NEEDHAM MARKET 6 ST IVES TOWN 1
PitchingIN Southern League Premier Division Central
Tuesday 26 September 2023

Nigel Howlett Reports from Bloomfields

The high-flying Marketmen enjoyed their evening as they put a lacklustre Ives side to the sword to retain their place in the top three and push their visitors deeper into the pack of sides at the bottom end of the table.

For the second game in a row there was good and bad news for Ives pre-match. The inclusion of long term injured Jonny Edwards and Myles Cowling in the starting line up was a pleasant surprise even though neither could be fully match fit. But to balance that the scorer of last Saturday’s goal of the season contender Ed Hottor limped out of the warm up and had to be replaced in the eleven by Fernando Bell-Toxtle.

There was a lively start for Ives with Cowling very much to the fore with his direct running style unsettling the host’s defence. Michael Richens tried his luck from distance twice in the opening few minutes with both efforts flying wide of the target.

But it did not take long for the Marketmen to settle down and it soon became clear that their pacey front men were going to be a handful for Ives back line. Tevan Allen playing wide on the right timed his 9^th minute run to perfection to get on the end of Jacob Lay’s through ball and it took a brave save from Eddie Brearey to cling on to Allen’s dangerous low cross just ahead of attackers steaming in.

The Ives keeper may however feel that he was a fault as the hosts went in front three minutes later. The young keeper committed early to come for a long ball over the top on the right but he was beaten to the ball by the speedy Luke Ingram who had left Ives defenders in his wake and gleefully rolled the ball into the empty net.

Four minutes later it was two as the Ives defence seemed to go AWOL to allow Kyle Hammond and Ingram to exchange passes straight through the middle. The final ball from Ingram leaving Hammond with time to pick his spot to beat Brearey high to his right from 20 yards.

Things seemed to settle down for a while and just after the half hour Cowling came off in a planned move to be replaced by Dan Barton. Only seconds later Ives came within millimetres of halving the arrears as Paddy Casey and Greg Kaziboni combined well down the right. The former delivering a dangerous low cross to the near post that Dan Morphew slid in to just beat Edwards to it. But the toe poke from Morphew beat his own keeper and both were mightily relieved as the ball rebounded from the post straight into the grateful hands of the prostrate Marcus Garnham in the home goal.

Going close to conceding seemed to wake up the tiger in the Marketmen and within three minutes they had increased their lead. Ingram found acres of space in the centre of the park and sprayed a perfect pass into the run of overlapping full back Tom Smith. His low cross into the centre was laid back into the path of Hammond by Callum Page and the host’s midfielder fired home to claim his second of the night.

As is the minimum these days referee Jack Willmore found an added four minutes at the end of the first half and Ives enjoyed a brief purple patch in those added minutes. Edwards went close to opening his account for the season in the first of them as Richens fed him through but Garnham was equal to the striker’s low drive diving to his right to push it around the post.

Ives goal that gave a brief glimmer of hope arrived right on half time as Charlie Johnson rose at the far post to flick home Richens in-swinging free kick from the left.

But as had happened previously when Ives had gone close it seemed to lift the hosts to another period of pressure. Sure enough they came out determined to restore their three goal advantage and it only took them 65 seconds from the re-start to do so. Allen delivered a low cross from the right that took a deflection off an Ives defender and fell into the path of Ingram who did not need a second invitation to beat Brearey from ten yards.

This time the Marketmen did not ease off they continued to press and holes continued to appear in the hard worked Ives defence. Lay inadvertently hit the post in 52^nd minute as Richen’s attempted clearance ricocheted off him and bounced wide off the base of Brearey’s right hand post with the keeper looking on. Two minutes later Allen went close to a deserved goal as he picked up a poor clearance from Tyrone Baker and strode forward before unleashing a rising drive from 25 yards that Brearey did well to palm away.

Baker was again at fault in 56^th minute as he took down Lay inches outside the box to set up an excellent free kick opportunity for ex Ives favourite Dylan Williams. A clever free kick followed with a couple of players stepping over the ball before Williams curled it around the wall forcing Brearey into a diving save to tip the shot over the top. But the resulting corner led to the Marketmen’s fifth of the evening. The ball being fed back to Williams who fired in a low cross that was swept home at the near post by an unchallenged Kieran Morphew.

Two minutes later it looked likely to be six as Bell-Toxtle bundled over Jake Dye inside the box as the full back tried to get along the bye line. Ingram grabbed the ball intent on securing his hat trick only to be denied by an excellent save low to his left by Brearey who not only saved the shot but also hung onto the ball.

But the reprieve was very short lived as only ninety seconds later Allen grabbed the goal that his overall display on the night had deserved. Tearing straight through the heart of Ives shell shocked back line to emphatically thump the ball past the over worked Brearey from just inside the box.

Substitutions then began to happen to break up the tempo and the hosts decided to play a bit of keep ball at times. Among the substitutions was another welcome return for Ives as the hard working Brandon Njoku replaced the tiring Edwards for the final half an hour. But that was only the end of the scoring thanks to Brearey. In 70^th minute a poor ball from Jordan Williams put Kaziboni in trouble. He was robbed by Hammond who fed in substitute Seth Carroll-Chambers who unleashed a stinging drive from the edge of the box that a well positioned Brearey did excellently to parry away.

Allen was still causing problems down the right and in 78^th minute he cut inside Casey and strode into the box before firing into the side netting as Brearey came to close him down.

Barton earned himself a couple of man of the match nominations from the unhappy band of travelling supporters behind the far end goal as he made a few of his trademark mazy runs into the Marketmen’s back line in the closing stages. But nearest that Ives came to a second consolation goal was a fierce 25 yarder from Richens that stung the hands of Garnham as he parried it up into the air. Coolness personified in Morphew as he headed the dropping ball back to his keeper who was still on the deck but he judged it just right to put the ball straight into his hands.

Suffice to say the Marketmen retain their record as Ives bogy side with the run now stretching to thirteen games over sixteen years that the sides have met with Ives still yet to record a victory. But this was certainly the biggest thumping in the sad run of results. Manager Ricky Marheineke and his coaching team have a job to do to pick the side up from this performance and go out in search of results to lift them out of the bottom four.

Final Score:  Needham Market   6  St Ives Town  1  

Goals:

NEEDHAM MARKET: Ingram 12 & 46, Hammond 16 & 37, K. Morphew 57, Allen 61

ST IVES: Johnson 45+4

Team Line Ups:

NEEDHAM MARKET: Garnham, Dye, T. Smith, Hammond, K. Morphew, D. Morphew, Ingram (Letts 73), Williams, Page (Fraser 60), Lay (Carroll-Chambers 60), Allen, Unused subs: R. Harris, Crossthwaite  

ST IVES: Brearey, Casey, Herd (L. Harris 64), Richens (capt), Williams, Johnson, Kaziboni, Cowling (Barton 33), Edwards (Njoku 69), Bell-Toxtle, Baker Unused subs: Nassunculo, Hottor

Cards: Yellow:  NEEDHAM: D. Morphew (48)     ST IVES: Richens (24), Williams (41), Bell-Toxtle (55)

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Dan Barton

Attendance:  194

St Ives Town continue with their league programme on Tuesday evening when they make the trip to Needham Market.

The match comes fresh on the back of the weekend defeat to Redditch United which saw the Ives lose 3-2 in a game when they were leading 2-0 at half-time. That pattern is becoming somewhat of a feature so far to their campaign where a lead has been conceded late on, and it is something they will be looking quickly to eradicate as they look to get their season back on track.

IVES TEAM NEWS

The positives for the Ives are that Johnny Edwards came back into the squad on Saturday and looks set to get more game time at Needham Market. Myles Cowling should also be available after returning from an injury that has seen him sidelined since the start of the season. Skipper Michael Richens will also be available once more after missing out on Saturday with suspension.

INTRODUCING NEEDHAM MARKET

The task ahead of the Ives will not be easy as they face a Needham Market side who haven’t lost in the league since the opening game of the season. That was a 6-1 reverse away at Stratford Town. On Saturday, the Marketmen collected an excellent 2-0 win at AFC Telford United, a result that moved them up to third in the table. Needham Market are still in the FA Cup, and on Saturday have a third qualifying round tie at Peterborough Sports.

IVES v NEEDHAM MARKET – LAST SEASON

16/08/22: Needham Market 4 St Ives 2
19/11/22: St Ives Town 1 Needham Market 1

GOING TO THE GAME:

Needham Market FC
Bloomfields
Quinton Road
NEEDHAM MARKET
IP6 8DA

Kick-off is at 7:45pm.

St Ives Town have been drawn at home to Kettering Town in the Third Qualifying Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy. The tie will be played at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road on Saturday 7 October with a 3:00pm kick-off.

St Ives Town 2 Redditch United 3

PitchingIN Southern League Premier Division Central, Saturday 23 September 2023

Nigel Howlett Reports

Struggling Ives extended their run without a win to eight games in all competitions and yet again it was their inability to hold onto a lead which cost them as a second half comeback from the Reds saw them recover from a two goal deficit at the break to claim a 3-2 victory.

There was good news and bad for Ives before the game, the bad being inspirational skipper Michael Richens missing out as he served a one match ban for picking up five yellow cards in the first seven games of the season. The good news was a first appearance amongst the substitutes for talismanic striker Jonny Edwards as he continued his recovery from a pre-season appendix operation. The visitors gave a debut to their new signing from Bromsgrove Sporting with the regal name of Prince Henry.

The hosts started on the front foot as an eighth minute long throw from Aaron Smith caused panic in the visitor’s box but neither Charlie Johnson, nor Greg Kaziboni could make a clean contact with the ball as it ricocheted around. Keeper Adam Harrison was not called into action in that scramble but three minutes later he had to be on his toes to prevent Kaziboni putting Ives in front. Initially Dan Barton closed the keeper on a back pass forcing him into a hurried clearance that went straight to Fernando Bell-Toxtle. His header looked like it had put Kaziboni clear but the recovering keeper just managed to smother the ball ahead of the striker.

The Reds first attempt on goal came in the 16^th minute when patient build up was concluded by Aran Soleman playing the ball into the feet of Cameron just inside the box. Despite the close attention of Johnson the Reds striker managed to turn and get away a low drive that the alert Eddie Brearey in the Ives goal did well to hang onto low to his left.

The opening goal from the penalty spot came just before the half way mark in the first period as Ives broke at pace with Tiago Nassunculo being given the chance to take on Liam Armstrong one on one on the edge of the box. The tricky striker got the ball past the Reds full back but then found his run blocked by the defender just inside the box. Referee Gary Connell was right on the spot and instantly awarded the penalty. Despite the protests from the visitors Nassunculo kept his cool and just managed to beat keeper Harrison with his kick. The Reds stopper went the right way and got a good hand on the ball but could not prevent it going in off the inside of the post.

That opener may have had a little fortune about it but Ives second on the half hour was a goal worthy of winning any game. Another Smith long throw was half cleared to Hottor just outside the box. The Ives midfielder was surrounded by yellow shirts but a shimmy to his right created a little bit of space, just enough for him to gently caress a shot with the outside of his boot that curled past the motionless Harrison and found the top corner of the net.

Going two behind seemed to spark a reaction out of the visitors and it did not take them long to pressurise the Ives goal. Two minutes after that second goal Ives defenders found themselves putting their bodies on the line to preserve the cushion. Williams and Johnson each blocked shots deep inside their own box from Musa Ceesay and Cameron respectively. But eventually Ives conceded a free kick on the right corner of their box. Reece Flanagan picked out the run of Henry at the near post with the resulting free kick and it took a brilliant reaction save from Brearey to prevent the debutant halving the arrears.

Brearey was in action again just before the break to parry a fierce drive from Flanagan at his near post after the Reds skipper had created the space cleverly with a well worked short corner routine.

No doubt the visitors got a rocket from manager Matt Clarke at half time and they certainly came out with the bit between their teeth at the start of the second period. The deficit was down to one inside five minutes as Brad Burton got away down the right to deliver a low cross to the near post where the fast arriving Cameron swept it home.

Ives did have half a chance to restore their two goal lead in 57^th minute when a quick long throw from Smith gave Kaziboni chance run at the Reds defence and get into the box, but his shot was blocked by a covering defender and the ball scrambled clear. Johnson did get an effort on target as he flicked on the resulting long throw but keeper Harrison made a comfortable save at his near post.

But that was a rare Ives sortie into Reds territory and the ball was soon back at the other end with a shaky looking Ives defence trying to cling on to their slender advantage. Cameron went close again on the hour firing just over from 20 yards having been set up by Rowe.

They could not hang on for long through and sure enough in 68^th minute the visitors levelled things up. Once again the breakthrough came down the right where Cameron found space in behind and got to the bye line before picking out Flanagan with his pull back just in front of the near post and the Reds skipper did the rest blasting the ball home from ten yards.

The Reds now sensed blood and went for the jugular piling more pressure on the struggling Ives. Rowe was continuing to cause problems through the right channel and in 70^th minute he ran at the defence before firing inches over from just outside the box.

The winner came four minutes later and sure enough it came through that right channel where Johnson and Smith were struggling valiantly to cope with the pace and direct running that was coming at them. Rowe was again the protagonist bursting through into the box before being unceremoniously taken down by Smith. Referee Connell was on hand to award his second spot kick off the afternoon and Flanagan made no mistake sending Brearey the wrong way with his well struck effort.

Edwards was introduced three minutes later along with Tyrone Baker and to give them their due Ives did stem the flow of one way traffic and gave themselves two good chances to grab some reward from the game. An 82^nd minute Smith long throw was flicked on by Johnson and clearly hit the arm of a defender. With VAR it was a cast iron penalty but there is no VAR at Southern League level and the claims were waved away. Even then the ball dropped to Williams who mid appeal swung a boot at it to direct it goalwards and was very unlucky to see the effort deflect wide of the outstretched leg of keeper Harrison.

The second and even better chance of a leveller came in 88^th minute when substitute Enoch Andoh managed to win a header to flick the ball into the box. Baker bustled in between two defenders to win the ball and as it dropped to him by the penalty spot and keeper Harrison came to meet him he dragged his shot agonisingly wide of the post.

There were an added eight minutes so there was still hope and Ives did manage to win two corners in the last few seconds and with keeper Brearey up Williams was unfortunate to see his header aimed back into the mix from beyond the far post deflect wide of the shoulder of team mate Johnson.

Ives still find themselves sat in the bottom four and now face a trip to third placed bogy side Needham Market on Tuesday evening while the Reds consolidated themselves in the play off places with their third win on the road this season and face bottom of the table Long Eaton on Monday night.

Final Score:  St Ives Town  2  Redditch United  3

Goals:

ST IVES: Nassunculo 21 (pen), Hottor 30

REDDITCH: Cameron 50, Flanagan 68, 74 (pen)

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Brearey, Casey, Smith, Bell-Toxtle (capt), Williams, Johnson, Barton, Hottor, Nassunculo (Edwards 77), Harris (Andoh 86), Kaziboni (Baker 77), Unused subs: Hickinson,  

REDDITCH: Harrison, Burton, Armstrong (Howell 46), Mussa, Rowe, Wollacott, Flanagan (capt), Ceesay, Cameron (White 87), Henry (King 74), Soleman, Unused subs: Meynell

Cards: Yellow:  ST IVES: Barton (61), Johnson (70)     REDDITCH: Burton (90+5)  

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Ed Hottor

Attendance:  257

The match programme for the home league clash with Redditch United is now available to view.

As usual, there’s lots to read Inside the latest edition of the official matchday magazine for St Ives Town FC. This week includes:

• A report from last league match at Leiston
• We look at the history of Redditch United
• There’s an update from around the Southern League Premier Division Central
• And you can test your knowledge from last weekend in the Premier League in our popular ‘Ten to Tackle’ Quiz.
• Plus lots more……download our free 43 page online magazine HERE

Ten days earlier when Ives visited Victory Road they were unlucky to come away with nothing from a pulsating FA Cup tie. This time that luck went some way to evening out as they can consider themselves somewhat fortunate to take a point away from a game where they spent virtually the entire second half camped in their own penalty area trying to hang onto a lead grabbed by a solo break away goal right on half time by Tiago Nassunculo.

Arriving in Suffolk in the pouring rain there may have been doubt in the minds of some that this fixture would take place but the Victory Road pitch had taken the downpour well, however the locals had not with only a meagre attendance of just over one hundred braving the weather.

There was an unexpected late blow for Ives when Greg Kaziboni got a call to say that his wife was going into labour and he needed to head back to Northamptonshire for the birth of his first child. We wish Greg and his expanding family well. Tyrone Baker came into the starting line up leaving the visitors with only three on the bench.

Aaron Smith had half a chance from the game’s first corner in the sixth minute as he lost his man to meet Michael Richens out swinging flag kick cleanly by the penalty spot but he could only direct his header wide of the post.

It took the hosts a little while to get into their stride and the first real action for Eddie Brearey did not arrive until 18^th minute when overlapping full back Seb Dunbar laid the ball inside to Blues debutant Albie Armin. But the Ipswich Town loanees effort from 25 yards was straight at the Ives keeper who held on well.

Two minutes later it was the hosts other full back that got forward to cause problems as Wyatt Hill got down the right before feeding inside to the dangerous Ross Crane who ran at Ives defence before firing just wide from 25 yards.

The game was still fairly even during this middle period of the first half and Baker seized on a poor ball out of defence by Chris Casement to set up Dan Barton for a shooting chance in 23^rd minute. The youngster took a touch before unleashing a fierce right footed effort the Casement did well to recover and block probably feeling that the sting from the shot was going to make him more careful playing out from the back for the rest of the game.

Back down the other end in 28^th minute Paddy Casey upended Joe Marsden just outside the left edge of the box. Eddie Brearey did well to cling on to Crane’s free kick into the danger zone as attackers crowded around him ready to pounce on any slight error.

Similar sniffing for goal would have brought Ives reward three minutes later as home keeper Sam Donkin confidently called for Richen’s corner into the six yard box but then unexpectedly let the ball slip through his fingers. Unfortunately no Ives player reacted to the loose ball bouncing just in front of the goal line allowing Ryan Jarvis to save his keeper’s blushes by hacking it away.

Again the play quickly swung to the other end where Crane continued to cause problems. A 33^rd minute drive into Ives back line saw him get past two defenders before slipping the ball to Dunbar but the ever busy Richens had tracked back well and made an excellent block to the full back’s effort on the edge of the box. Three minutes later the same player picked out Jack Manley with a low driven cross. The Blues number eleven struck his effort from the edge of the box well but again Brearey showed his prowess diving to his left make the save.

Then with half time fast approaching and the board being prepared to indicate the added time came Ives goal. Nassunculo picked up a long ball out of defence fully 35 yards from goal and set off on a mazy run into the heart of the Blues defence being tracked by three defenders it looked like he was being pushed harmlessly wide as he went on into the penalty area. But he still had the ball at his feet and he tried his luck with a rising left footed effort that keeper Donkin will probably not want to see again as it beat his upraised arm at the near post and went into the roof of the net.

The hosts started the second half very much on the front foot and determined to get back on terms. They quickly found themselves picking up free kicks around the Ives box and Richens, already with a suspension looming, picked up his sixth yellow card of the season for upending Crane four minutes after the re-start. The Blues danger man picked himself up and fired the resulting free kick over the visitors four man wall and just inches wide of Brearey’s left hand upright as the young keeper flung himself across goal to cover the effort.

The foul count continued to clock up against Ives but they were all outside the box until a hearts in mouths moment on the hour when ex Ives man Kieran Higgs cut in from the left and went down under challenge from Paddy Casey. But referee Chris Hastings, who may have been a little unsighted, waved the incident away. The decision so incensed the host’s goalkeeper coach Nigel Ling that he found himself dismissed from the dugout for his protestations.

The tide continued to flow towards Ives goal and a 67^th minute snap shot from Higgs just cleared the crossbar. You might say that was close but what followed four minutes later was an amazing escape for the visitors. Crane was again the provider as he clipped a ball into the centre that led to an amazing scramble inside Ives box. The initial header was from Dunbar was blocked on the line by Williams, apparently with the use of a hand if the locals are to be believed. A follow up effort was also kept out at point blank range and the ball finally scrambled clear.

After two very good shout for a penalty had been turned down the third that came in the 77^th minute lacked conviction and again was not given as Dunbar went down inside the box again under challenge from the hard working Casey.

It was beginning to look like Ives might hang on for what would have been an amazing win on the road but their luck finally ran out in 84^th minute as a corner from the right was fed back to Crane on the edge of the box and his well struck, first time effort found a way through the crowd and went in off the far post to level things up.

Having got level one might have expected the hosts to go for the jugular and try to grab all three points, but they were still cautious of Ives on the break and the only two half chances that arrived in the remaining minutes both fell Ives way with Williams harshly adjudged to have fouled keeper Donkin as the pair challenged for Richens 88^th minute free kick and another Richens free kick in added time falling to the feet of Charlie Johnson but his left footed effort lacking the power to test the Blues keeper.

The very hard earned point was not enough to lift Ives out of the bottom four but it does keep them well in touch with those around them. A Saturday off to allow some of the injured a bit more recovery time now awaits before a return to league action at home to mid table Redditch on 23^rd September.

Final Score:  Leiston   1  St Ives Town  1  

Goals:

LEISTON: Crane 84

ST IVES: Nassunculo 44

Team Line Ups:

LEISTON: Donkin, Hill, Dunbar (capt), Armin, Casement, Jackson, Crane, Higgs, Manley (McNeil 75), Marsden (Loza 64), Ryan Jarvis (Spooner 75), Unused subs: Batho, Dronfield,

ST IVES: Brearey, Casey, Smith, Richens (capt), Williams, Johnson, Barton (Culkin 79), Andoh (Harris 64), Nassunculo, Bell-Toxtle, Baker (Hickinson 76), Unused subs: none

Cards: Yellow:  LEISTON:  Crane (90+3)       ST IVES: Richens (47), Culkin (86)

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:   Eddie Brearey

Attendance:  103

Seven days after being knocked out of the FA Cup at Leiston, St Ives Town resume their league programme tomorrow with a home game against AFC Telford United.

The Ives go into the game looking for their first home win of the season. Their last home league game was against another team who were relegated from the National League North, Leamington. That match finished in a narrow 1-0 defeat. The Ives followed that up with a 1-1 draw at Kettering on Bank Holiday Monday. In that match, the Ives looked liked they were on course for a valuable three points only to be undone with the last kick of the game.

IVES TEAM NEWS

Johnny Edwards and Myles Cowling have been missing since the start of the season, and continue to get closer to fitness. Brandon Njoku will continue to lead the line for the Ives whilst defender Jordan Williams looks set to start after missing out on a place in the starting line-up at Leiston last week. Elsewhere, Dan Barton should start once more after returning to full fitness in recent games.

INTRODUCING AFC TELFORD UNITED

AFC Telford United arrive at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road currently sitting in 11th position in the table. Like the Ives, Telford were knocked out of the FA Cup last week as Coalville Town progressed at their expense. The Bucks were relegated from the National League North last season, and haven’t found it easy in their new surrounds with just two wins from their opening six league games. Those wins came against Royston on the opening day and a 7-0 hammering of Nuneaton.

STAR MAN

Look out for Montel Gibson. The former Ilkeston, Grimsby and Halesowen striker has five goals to his name so far this season including two in the 7-0 drubbing of Nuneaton.

HAPPY HOUR

A reminder that there is a special drinks promotion at the club tomorrow. From 1:00pm – 2:30pm all pints in the clubhouse will be priced at £3.00. Hot food will also be available.

ADMISSION PRICES

• Adults – £11
• Concessions (Over 65) £8
• Military Discount (with ID Card) – £5
• Students (With ID Card) – £5
• U16’s to 12 – £2
• U12’s – Free (Accompanied with an adult

You can download a copy of the free online programme HERE

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

Our free online programme for the home clash with AFC Telford United tomorrow is now available to download. Our 45 page matchday magazine includes:

• A report on the Ives FA Cup defeat at Leiston
• Ives supporter Dave Hook goes groundhopping
• We focus on our opponents season to date
• And our popular ‘Ten to Tackle’ matchday quiz returns with questions about the Premier League action from last weekend.

Plus much more. You can download your free copy HERE

Emirates FA Cup – 1^st Qualifying Round   02-09-2023

Leiston 2 v St Ives Town 1 

Nigel Howlett reports from The Watson & Hillhouse Victory Road Stadium

This season’s familiar failings re-emerged to ensure that battling Ives exited the FA Cup at the first hurdle and the Blues will consider themselves very fortunate to not have to face a Monday night replay in Cambridgeshire. But if you concede poor goals and then do not take your chances a defeat is the only likely result. 

Two crucial errors in two minutes just after midway through the first half put Ives on the back foot but they battled back by grabbing a goal early in the second half, then proceeded to create another half a dozen good chances to level things up without taking one of them. 

The statistics tell the tale with a first half with the hosts on top they amassed seven shots, with six on target and scored two. Ives also very much in the game had five efforts before the break but only two required a save from Sam Donkin. Second half Ives superiority shows through with seven attempts, but only three on target to the Blues solitary off target effort. But stats don’t win games goals do and Ives need to start converting a much higher percentage of their chances to get their season on track. 

The visitors were seriously hampered prior to kick off with two of what would have been their starting eleven getting stuck behind a serious accident on the A12 and arriving only minutes before the game got under way, to late to be included in the eleven that started the game. But to go a little way towards balancing out the missing pair Ives welcomed back Greg Kaziboni to the squad and he was the first player to create an opportunity in only the second minute when he out muscled Cameron Rayworth and delivered a low cross to the near post which Brandon Njoku got to ahead of his marker and was unlucky to see his effort deflected wide. 

The hosts first attempt on 14 minutes was a fierce 25 yarder from Ryan Jarvis that Eddie Brearey did well to push around the post diving low to his left. The resulting Blues corner turned into another chance for the Ives as Dan Barton broke away from his own box with the ball and tried to put Njoku away but keeper Donkin’s starting position was very high and he just beat the Ives striker to the ball inside the centre circle. It ricocheted to Michael Richens fully 65 yards from the opposition goal but with Donkin way out of position a goal was on if he got his effort right, sadly it was not, and his long distance shot floated at least ten yards wide. 

Play continued to swing from end to end with Kaziboni looking the main threat for the visitors. His 19^th minute cross field ball picked out Barton in space and the youngster cut inside before unleashing a shot from just outside the box the flew just wide of Donkin’s left hand post. 

But at the other end Ives first error was looming. In 24^th minute Ollie Saunders fed in ex Ives man Kieran Higgs through the right channel and he burst into the box past a tame challenge from Murphy Culkin before going down over the outstretched leg of the covering Luke Harris. Referee Joe Casey was in no doubt that there was sufficient contact and awarded the spot kick. Joe Marsden did the rest beating Brearey low to his left with a powerful spot kick. 

The Blues doubled their lead only two minutes later as Ross Crane seized the opportunity to cut in from the left and run at Ives defence getting past Culkin before comprehensively beating the diving Brearey with a crisp drive from just inside the box. 

To their credit Ives heads did not go down and thanks to the persistence of Njoku they carved out a chance to pull one back on the half hour. The young centre forward harried and robbed Chris Casement high up the pitch and fed the ball inside to Richens who unleashed a fierce, rising, drive from the edge of the box that Donkin tipped over. 

The hosts thought that they had made it three five minutes before the break as overlapping full back Rayworth fired in a powerful, dipping, shot from fully 25 yards that Brearey was forced to push away. Crane was first to the loose ball and turned it square to Higgs who slammed home only to be denied by the linesman’s upraised flag as Crane had been in an offside position when the initial shot came in. 

Final action of the half saw Kaziboni create another golden opportunity for the visitors. This time he got down the right before delivering an inviting cross to the near post, six yards out. Richens arrived between defenders but failed to keep his header down. 

As always in these situations the next goal is vital and Ives set off in hot pursuit of it at the start of the second period. Charlie Johnson had already had an early effort well held by Donkin before Kaziboni got the visitors back into the game with an excellent goal that his efforts on the day very much deserved. He robbed substitute Seb Dunbar on halfway before setting off on a mazy run that took him to the edge of the box where he cleverly deceived Donkin with a left footed effort that found the bottom corner of the net, game on!. 

They were almost level only seconds later when Njoku burst through down the right and drove in a low cross through the six yard box that hit Rayworth and could so easily have gone in the net, but somehow got stuck between the defenders legs and he reacted just quickly enough to get it away off the line before Barton could pounce. Ninety seconds later it was Barton’s turn to go close as he broke through the centre of the Blues defence before unleashing a fierce shot from inside the D that deflected just over the top off a covering defender. 

Ives hopes of getting on level terms were delivered a serious blow on the hour when Njoku was helped from the field after landing awkwardly under a last ditch challenge from Casement which only just prevented the centre forward getting clear. Njoku was relaced by Tiago Nassunculo who took up position on the right with Kaziboni moving into the centre. 

The loss of Njoku did not stop the one way traffic towards the Blues goal as Ives continued in search of the equaliser. In 64^th minute Barton again sped away down the left and was unlucky to see his driven cross deflect off Rayworth to just take it away from the unmarked Nassunculo arriving at the back post. 

The substitute was involved again two minutes later when he combined well with Kaziboni before firing over the top from the edge of the box. Johnson then had an effort cleared off the line in 68^th minute as he got on the end of Johnny Herd’s in-swinging corner beyond the far post. The angle was just to narrow and the well position Saunders got the ball away. 

The Blues solitary second half effort came with fifteen minutes to go when Dunbar delivered a deep cross from the left that Fernando Bell-Toxtle tried to head away, but his header fell to Rayworth on the edge of the box, the young full back struck his effort well but the ball flew just wide. 

With time ticking down Ives began to run out of steam, but they still managed to create two excellent opportunities both falling to Richens who failed to test Donkin with either. With ten minutes to go Kaziboni delivered a corner from the left that picked out Richens who had somehow lost his marker in the centre but the Ives skipper failed to hit the target with his free header from six yards. 

Ives had a shout for a penalty turned down as the game entered added time. Kaziboni’s attempted cross from the right deflected off the leg of the covering Dunbar onto his arm, the sort of decision which is occasionally given, but more often than not it isn’t and this time the match officials decided that it was not to be. But the final opportunity to force a replay came from the resulting corner delivered in-swinging by Herd, Richens again lost his marker and met the ball on the edge of the six yard box, but again with the same result the powerful header flying inches over the top.  

No one can say that Ives went out of the FA Cup tamely as they battled very hard and were the better team for long periods of this game, but it is not possession and chances created that win games and once again errors at both ends of the park have proved costly.   

Final Score:  Leiston  2  St Ives Town  1 

Goals:  

LEISTON: Marsden 25 (pen), Crane 27 

ST IVES: Kaziboni 51 

Team Line Ups: 

LEISTON: Donkin, Rayworth, Hill (Dunbar 46), Saunders (capt), Casement, Jackson, Dronfield, Crane, Ryan Javis (Manley 77), Higgs (Spooner 71), Marsden, Unused subs: Atkin, Rossi Jarvis,  

ST IVES: Brearey, Casey, Herd, Richens (capt), Johnson, Murphy, Barton (Baker 87), Harris (Hickinson 82), Njoku (Nassunculo 60), Bell-Toxtle, Kaziboni, Unused subs: Williams, Hottor, O’Neill  

Cards: Yellow:  LEISTON: Rayworth (78)        ST IVES: Richens (74) 

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:   Gerg Kaziboni 

Attendance:  187 

The second leg of the Bank Holiday feast of football continues on Monday as the Ives make the trip to Kettering Town as they continue their PitchingIN Southern League Premier Division Central programme.

INTRODUCING KETTERING

The Poppies of Kettering are back at this level following their relegation from the National League North last season. However, they have found the first few weeks of the season hard going with just a solitary point to their name so far. That came courtesy of a 2-2 draw against Halesowen last Saturday. The remaining four games have seen defeats against Stamford, Stourbridge, Barwell and Redditch. The Poppies currently sit just one place off the foot of the table and in the squad for them on Monday will be defender Ben Toseland who has had a couple of spells with the Ives, the most recent being last season.

IVES TEAM NEWS

The Ives make the trip looking for a much needed victory having lost two out of their last three matches, the latest being a 1-0 defeat at home to Leamington on Saturday. Boss Ricky Marheineke made several changes to that line-up including naming skipper Michael Richens who started on the bench, but he should be in line for a start at Kettering. Brandon Njoku looks set to continue to lead the forward line which will once again be missing Jonny Edwards as he recovers from an appendix operation. Aaron Smith is also in line for a start after being unavailable on Saturday whilst Dan Barton, who came off the bench against Leamington, could get more minutes under his belt.

ADMISSION PRICES

Tickets can be purchased online or on the gate. The prices are:

Adults: £15.00 Concessions: £10.00 Under 16’s: FREE with a full paying Adult. Concessions are over 60’s and a student with a valid student card. If you wish to purchase a ticket in advance, the link is HERE

GOING TO THE GAME

If you are heading to the game, a reminder that Kettering play their home games at Burton Latimer. The ground address and parking details are below.

Kettering Town FC, Latimer Park, Powell Lane, Burton Latimer NN15 5PS. Please note that there is limited parking at Latimer Park, but the Alumasc car park (next to the ground) on the right by the entrance, is available.

St Ives Town 0 Leamington 1

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  26-08-2023

Nigel Howlett Reports

A game with nil, nil written all over it from early on was decided in favour of the visitors in a fashion worthy of the match as a whole, scrappily!. The scorer Callum Stewart somehow found himself unmarked a couple of yards out in a goalmouth scramble following a corner and as the ball bounced up to him he duly obliged by nodding it home.  

Prior to that 53^rd minute goal the two defences had run the show. The Brakes long ball game feeding the ball straight down the throats of Jordan Williams and Charlie Johnson who barely missed a header all afternoon. But equal to the Ives pairing were the visitors centre backs Theo Streete and Jack Lane they similarly to dealt with everything directed their way as Ives also looked to get the ball down the park as early as possible at every opportunity. 

The only real save that either keeper had to make in the opening 45 minutes was a smart save low to his right by Eddie Brearey to deny Henry Landers in fourth minute. That chance had also arisen from a Ben Usher-Shipway corner. Another early opportunity also went the way of the visitors when skipper for the day Fernando Bell-Toxtle saw the ball strike his arm just outside the box in seventh minute. But Stewart hit the resulting free kick straight into Ives five man wall. 

There were very few other noteworthy incidents in either goalmouth during the rest of the first half and I list the few that I noted below as much to fill column space as to mention them as efforts that really looked like producing a goal. 

A 29^th minute in-swinging free kick from the right by Johnny Herd was just to high for everyone and flashed harmlessly across the face of goal. The free kick had been won by Enoch Andoh as he tried to wriggle his way past Josh Quaynor with the full back taking him down. 

Brearey came through the crowd to try and claim a 38^th minute corner but was hampered on the way and spilled the ball on landing. Fortunately for the keeper his defenders were on hand to scramble the loose ball away. 

Bell-Toxtle fouled Jiah Medrano to concede a free kick by the left corner flag in added time. The initial delivery was well defended with the ball being knocked out to the right where Usher-Shipway delivered a dangerous return cross that was brilliantly defended away from the lurking Landers by Williams. 

Ives started the second half well by keeping the ball down and passing it around probing for ways through the very solid looking Brakes defence. A patient move straight from the kick off ended with Kellan Hickinson teeing up Brandon Njoku for a shot from 20 yards that the young striker fired well over the top. Andoh won another free kick in a dangerous position in 50^th minute. Hickinson bent his shot around the wall well but it lacked power and was a comfortable save for Callum Smith in the visitors goal. 

That bright start was brought to an abrupt halt three minutes later when the Brakes got their noses in front. The initial move to win the corner saw Stewart feed in Landers through the right channel. The Brakes centre forward unleashed a powerful drive from just inside the box that a well positioned Brearey push around his near post. The resulting corner delivered into the mix by Usher-Shipway then lead to the scramble which saw Stewart grab the only goal of the game. 

Williams was still doing his best to keep Ives in the game and it took a brilliant recovery block from the centre back to prevent Medrano doubling the visitors lead three minutes later. The Brakes winger looked like he had been put clear by Stewart but Williams timed his sliding challenge to perfection to block the shot the instant that it left Medrano’s foot. 

Now recovered from a pre-season injury Cambridge United loanee winger Dan Barton was introduced in place of the unusually subdued Tyrone Baker on the hour and he brought a new impetus to the Ives attack but the route past Streete and his colleagues was still providing a very hard nut to crack. The closest that the Ives came to an equaliser was in 67^th minute when Njoku was taken down by Quaynor just outside the box. Herd carefully lined up the free kick and his sweetly struck effort dipped perfectly over the Brakes four man wall but flash just millimetres the wrong side of keeper Smith’s left hand post with the custodian comprehensively beaten. 

Tiago Nassunculo came on in place of the tiring Andoh with fifteen minutes to go but even his trickery could not unlock the door into the Brakes very well defended penalty area. The heavens also opened at this point to give Ives some little hope of a slip by a defender as the excellent 3G surface slickened up but it was not to be.  

A semi fit skipper Michael Richens was introduced and Williams thrown forward as an extra striker for the last ten minutes but still the Brakes rock solid defence held firm. The indomitable Streete put his only foot wrong in the game deep in added time when he picked up a yellow card for needlessly kicking the ball away after picking up a free kick for a foul on him by Richens but I am sure that he will not mind. 

The result sees Ives slip into the early season bottom four whilst the Brakes move up to mid table but at this stage of the season it is very much an embryonic table and a couple of positive results can catapult a team from the bottom end to the top end in double quick time.     

Final Score:  St Ives Town   0    Leamington   1 

Goals:  

ST IVES:  

LEAMINGTON: Stewart 53 

Team Line Ups: 

ST IVES: Brearey, Casey, Herd, Bell-Toxtle (capt), Williams, Johnson, Baker (Barton 61), Hottor, Njoku, Hickinson (Richens 85), Andoh (Nassunculo 75), Unused subs: Culkin, Harris  

LEAMINGTON: Smith, English, Quaynor, Kelly-Evans (Baldwin 90+1), Streete, Lane, Usher-Shipway, Walker (capt), Landers, Stewart, Medrano (Taylor 81), Unused subs: Clarke, Nicoll  

Cards: Yellow:  ST IVES: Hickinson (17), Hottor (60)    LEAMINGTON: Stewart (74), Streete (90+4) 

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Jordan Williams  

Attendance:  233 

The online matchday magazine for the home league match with Leamington tomorrow is now available. The content inside features the latest from around the league, a report from the defeat at Hitchin last week, we look at what’s happening around the club courtesy of our club noticeboard page and we wind the clock back to August Bank Holiday weekend 2018 when the Ives secured a 2-1 victory at Royston. Much more besides, and you can download your free copy HERE.

Join us at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road on Saturday afternoon for a pre-match drinks promotion in the clubhouse.

From 1:00pm to 2:30pm, it is £3.00 a pint. Hot food is also available.

So make sure you take advantage and enjoy the pre-match atmosphere and an afternoon of top quality non-league football.

St Ives Town will travel to Leiston in the first qualifying round of Emirates FA Cup.

Leiston are no strangers to the Ives, as they currently sit one place above them in the PitchingIN Southern League Premier Division Central. Leiston have won once so far this season, and reached the end of season play-offs last year.

The tie will be played on Saturday 2 September with a 3:00pm kick-off.

Hitchin Town 3 v St Ives Town 2

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  19-08-2023

Nigel Howlett reports from Top Field

A frustrating day for Ives management team who felt that they could so easily have got something from this game but despite an excellent second half performance it was the speed and clinical finishing of the Canaries that decided the contest.

Manager Ricky Marheineke went for a change in formation going for a bold three at the back line up which saw Murphy Culkin come in on the left side to join Jordan Williams and Charlie Johnson. This allowed Paddy Casey and Johnny Herd to be pushed further forward to provide a greater threat in wide positions. But the Ives found themselves a goal in arrears before the new formation had any chance to bed in at all. Culkin was done for pace by Isaac Galliford after only 80 seconds and having sprinted past the struggling defender the hosts centre forward made no mistake thrashing the ball home past the exposed Eddie Brearey from just inside the box.

Ives began to settle into the contest and create a few half chances of their own. In 13^th minute Johnson lost his marker to get on the end of a Herd long throw but his powerful header from by the penalty spot was straight at Charlie Horlock who made a comfortable save. The visitors went even closer to levelling things up three minutes later when Brandon Njoku cleverly dropped off his marker to find a little bit of space to get on the end of Casey’s teasing cross from the right. But once again the header was straight at Horlock who was this time forced into palming the effort over the crossbar.

Casey did well at the other end midway through the first half as he came in with a timely interception at the back post to prevent Galliford turning in a dangerous Bradley Bell cross from the right after the full back had combined well with Diogo Freitas-Gouveia in one of the host’s trademark pacey breaks.

Having survived that break Ives again enjoyed a period of good possession where they continued to create half chances. Skipper Michael Richens got on the end of an in-swinging Herd free kick from the right but under heavy pressure from defenders he failed to hit the target with his back post header. On the half hour the hard working Njoku did very well to keep in a long ball wide on the left. He took the opportunity to run at the defence and got past Bell cutting into the box but rather than try and pick out a team mate arriving in the centre he went for goal from a narrow angle allowing Horlock to make the save.

Having battled so hard to try and find a route back into the game Ives then found themselves undone again on the break. In 35^th minute Galliford chased down a long ball and forced Culkin into an error before feeding in Freitas-Gouveia who gleefully slotted past the exposed Brearey to double the host’s advantage. The lead should have been three only two minutes later as Galliford outmuscled the covering Casey and fed in Freitas-Gouveia who again beat Brearey with his fierce effort from just inside the box and was unlucky to see the effort rebound from the upright.

The half ended with Richens taking down Freitas-Gouveia as the speedy winger was breaking away again. The foul took the Ives skipper’s card count up to three after only four games of this embryonic season. It also gave Galliford chance to fire a fierce cross shot across the face of goal that just evaded everyone in the centre and flashed past the far post much to Brearey’s relief.

Ives came out in determined mood at the start of the second period and set off in search of a route back into the game. Njoku was proving a handful for the Canaries defence and his powerful 50^th minute run cutting in from the left saw him get to the bye line but again he was unable to find a team mate with his pull back. Richens won the resulting corner in the air but could only direct his header wide.

But with Ives pushing forward there was still a very real threat of the hosts grabbing another at the other end as the Canaries pacey front men continued to hunt down every long ball up the park. Finley Wilkinson manager to outpace Jordan Williams to get on the end of just such a long ball from Ciaren Jones in 53^rd minute but the number eleven fired his first time effort just wide from the edge of the box. The next effort from the Canaries on the hour was a little different as it involved an attacker running at Ives back line. Freitas-Gouveia picked up the ball in midfield and ran across the front of the defence before firing just wide from 20 yards.

Njoku had been having a real battle with the hosts back line throughout and his tenacity earned him a penalty in 64^th minute as he harried and robbed Jones right on the edge of the box. The host’s defender was forced to rugby tackle the Ives centre forward just inside the box to prevent him getting away. The fact that the foul was inside the box saved the Canaries defender from a red card with the double jeopardy rule coming into play excellent referee Stuart Smith awarded the spot kick and booked Jones. The centre back’s action however proved worthwhile as Njoku saw his rather tame spot kick saved by the diving Horlock.

But going so close seemed to lift Ives to greater efforts and they went close three times in the next five minutes. Substitute Enoch Andoh had a long throw knocked down to him at the back of the box but he snatched at the effort and fired well over from a good position only sixty seconds after the penalty miss. Three minutes later a snap shot from fully 30 yards by Njoku almost caught out Horlock with the scrambling keeper pleased to see the effort flash inches wide of his left hand post.

The keeper was forced into an excellent save in 69^th minute as a Herd long throw was knocked down to Luke Harris just outside the box and his crisp first time effort skimmed through the crowd but failed to find the net thanks to the outstretched right hand of the diving Horlock.

Having gone close on so many occasions Ives did finally manage to halve the arrears with 15 minutes to go. Njoku harried Toby Syme into a mistake just outside his own box and robbed the defender before jinking through and clipping the ball past the exposed Horlock to get Ives back into the game.

Could a barnstorming finish be on the cards?, unfortunately not as the hosts restored their two goal advantage in the simplest fashion eight minutes later. Richens was adjudged to have pulled back Freitas-Gouveia 25 yards from goal to concede a free kick. Ives lined up a five man wall expecting a shot from the Canaries winger who had picked himself up to take it. But he caught out the Ives back line with a clever kick sliding the ball sideways to his left where Wilkinson had been left completely unmarked. The host’s striker hit his first time effort well and it found the back of the net beating the out of position Brearey low at his near post. The keeper being caught as much off guard as his defenders by the unexpected move.

But Ives were not done and reduced the arrears again in 88^th minute. Two substitutes combined to set up the goal as Kellan Hickinson fed in Tyrone Baker, the winger cutting from the left and getting to the bye line before driving in a low cross that was deflected high into the roof of his own net by Jones.

There was an added six minutes at the end which was long enough for both sides to go close to adding to their tally. Galliford was put clean through in the first of those added minutes and should have killed the contest but Brearey did well to quickly close him down and bravely block the shot at close range.

Another mazy run from Baker carved out Ives chance to get something from the game two minutes later. Once more he got away down the left and got the bye line his pull back picked out Richens on the edge of the box, but the skipper was stretching for it and could only prod it on the Harris who in turn fed it on to Hickinson. The substitute struck the ball well from just inside the box but by then a whole posse of defenders was hurtling across the Canaries box to try and block the shot and sure enough one of them deflected the ball away to preserve the hosts lead and take them on to their third victory out of the opening four games.   

Final Score:  Hitchin Town  3  St Ives Town  2

Goals:

HITCHIN: Galliford 2, Freitas-Gouveia 35, Wilkinson 86

ST IVES: Njoku 76, Jones (own goal) 87

Team Line Ups:

HITCHIN: Horlock (capt), Bell, Eadie, Syme, Jones, Barker, Freitas-Gouveia (Georgiou (90+4), Cotter, Galliford, Idiakhoa, Wilkinson, Unused subs: Gleeson, Tearle, Black. Luwero

ST IVES: Brearey, Casey, Herd, Richens (capt), Williams, Johnson, Culkin (Hickinson 78), Harris, Njoku, Bell-Toxtle (Baker 51), Nassunculo (Andoh 63), Unused subs: Smith, Hottor

Cards: Yellow:  HITCHIN: Jones (64), ST IVES: Casey (37), Richens (40), Williams (73), Johnson (89)

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Tyrone Baker

Attendance:  468

St Ives Town make the trip to Hitchin on Saturday as they bid to claim another win on the road.

Last Saturday, the Ives recorded an excellent victory at Nuneaton, with the only goal of the game being scored by Brandon Njoku.  The Cambridge United loanee followed this up with a goal in the 1-1 draw with AFC Sudbury on Monday night.

IVES TEAM NEWS

Njoku looks set to lead the line again for the Ives as regular striker Jonny Edwards remains sidelined following an appendix operation, and is still some weeks away from returning to fitness.  Elsewhere, fellow Cambridge United loanee, Dan Barton could come into contention after missing the first few games of the season with injury.  Meanwhile, recent new signings Kellan Hickinson and Carlos Flood may force their way into the starting line-up.

INTRODUCING HITCHIN

Hitchin won their first two games of the season.  A 2-0 win at home to Alvechurch was followed by a 2-1 win at league newcomers Long Eaton United.  However, the Canaries fell to a 2-0 defeat at Needham Market on Tuesday evening.  Ex-Histon player Finley Wilkinson has already bagged two goals this season, and will be one of the key players to watch for the Canaries.  Hitchin finished in 12^th position last season, a marked improvement from the season before when they flirted with relegation for a lot of it, and escaped the drop by just a solitary point.

LAST SEASON

Mon 26 Sept: Hitchin Town 1 St Ives Town 1

Sat 04 Feb: St Ives Town 3 Hitchin Town 2

TICKETS ONLY

Fans are reminded that admission to the game is ticket only, and there are no cash sales on the day.  Tickets can be purchased via the ticketing page of the Hitchin Town website.  The link is Hitchin Town v St.Ives Town | Southern League | Hitchin Town Tickets (ktckts.com)

Kick-off is at 3:00pm

GOING TO THE GAME:

Hitchin Town FC

Top Field

Fishponds Road

HITCHIN

Herts

SG5 1NU

St Ives Town 1 AFC Sudbury 1

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  14-08-2023

Nigel Howlett Reports

Brandon Njoku’s second well taken goal in two games should probably have been enough to give Ives another maximum return on the back of Saturday’s excellent victory at Nuneaton. The fact that it didn’t was down to an opposition that was willing to battle all the way for ex St Neots manager Marc Abbott and one brief lapse of concentration at a corner late in the first half.

Ives first competitive fixture in their new Monday evening slot at quattro tech Westwood Road attracted a decent attendance and they were treated to an entertaining game where only in the closing stages did the exertions of 48 hours earlier begin to show for both sides.

Manager Ricky Marheineke made three changes to freshen up the side that had fought so well to claim the maximum return at Nuneaton with Aaron Smith coming in at left back for Johnny Herd, Ed Hottor replacing Luke Harris in the centre and Enoch Andoh slotting in on the left wing for Tiago Nassunculo. All three of those being rested were included on the bench.

It was the first of Smith’s trademark long throws that created the games first shooting opportunity in eighth minute. The throw was only half cleared with the ball dropping to skipper Michael Richens on the edge of the box, but he screwed his first time effort well wide of keeper James Bradbrook’s right hand post.

The visitors carved out their first half chance two minutes later as Jake Turner robbed Hottor in the centre circle and fed in Joe Neal through the right channel. It took an excellent blocking tackle from Paddy Casey to prevent Romario Dunne forcing home Neal’s low cross at the back post.

The opening goal in the 18^th minute came from a perfectly flighted in-swinging free kick from the left by Richens. Njoku timed his run to perfection, leapt like the proverbial salmon to meet the ball at the near post and power home his header giving Bradbrook no chance.

Now with their noses in front Ives went in search of a second and chances came and went in the following ten minutes. Fernando Bell-Toxtle and Hottor combined well to set Tyrone Baker off on a run in 24^th minute. Baker weaved his way past defenders across the face of goal but having created the space for the shot then dragged his effort from just outside the box wide. Charlie Johnson rose highest to an Andoh corner two minutes later knocking the ball down into the mix where Njoku went for the spectacular trying an overhead kick to force the ball home but the effort went straight into the hands of Bradbrook.

The closest that Ives came to that vital second goal was in their very next attack only seconds later. Jordan Williams outjumped keeper Bradbrook to flick on a Smith long throw. Bell-Toxtle hooked the ball back from beyond the far post. Williams again rose highest in the crowded goal mouth but his header rebounded off the crossbar. Andoh was first to the dropping ball but his attempt to force it over the line was headed away from under his own crossbar by Tom Dickens.

Having survived that period under the cosh only one goal in arrears the visitors then began to show themselves again as an attacking force. Dickens put Ollie Caley-Brown away down the right in 33^rd minute. The speedy winger cut in and unleashed a fierce cross shot that beat the diving Eddie Brearey but flashed across the face of goal with Yellows fans behind the goal claiming that Ives athletic keeper had got a touch.

Those same supporters were enjoying themselves with the lights on their mobile phones giving a good indication that they felt that the floodlights should be on by this point in the evening. But those lights were on nine minutes later thus Ives had no excuse for losing Turner as he ghosted in unmarked at the far post to head home Caley-Brown’s corner from the right to level things up just before the break.

The equaliser sparked a reaction from Ives and it took an excellent diving save from Bradbrook to prevent Baker restoring the host’s lead right on half time. The agile keeper plunged low to his right to palm away the winger’s crisp right foot drive from the edge of the box.

The second half was a much more even affair than the opening period with both sides struggling to create more than half chances to win it. The first fifteen minutes of it were played out without either keeper being tested. The first shot at goal from either side came on the hour and again it was a Smith long throw that created it. This one cleared everyone in the centre of goal and found Andoh lurking beyond the far post but he failed to keep down his effort to half volley the dropping ball.

Another Yellow’s corner ninety seconds later created more problems for Ives back line as the ball ricocheted around the box before eventually falling to Olu Oluwatimilehin and it took a brave block from a flying defender to keep out his goal bound effort.

The best chance for either side to grab that all important second goal came in 69^th minute thanks to the tenacity of Njoku. He ran onto a flick from substitute Nassunculo and out battled Dickens to get his shot away. Bradbrook reacted well to push the fierce effort up into the air but Kellan Hickinson, who had only been on the field a matter of ten seconds, was following up. He got his head onto the ball six yards out but could only manage to hit a covering defender on the line with the effort.

The next ninety seconds saw the visitors twice go close to getting their noses in front. Initially an effort from Caley-Brown cutting in from the right deflected off an Ives defender and looked like it was going to loop over Brearey. The ball eventually dropping inches wide of the post much to the relief of Ives keeper. But it was he who showed huge presence of mind to keep the hosts level from the resulting corner. The half cleared flag kick was picked up by Turner on the back corner of the box and what was probably his attempt at a cross almost found the back of the net as it floated goalwards on the breeze. A fast back peddling Brearey got to the ball and was going to hold it when he realised that his momentum would take him backwards over the line. Instantly he threw the ball away from goal and it was hacked clear by a defender.

Njoku will probably feel that he should have done better with his next half chance in 73^rd minute as a Richens free kick from the left rebounded off a defender and fell to his feet just outside the six yard box. The ball came quickly to him as he landed from his jump to try and get his head on the initial kick and he was unable to untangle his feet stabbing the effort wide.

The next opportunity fell to the visitors in 76^th minute as Josh Okpolokpo fed in Neal through the right channel but the Yellows centre forward failed to hit the target as Brearey came to meet him. The unfortunate Okpolokpo was involved less favourably five minutes later when he picked up his second yellow card in nine minutes. The first had come following an altercation with Richens in the centre circle but this second one was entirely his own fault. Caught dallying with the ball just outside his own box by Andoh who nicked it off him and was just getting away when the full back pulled him back to give excellent referee Gareth Davis no option but to dismiss him. With the chance to punish the Yellows further from the resulting free kick Richens turned down the opportunity to go for goal or put the ball into the crowded box inexplicably playing it square to Hickinson who lost possession meaning that the ten men almost broke away to grab an unlikely victory.

There was an expectation that with the visitors now down to ten Ives might be able to come up with a barnstorming finish to push on to victory. But although they had a lot of possession in the remainder of the game they began to look a little leggy as the exertions of the game at Nuneaton 48 hours earlier began to take their toll and the resolute Yellows held firm so effectively that the hosts were unable to test Bradbrook further.     

Final Score:  St Ives Town   1    AFC Sudbury  1

Goals:

ST IVES: Njoku 18

SUDBURY: Turner 41

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Brearey, Casey, Smith, Richens (capt), Williams, Johnson, Baker (Nassunculo 63), Hottor (Hickinson 68), Njoku, Bell-Toxtle (Harris 87), Andoh, Unused subs: Culkin, Herd

SUDBURY: Bradbrook, Okpolokpo, Tarpey (Oteng 75), Turner (capt) (Bennett 79), Lewis, Dickens, Caley-Brown, Oluwatimilehin, Neal, Dunne (Hunter 59), Bareck, Unused subs: Cousens, Whitehall

Cards: Yellow:  ST IVES: Richens (72), Andoh (90+3)    SUDBURY: Dunne (40), Lewis (88)

            Red: Okpolokpo 2x yellows (72) & (81)

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Enoch Andoh

Attendance:  255

Nuneaton Borough 0 St Ives Town 1    

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  12-08-2023

Nigel Howlett Reports from the FCS Stadium

Ives tough opening run of fixtures continued with a trip to last seasons play-off finalists. Few would have given the visitors much hope of getting anything from this game as it is only a few months since the same two sides met in the final league game of last season and on that occasion, Boro ran out comfortable 3-0 winners. 

But as has been said many times games are not played on paper and it was Ives who put in a sterling performance to deservedly earn their first maximum return of the season and leave their hosts still without a point on the board after the opening two games.  

It would be tough to pick out individual heroes from what was a very hard working and solid all-round performance. The hard working back four ensured that keeper Eddie Brearey only had one real save to make in each half. The midfield all worked like Trojans to ensure that Boro players never had a moment on the ball anywhere on the park. Brandon Njoku ran his socks off harrying the host’s back line and took his goal brilliantly to grab the man of the match award from the small group of Ives faithful that made the trip. 

With both sides losing their opening games of the season there was a little more edge on this one with the pressure particularly on the nervy looking hosts. Bilal Yafai had the first shot of the game after eight minutes, but he fired his left footed effort from the corner of the box well wide under pressure from Paddy Casey. Casey got involved at the other end two minutes later when Mattie Stenson’s upraised arm blocked his attempted cross from the right giving Johnny Herd a chance to swing a free kick into the crowded box but his kick was a poor one and did not get past the front man. 

Most of the game continued to be played in a very crowded midfield where Michael Richens, Luke Harris and Fernando Bell-Toxtle on his competitive debut for Ives were all putting in a real shift and winning their share of the ball off their harassed looking opponents. Bell-Toxtle battled well down the left to win the first corner of the game midway through the first half but again Herd’s kick came to nothing. 

Isaiah Osbourne almost managed to put Connor Furlong through in 25^th minute but Charlie Johnson was alert to the danger and bravely slid in to block the shot at point blank range. Ives best chance in the first half came three minutes later when Njoku showed his pace and ability to get past Osbourne and get to the bye line. He tried to pick out Tiago Nassunculo arriving at pace on the six-yard line with his pull back but covering defender Scott McManus did just enough to prevent the Ives winger firing home. 

Brearey had to make his only real save in the first half just after the half hour as Leroy Lita combined well with Stenson before the latter unleashed a fierce swerving drive from 30 yards that Ives young stopper did well to palm away high to his left. Jordan Williams was first to react to the loose ball just scrambling it away before Kacy Butterfield could prod it home. 

Following that escape Ives then got on top for the closing stages of the first half Nassunculo fired a 25-yard free kick around the host’s four-man wall but straight into the hands of keeper Dan Jezeph in 36^th minute. The same player should probably have done better two minutes later as clever runs from Njoku and Tyrone Baker took defenders away from him allowing him to run at the heart of the Boro back line but his eventual shot from 25 yards flew well over the top. 

Deep into stoppage time Njoku was taken down by Osbourne as he cut in from the left. The big centre half picked up a yellow card for the challenge and Richens tried to add to his pain and catch out Jezeph by going directly for goal with the free kick, but a well-positioned Lita headed the goal bound shot away. 

Picking up the yellow card was Osbourne’s final action in the game as he was replaced at the break by ex-Ives defender Camron McWilliams. But it was Ives who continued on top in the early stages of the second half. McWilliams first action was to take down Baker 25 yards out as the speedy winger cut inside. Richens beat the host’s wall with the resulting free kick but failed to hit the target.  

Four minutes after the re-start Ives deservedly got their noses in front. Bell-Toxtle, Nassunculo and Baker were all involved in the move that ended with Baker teeing up Njoku for a shot from inside the D. The striker swivelled on the ball and found the bottom corner of the net with a shot that beat the diving Jezeph low to his right. 

Going behind did spark something of a reaction from the hosts and Brearey was called upon to make his second real save of the game in 55^th minute. Ives struggled to clear a ball into their box and Butterfield delivered a teasing ball to the back post where Stenson hit it cleanly on the volley from ten yards out. Brearey reacted brilliantly hurling himself to his left to keep the ball out. 

From that point on Ives showed their resilient best as they effectively snuffed out everything that Boro tried. So effective were Ives during this period that the hosts did not manage another effort at goal until the 83^rd minute when Prince Mancinelli and Jaden Charles combined well on the left the move finishing with the former unleashing a powerful drive from the corner of the box that Brearey held well. 

Most of the long balls being delivered into Ives box were being dealt with admirably by Williams and Johnson. The only one that eluded them in 86^th minute was a McManus long ball that Lita managed to flick into the path of substitute Kane Richards but he fired his first-time effort from just outside the box well over the top.  

As is the way of things now there were eight minutes of added time, but Ives looked comfortable throughout the majority of that with their only real moment of danger coming midway through when Richens scythed down Mancinelli 25 yards out to earn himself a yellow card. Charles fired the free kick over Ives five-man wall but over the crossbar to allow Ives to play out the remaining moments and claim their first three points of the season.  

The only black mark on an otherwise excellent day for the visitors was three players picking up yellow cards for time wasting, again part of the new application of the laws of the game that referees must apply. Beware players even kicking the ball away a few feet will incur punishment this season. But back to the positive to end three very good points on the road from an impressive performance. 

Final Score:  Nuneaton Borough 0  St Ives Town 1 

Goals:  

NUNEATON: 

ST IVES: Njoku 49 

Team Line Ups: 

NUNEATON: Jezeph, Charles, Nirennold, McManus (capt), Mancinelli, Lita, Stenson (Tomlinson 70), Furlong, Butterfield, Yafai (Richards 64), Osbourne (McWilliams 46), Unused subs: Waite, Rowe-Turner 

ST IVES: Brearey, Casey, Herd, Richens (capt), Williams, Johnson, Baker, Harris (Hottor 75), Njoku (Culkin 90), Bell-Toxtle, Nassunculo (Andoh 78), Unused subs: Smith, Flood  

Cards: Yellow:  NUNEATON: Yafai (45+2), Osbourne (45+5), Lita (52), ST IVES: Johnson (45+1), Williams (87), Richens (90+4), Baker (90+7) 

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Brandon Njoku 

Attendance:  465