of the season away from home and on grass, albeit a very good surface. The visitors could perhaps count themselves a little fortunate to be level at the break, although they were clinical in taking their chances to twice come from behind in a disjointed first period. The introduction of the movement and pace of Cambridge United loanee Amaru Kaunda at the break caused the Rouslers defence all sorts of problems in the second period and it was only fitting that the youngster claimed the winner with a smart finish in a crowded box ten minutes from time.

A change of formation saw Ives playing a flat back four with Benji Mensah giving way to an extra striker in Silvano Obeng. Aaron Smith also returned at left back in place of Johhny Herd and there was a debut for new signing Johnson Gyamfi who replaced the now departed Theo Alexandrou.

The visitors made a slow start against their lively hosts Jamie Meadows had already forced an early save out of Dan Wilks before Harry Crook capitalised on an error from Jonny Edwards to put the Rouslers in front after only four minutes. Edwards back helping out his defence played a poor ball out that was easily cut out by Crook who raced away down the left before cutting inside and beating Wilks low to his right from the edge of the box.

Gyamfi could have had a golden debut as he spurned a glorious chance for an equaliser in Ives first meaningful attack six minutes later. Kobe Chong battled across the edge the hosts box getting through a couple of tackles before the ball ricocheted off him to the unmarked Gyamfi 18 yards out with only keeper Charlie Price to beat. But the debutant snatched at the chance and dragged his first time effort wide.

The Rouslers lively front pair of Crook and Charlie Wragg were pulling Ives defence around and Crook outpaced Ives back line to keep in a 20^th minute clip over the top. Full back Shay Palmer should probably have done better with Crook’s pull back but blazed his effort wide of the far post from just inside the box.

Ives well fashioned equalised came from a speedy 23^rd minute break with Obeng holding the ball up well and feeding it back to Jernade Meade. The midfielder slid the ball perfected into the well timed run of Chong through the right channel. The pacy striker still had a lot to do as he was under heavy pressure from Aksum White but he did well to hold off the defender and beat the advancing Price with an effort from 15 yards that found the bottom corner.

The Rouslers responded with Wragg almost getting through the centre as he took down a long ball and tried to nip between Ives centre backs forcing Alex Collard to take him down inside the D. Collard picked up a yellow card for his action but the skipper was proved right as Ives six man wall did its job to keep out Wragg’s free kick.

But just after the half hour Ives became the architects of their own downfall again as for the only time in the game Ed Hottor got caught in possession inside his own half. Dylan Thomas galloped away from him down the left and delivered a low cross to the near post where it was knocked away but only as far as Crook on the edge of the box and Rouslers number 12 gleefully accepted the gift and again beat Wilks low to his right.

Hottor almost immediately redeemed himself as he was the provider for Ives second equaliser of the game only three minutes later. Smith’s long throw was only half cleared to Hottor on the right corner of the box, a couple of strides forward and his driven cross was turned home from close range by the unmarked Jordan Williams to level things up for the second time.

Each side had one more chance to get back in front before the break with Crook forcing a full length diving save out of Wilks with the Rouslers 37^th minute effort and Chong firing well wide from the edge of the box after Collard had knocked down Meade’s free kick to him in the final added minute.

Marheineke’s change at the break bringing on Kaunda for Obeng proved the catalyst to a dominant second half display from Ives The movement and pace of Gyamfi, Chong and Kaunda was an immediate problem for the hosts and with Hottor and Meade running the game in the centre of the park the hosts resorted to going long which was meat and drink for Collard and Williams.

Gyamfi was causing a lot of problems down the left and he was unceremoniously scythed down by Aaron Roberts in the build up to Ives going close on the hour. Referee Lewis Mountain’s excellent advantage allowing Chong to get away down the right and his clip to the back post was only just to powerful for Kaunda arriving at pace. Roberts picked up a yellow card for the challenge which forced Gyamfi out of the game but he was replaced by the equally pacy Benji Mensah so no let up for the beleaguered hosts back line.

Chong’s 67^th minute corner somehow evaded everyone in the box and flashed just wide of the far post. Edwards almost got through in 70^th minute only to be taken down by George Forsyth just outside the box. Forsyth joined his fellow centre back in referee Mountain’s notebook and a clever free kick saw Edwards shot tipped over by keeper Price.

Ives second half pressure finally fashioned a winner with nine minutes to go, but it came in controversial circumstances. A crowd of players went up for a high ball at the back of the box and substitute Jack Newell went down in a heap. With Rouslers players and fans alike shouting for the referee to stop the game for a head injury Ives played on with Smith delivering the ball back into the centre Collard showing a good touch to take it down before feeding Kaunda who immediately spun on it and fired into the bottom corner through the crowd and low past the unsighted Price.

The hosts huffed and puffed without really creating anything in the remaining time and the closet to another goal game in the fourth of five added minutes when Kaunda burst through onto Paddy Casey’s perfectly weighted clip over the top. As Price came to meet him the youngster tried to lob the host’s exposed stopper but did not get enough on it allowing Price to make a comfortable save.

A 95th minute corner for the hosts saw Price venture into Ives box and the big keeper won the header at the back post but could only steer his effort well wide. Moments later referee Mountain brought an end to proceedings to conclude a very satisfactory day at the office for Ives.

Now we can turn our attention back to the FA Cup with the visit of Kettering Town to quattro tech Westwood Road next Saturday offering the opportunity of a second ever adventure to the 4^th Qualifying Round for the Ives.

Final Score:  Bromsgrove Sporting    2   St Ives Town   3           Half Time  2 – 2

Goals:

BROMSGROVE: Crook 4, 32

ST IVES: Chong 23, Williams 35, Kaunda 81

Team Line Ups:

BROMSGROVE: Price, Palmer, King, Roberts, Forsyth, Thomas (Cook 60), Rowe (capt), Meadows (Newell 73), Crook (Snape 79), White, Wragg (Robinson 73), Unused subs: Patterson

ST IVES: Wilks, Casey, Smith, Meade, Williams, Collard (capt), Gyamfi (Mensah 60), Hottor, Edwards, Chong (Adegbola 90+3), Obeng (Kaunda 46), Unused subs: Creary, O’Keefe

Referee:  Lewis Mountain

Cards:   Yellow:  BROMSGROVE: Forsyth (60), Roberts (69), White (80)           ST IVES:  Collard (26), Edwards (40),            

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Ed Hottor

Attendance:  475

St Ives Town manager Ricky Marheineke has boosted his squad with the signing of two players.

Returning to the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road is striker Amaru Kaunda who is with the Ives on an initial one month loan deal. Amaru was part of the Ives squad towards the end of last season and will be looking to develop his career further during his current spell with the club.

The club also welcomes Johnson Gyamfi. Johnson is a winger who started his career as a youngster with Leicester City. He then joined Peterborough United and was a regular in the under 23 squad for Posh before successful loan spells at both Boston United and Peterborough Sports. He has also played for Corby Town and joins the Ives from Barwell.

Both players will be available for selection for the league visit to Bromsgrove Sporting this afternoon.

St Ives Town and Kettering Town will go head to head for a place in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The two teams were paired together in the 3rd Qualifying Round draw this lunchtime. The match sees the Ives have home advantage, and will take place at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road on Saturday 28 September with a 3:00pm kick-off.

St Ives Town 5 Berkhamsted 0

Emirates FA Cup 2^nd Qualifying Round 14-09-2024

Nigel Howlett reports

It is not often in a game with such an emphatic scoreline that you could say the match hinged on one pivotal moment but this was such a game. Ives got in front early before coming under heavy pressure from the previously unbeaten Berko. They grabbed a second on the hour but that cushion looked like being deflated ten minutes later when Jonathan Lacey stepped up to take a spot kick. An exciting final twenty minutes looked on the cards. But the visitors number ten fired horribly wide to knock the stuffing out of his side who went on to concede a further three goals in the last ten minutes.

With Theo Alexandrou playing his last game for Ives it was fitting that a man who has always given his all should conclude his time at quattro tech Westwood Road prior to completing his transfer to step two Dorking Wanderers with a parting gift of the opening goal and it was a typical Alexandrou finish as the Ives wide man cut inside before curling a right footed effort out of the reach of Josh Bowler in the visitors goal and into the bottom corner of the net.

After that opener in seventh minute Ives found themselves pushed back by their visitors. Berko skipper Jordon Frederick should have equalised two minutes later. Jordan Williams fouled the busy Bernard Christie just outside the right hand corner of the box. Ross Oulton curled the perfect free kick into the centre where Frederick had somehow ghosted in unmarked much to the hosts relief he could only direct his close range header over the top with the goal at his mercy.

Berko had their first shot on target in eleventh minute when Louis Collier picked up a deep cross from the right and turned inside past Paddy Casey before firing straight at Dan Wilks from 15 yards. Frederick spurned another good opportunity for the visitors in 16^th minute. Roger James picked him out perfectly with a clip to the back post. The visitors skipper arriving at pace made clean contact with the dropping ball but again failed to trouble Wilks with his close range effort.

Ives front line had been fairly quiet since Alexandrou’s early goal but the trio of them almost combined to carve out a second on the break in 20^th minute. Kobe Chong battled well to win the ball back high up the park and put Jonny Edwards away down the right. Edwards got past Dan Newton and drove in a low cross that just evaded Alexandrou sliding in at the back post.

There was soon more action at the other end of the park as just after the half hour James went close to levelling the scores. Lacey threaded a ball through Ives back line that put in James but like his teammates before him the Berko number seven failed to hit the target blazing over from a good position. The visitors had a second try at getting something out of the chance appealing long and hard for a penalty as Williams clattered into James after the forward had unleashed his shot. Referee Luke Scott was not to be persuaded that this should be a case of double jeopardy.

The hosts began to look a little more threatening as the half ticked away. Edwards was working hard and in 34^th minute he closed down Bowler to block the keeper’s attempted clearance and win the ball before unselfishly feeding it to Chong on the edge of the box but the youngster could only screw his first time effort wide much to the relief of the scrambling keeper.

There was one final chance for Ives to double their advantage before the break. Chong curled in a delightful clip from the right that Collard attacked at the back post. Ives skipper forced his way in front of Sam McClelland but his header flew wide of the post. But the powerful centre back was more successful in similar circumstances on the hour. Chong was fouled by Simeon Olarerin as he tried to dance his way into the box. Ives tricky midfielder picked himself up a curled in an inviting free kick to the back post where the battle was again between Collard and McClelland. Both ended up on the deck as the ball dropped between them. Collard was first to react stabbing the loose ball goalwards. Bowler had the effort covered but McClelland stuck out a boot and deflected the ball past the outstretched hand of his keeper.

By this point Silvano Obeng had joined the fray in place of the tiring Benji Mensah and the big man was quick to make an impact winning the ball in the centre of the park in 67^th minute before feeding it on to Chong who in turn fed in Edwards through the right channel. But under pressure from Newton Edwards fired over the top.

Then came the moment that looked like it was going to give Berko a massive lift going into the last 20 minutes. Substitute Luke Andrews nicked the ball off the toe of Collard inside Ives box and was unceremoniously upended as Ives skipper went through with his intended attempt to clear the ball. Referee Luke Scott had the simple task of awarding the spot kick. Lacey stepped up but as Wilks started to go the right way he felt that he had to direct the ball further away from the big keeper and ended up firing well wide of Wilks left hand post.

The air immediately went out of the Berko balloon and Ives showed no mercy as they tore into their struggling opponents scoring three more goals in the final ten minutes of the game. The first of those came in 80^th minute as referee Scott awarded his second spot kick of the game and again it was a fairly simple decision. Alexandrou ran at the Berko back line but he had been diverted and was running away from goal when Jack Tompkins needlessly bundled him over. Edwards sent Bowler the wrong way from the spot.

Obeng was influential in the next Ives goal four minutes from time when he robbed a dallying Frederick before sliding the ball into Edwards who in turn picked out the well time run of Chong. A toe poked finish from 15 yards was sufficient to beat the exposed Bowler and make it four.

The icing on the cake and arguably the best goal of the game was a well deserved first for the club for the impressive Obeng. Edwards picked him out on the edge of the box and the big man simply spanked it first time past the despairing dive of the over worked Bowler.

Ives can now wait to see who they pull out from the hat in the Third Qualifying round draw on Monday lunch time. Another home draw would be ideal with the carrot of a first ever First Round Proper appearance for the club now only two games away.

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

Goals:

ST IVES: Alexandrou 7, Collard 61, Edwards 80 (pen), Chong 86, Obeng 90

BERKHAMSTED:

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Wilks, Mensah (Obeng 59), Herd (Smith 46), Meade, J. Williams (Creary 87), Collard (capt), Alexandrou (Adegbola 83), Hottor (O’Keefe 76), Edwards, Chong, Casey, Unused subs: Lawrence, Kaziboni,

BERKHAMSTED: Bowler, Tompkins, Olarerin, Oulton (Andrews 65), McClelland, Newton, James, Frederick (capt), Christie, Lacey, Collier, Unused subs: Thorpe, Tearle, Toomey, Chamberlain, Burch

Referee:  Luke Scott

Cards:   Yellow:       ST IVES:   none             BERKHAMSTED:  none

SPONSORS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Theo Alexandrou

Attendance:  228

The official matchday magazine for our Emirates FA Cup second qualifying round tie at home to Berkhamsted is now available to view. Inside this week:

• A report of our home defeat against Kettering on Monday night
• We turn the clock back two years to when the Ives last featured in the second qualifying round
• We take a look at the history of Berkhamsted in the FA Cup
• And our popular Matchday Quiz returns with a special FA Cup theme.

PLUS Lots more. The link to download your copy is HERE.

St Ives Town 1 v Kettering Town 2 

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

Nigel Howlett reports

A gallant second half rearguard action did not prove quite enough for Ives who eventually ended up with no reward against a very good looking Poppies. The visitors made excellent use of Ives 3G surface fizzing the ball around in entertaining style but for a long time it looked like Ives defence expertly organised by skipper Alex Collard and keeper Dan Wilks were going to hold on to a lead gleaned from a brilliantly taken Greg Kaziboni goal seven minutes before the break.

Ives suffered a pre-match blow with centre back Jordan Williams succumbing to an injury picked up in Saturdays 1-0 reverse at Bishop’s Stortford Johnny Herd coming into the side to replace him forcing manager Ricky Marheineke to change his formation and go with a flat back four. Poppies introduced two new signings to their starting line up with a return to their fold for centre back Lewis White and a surprise at centre forward where ex Newcastle United centre forward Nile Ranger also made his debut for the visitors.

The game started at one hundred mile an hour with both sides closing each other very quickly all over the park and little early pattern to the play. Ranger had the first real shot of the night in eighth minute and his powerful strike from 20 yards appeared to strike the arm of Paddy Casey and deflect away causing the large gathering of Poppies fans behind the car park end goal to scream for a spot kick but referee Chris Poole remained unmoved.

The visitors went close again two minutes later as a Tyree Wilson did well to keep alive a deep cross from the right. His ball back into the centre was teed up by Ranger and Andi Thanoj’s shot deflected off a defender and looped inches wide with Wilks scrambling across to cover.

The first save of the game for either keeper did not come until midway through the first period when Wilks made a comfortable save to hold onto Ben Hart’s low drive from the right hand corner of the box. But by this point Ives were also begining to carve out opportunities of their own and only moments later Theo Alexandrou robbed a dallying White 40 yards from goal. The Poppies debutant took the obvious yellow card that he knew was coming as he pulled back the Ives speedy striker just as he was about to sprint clear.

Ex Ives striker Kai Fifield was looking dangerous for the visitors in a roving role up front and Ranger got on the end of his 27^th minute cross from the right but could only steer his header wide of the near post under pressure from Collard. Collard then got action at the other end of the park two minutes later. Kobe Chong won Ives a corner as he cleverly turned a defender to set off on a jinking run through the visitors box that only ended with his stabbed shot from a narrow angle turned around the post by keeper Dan Jezeph. Collard rose above the crowd to meet Chong’s flag kick but could only power his downward header wide.

White’s centre back partner Connor Johnson joined him in referee Poole’s notebook on the half hour for a challenge just as cynical as his team mate. Speedy wing back Benji Mensah completely deceived Johnson with a flick over his head and was sprinting away when he was taken down by the Poppies number five. Johnson’s action was proved right as the resulting Herd free kick came to nothing.

The hosts then suffered a blow ten minutes before the break with powerful midfielder Peter Abimbola pulling up before limping off to be replaced by Kaziboni. But the early introduction of the tricky wide man proved the catalyst as he scored a wonder goal to put Ives ahead less than 90 seconds later. Jonny Edwards battled hard to keep possession down the right before feeding the ball on to Chong he in turn danced into the box before laying the ball off to Kaziboni who curled his first time effort into the top corner past the onlooking Jezeph.

Now in front Ives enjoyed a good spell up to the break with Alexandrou forcing a save out of Jezeph at the end of a clever Ives move. Wilks clipped free kick found Edwards well timed run down the left he in turn fed the ball on to Alexandrou who got to the bye line but with no one arriving in the centre he was forced to go for goal from a narrow angle allowing Jezeph to make the save.

As was perhaps to be expected the Poppies came out charged up at the start of the second half and tore into Ives back line. Collard put his body on the line to deflect over Devon Kelly-Evans fierce drive in 51^st minute and Wilks did well to cling onto Thanoj’s powerful 25 yarder two minutes later.

But at the other end Ives were still creating chances to give themselves a bigger cushion. Edwards spurned a golden opportunity to double the lead on the hour. Chong created the opportunity pulling defenders to him before picking out Edwards in a little bit of space ten yards from goal by the back post. But the striker chose to take a touch and was quickly closed down by a defender forcing him to drag his shot which beat Jezeph but struck the outside of the post.

Fifield was still looking the main danger for the visitors and he did well to keep alive a deep free kick before turning past Mensah and firing in a low drive from the left edge of the box that Wilks held well at his near post. The keepers excellent distribution carved out another golden opportunity for Ives to score that vital second goal. Alexandrou got away down the left again and cut inside before unleashing a shot from just outside the box that deflected off a defender straight into the path of the fast arriving Mensah but the young wing back failed to make clean contact with his first time effort and could only watch in anguish as the ball rolled inches wide of Jezeph’s left hand post with the keeper beaten.

Those two spurned opportunities to increase their lead came back to haunt Ives as the battling Fifield won the visitors a penalty in 69^th minute. He got past Mensah on the left before being taken down clumsily by Collard inside the box. Referee Poole was in the perfect position to make the decision and Fifield picked himself up to beat Wilks low to the keepers left with his spot kick.

Now on level terms the Poppies went for the jugular and increased the pressure on Ives back line as they went in search of all three points. It took a brilliant save from Wilks to keep out Fifield’s deflected effort in 73^rd minute. The big keeper back peddled furiously before leaping to claw away the effort that looked like it was going to loop in over his head.

The Kettering fans behind the goal were by now roaring home their team and they raised those voices even higher in 78^th minute when Collard flung himself across the line of Jarvis’s fierce drive from 25 yards. Those behind the goal in the red and black were convinced that Collard had deflected the ball away with his arm but referee Poole was again in an excellent position and decided that it was the body of Ives skipper that did the job.

Wilks made another good save to turn away Kelly-Evans 25 yarder in 86^th minute but all of Ives hard work came to nothing as they failed to clear a long free kick into their box from the right. The ball eventually fell to White who fired past the diving Wilks from ten yards much to the delight of those supporters behind the Green Leys end goal.

There was still time for Ives to carve out one late opportunity to get some reward for all of their efforts as substitute Ethan Creary ghosted through the crowd to get on the end of Aaron Smith’s 94^th minute long throw but his header lacked power and simply loped into the grateful hands of keeper Jezeph.

After last season’s dismal showing this was a vastly improved Poppies side that are comfortably the best team to visit quattro tech Westwood Road this season and they look like they will play a big part at the right end of the table this term. On a positive note for Ives they can say that they matched these worthy opponents for long periods of the game and had one of those two excellent chances early in the second half gone in they could well have claimed a victory as it is they must lick their wounds and prepare for a vital FA Cup tie when they entertain Berkhamsted on Saturday.

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

Goals:

ST IVES: Kaziboni 38

KETTERING: Fifield 70 (pen), White 88

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Wilks, Mensah (O’Keefe 90), Smith, Lawrence (Creary 87), Herd, Collard (capt), Alexandrou (Adegbola 77), Abimbola (Kaziboni 36), Edwards, Chong (Obeng 83), Casey, Unused subs: none

KETTERING: Jezeph, Hart (capt), Powell, Kelly-Evans, Johnson, White, Jarvis, Thanoj, Ranger, Wilson, Fifield, Unused subs: Atcha, Mbayo, Miller, Kawimbi, Enovon

Referee:  Christopher Poole

Cards:   Yellow:  ST IVES: Alexandrou (45+1), Collard (69)       KETTERING: White (24), Johnson (30), Jarvis (78)         

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex Collard

Attendance:  471

Our matchday magazine for the Monday night home clash against Kettering Town is now available to download. Inside our 40 page publication this week:

• A report of our FA Cup win over Harpenden
• We review our three encounters against the Poppies last season
• And we focus on Jernade Meade, who this week has been on international duty with Montserrat.

PLUS much more. You can download your free copy HERE.