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.

Bishop’s Stortford 1 St Ives Town  0

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  07-09-2024

Nigel Howlett reports from the RDA Stadium

Ives frustrations on the road continue as they failed to find the net for the fourth game in a row away from quattro tech Westwood Road. Failure to score in this game meant for their third away league game in a row they slumped to a 1-0 defeat. As in those previous games they matched their opponents for long periods but failed to take their opportunities when presented.

Manager Ricky Marheineke made a couple of changes from the side which put five past Harpenden in Monday evenings FA Cup Replay with a return to Ives colours for one of last seasons stars Benji Mensah with David Adegbola making way for him. The rested Theo Alexandrou also returned to the starting eleven with powerful hold up man Silvano Obeng joining Adegbola on the bench.

The hosts who similarly came into this game on the back of a five goal FA Cup victory were first out of the traps with ex Ives full back Luke Warner-Eley registering the games first shot after three minutes. Alex Collard got in the way of Warner-Eley’s effort from the corner of the box heading the powerful effort wide. Ives keeper Dan Wilks was called into action for the first time from the resulting Cole Dasilva corner. Blues skipper Jake Thompson won the deep flag kick cleanly at the back post and powered in a header that Wilks did well to hold at the second attempt.

Referee Samuel Clayton drew the ire of Ives travelling supporters five minutes later waving away the visitors appeals for a free kick as Alexandrou appeared to be hauled down by Thompson as he burst through the centre of the Blues back line. The match official did blow his whistle in Ives favour in 12^th minute as Ryan Charles slid in on Mensah 25 yards from goal. The resulting free kick was fired into the hosts four man wall by Jonny Edwards.

Ives were almost caught out in 22^nd minute as the Blues broke quickly with Charlie Castle feeding in Kian Harness through the right channel. The centre forward looked completely clear but as Wilks came to meet him he blazed over the top from the edge of the box.

They were perhaps a little fortunate to survive that scare but they were not so fortunate five minutes later as they were caught cold by a clever training ground corner routine. Dasilva pulled his flag kick back to the unmarked Brad Russell on the corner of the box. With all of the time in the world to pick his spot the Blues midfielder delivered a teasing cross to the back post where Mark Haines fought through the crowd to power home his close range header.

The hosts should have made it two on the half hour as Kobe Chong was caught in possession in the centre circle by Erin Amu. Amu’s slide rule pass put Harness clear again but fortunately for the visitors the Blues centre forward again failed to hit the target with only Wilks to beat.

The Blues did get the ball in the net again in 37^th minute but it was a “goal” that would have only counted in the 1960’s and before as Russell bundled Wilks and ball into the net as the keeper rose to claim a clip into the box from the left.

Ives had got a little wiser, or perhaps just a little more fortunate, to the clever training ground corners from their hosts. In the first of the added two minutes at the end of the first half another Dasilva corner was driven in low a step over at the near post by Harness allowed the ball to run on to Russell but his driven shot from the edge of the box struck an Ives defender and bounced away.

There was still time for Ives to spurn a golden opportunity to level things up before the break. Chong combined well with Alexandrou down the left. The move eventually finishing with Alexandrou clean through bearing down on goal. Rather than shoot the tricky striker tried to feed the ball square to the unmarked Mensah but the ball was just behind the wing back forcing him to stretch for it and he was then leaning back and could only fire over the goal as defenders came to close him down.

The expectation amongst supporters was that Ives would tare at their opponents straight from the off but that pressure was slow to build and Harness again missed an opportunity to double the hosts advantage after a Dasilva corner was knocked down to him at the back post four minutes after the resumption.

From that point Ives began to slowly take control of the game. A 57^th minute mistake by Taylor looked like it had let Chong in for a run at goal but the Blues midfielder redeemed himself by cynically pulling back the Ives striker and was happy to take the inevitable yellow card that followed. He was probably even happier when Lawrence fired the resulting 25 yard free kick into the wall.

Edwards had been a shadow of his usual self in this game, but as ever he did get one chance in the game. That came 15 minutes from time when he suddenly found a bit of space on the edge of the hosts box. Taking the ball in his stride he tried to cleverly steer it into the corner of the net as Blues keeper Charlie Binns committed to go the other way. The effort was on target but Warner-Eley came across to block it with his trusty left boot.

Ives had a couple of good opportunities to claim the point that they deserved. With ten minutes to go substitute Greg Kaziboni combined well with Paddy Casey down the right. Casey looked like he was going to burst clear into the box but another cynical tackle took him to ground. Again the defender in question, this time Castle, was happy to take the inevitable yellow card. Chong curled a teasing free kick into the no man’s land between keeper and defenders where Jordan Williams attacked it and won the header cleanly but he got a little to much on the ball and powered his header past the post.

Harness missed a golden opportunity to sew the game up for the hosts in 89^th minute. A poor back pass from Aaron Smith put the centre forward completely clear with only Wilks to beat. The big stopper was quick to close the striker down and spread himself well to save the blushes of his team mate who was quick to acknowledge his error. The resulting corner was well claimed by Wilks whose quick throw put speedy substitute Adegbola away down the right. His attempted cross was blocked for a corner.

Ives supporters were again unhappy with referee Clayton when he only found an added five minutes at the end of the ninety particularly after three lengthy stoppages when Blues players received treatment in addition to a number of other delays when they stayed on the deck. All of that on top of eight second half substitutions!

Those added five minutes were spent with Ives camped around the Blues box but even then they failed to test Binns. The final opportunity that did come their way in the fifth added minute saw substitute Ethan Creary get on the end of Chong’s in-swinging corner but like all of those before him the youngster made clean contact but failed to hit the target from a good position.

Ives can look forward to a quick return to action on Monday evening as they host Kettering Town at quattro tech Westwood Road, that is then followed by a home FA Cup tie against Berkhamsted on the Saturday. Both games where Ives need to keep their excellent home form going. After that their mind can turn to how they can go about overcoming their apparent agrostophobia ahead of a trip to Bromsgrove Sporting.

Final Score:  Bishop’s Stortford    1   St Ives Town   0           Half Time  1 – 0

Goals:

BISHOP’S STORTFORD: Haines 27

ST IVES:

Team Line Ups:

BISHOP’S STORTFORD: Binns, Dasilva, Warner-Eley, Thompson (capt), Haines, Castle (Virciglio 82), Harness, Russell, Charles (Scott 60), Taylor (Moutawafiq 67), Amu, Unused subs: Oguwaza, Rotimi

ST IVES: Wilks, Mensah (Obeng 67), Smith, Lawrence (Hottor 58), Williams, Collard (capt), Alexandrou (Kaziboni 79), Abimbola (Adegbola 79), Edwards (Creary 89), Chong, Casey, Unused subs: none

Referee:  Samuel Clayton

Cards:   Yellow:  BISHOP’S STORTFORD: Charles (12), Taylor (57), Castle (80)           ST IVES:  Edwards (75), Hottor (86)          

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Paddy Casey

Attendance:  451

St Ives Town Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Benji Mensah.

Benji is no stranger to the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road having enjoyed a successful loan spell during last season where he became a fans favourite. The right back joined on loan from Peterborough and then made the switch to St Albans City. This season he has been with Rushall Olympic and last featured in their squad for the home match against Curzon Ashton last Saturday.

Also joining the Ives is midfielder Albie O’Keefe. Albie joins on a work experience loan from Stevenage where he started in the under 9’s before earning a scholarship at the start of the 2023/24 season.

Both players are registered and will be available for selection for the league trip to Bishop’s Stortford tomorrow, Saturday 7 September.

St Ives Town 5 Harpenden Town 2

Emirates FA Cup 1^st Qualifying Round Replay  02-09-2024

Nigel Howlett Reports

A three goal burst in the ten minutes before half time finally killed off the gallant Harps to take Ives through to the 2^nd Qualifying Round of Emirates FA Cup where they will host Southern League Division One Central Berkhamsted Town.

Prior to that avalanche of goals Ives had got themselves in front courtesy of a screamer from Kobe Chong midway through the first half only to switch off for a moment 90 seconds later to gift their visitors an equaliser.

With this replay only 48 hours after Saturday’s hard fought goal less draw in Hertfordshire it was not surprising that both sides made changes for the game. Manager Ricky Marheineke made three bringing in David Adegbola, Byron Lawrence and Silvano Obeng for their first starts of the season in place of Jernade Meade who is away on international duty playing in the CONCACAF Nations Cup with Monserrat, the injured Ed Hotter and rested Theo Alexandrou respectively. Harps manager Micky Nathan also made three changes bringing in Taylor Keeley, Alfie Osborne and Isaiah Hilaire in place of Lawrence Wiffin, Dave Keenleyside and Jake Collins respectively.

As on Saturday Ives were first team out of the traps enjoying some good early pressure without testing the hero of the first tie Connor Coulson in the Harps goal. Their first real effort at goal came in 14^th minute as referee Jospeh Karram played an excellent advantage allowing play to go on as Peter Abimbola was bundled over in the centre circle. Kobe Chong seized on the loose ball and fed it into Obeng’s run. But the big striker was quickly closed down and eventually fired his effort wide.

For all of their pressure Ives did not manage to get a shot on target until midway through the first half. But when it came it was well worth waiting for. Aaron Smith’s long throw from the left was headed clear to the edge of the box where Chong pounced on it taking on the dropping ball and spearing a screamer through the crowded goalmouth to find the bottom corner giving the unsighted Coulson no chance.

But having fought so hard to get in front Ives then switched off and let their gallant opponents back into the game. A deep cross from the right deceived Dan Wilks in it’s flight, the keeper looking like he expected the ball to float out of play but Hilaire got around behind him to steer the ball back into the centre where Jake Anthony gleefully slammed it home.

Being pegged back seemed to spur on the hosts and they then dominated the remainder of the first period. Obeng was providing a powerful presence in Ives attack and proving a real handful for the Harps back line. In 28^th minute he showed a deft touch to take in a ball to his feet before turning his man and feeding in Jonny Edwards through the right channel. Edwards powerful shot was just bundled behind by the well positioned Coulson.

Edwards and Obeng combined well again in 36^th minute with the latter unleashing a powerful shot from edge of the box that took a big deflection off a defender and looped past Coulson before rebounding off the base of the post. Wing back Adegbola was first to react to the loose ball to tap home unchallenged from close range.

A third Ives goal followed in the very next attack as Abimbola showed his quality to claim a brilliant solo goal. The powerful midfielder battled his way through the heart of Harps back line powering straight through the first two attempted tackles before side stepping a third at pace, rounding the exposed Coulson and slotting home from a narrow angle.

The double threat of Edwards and Obeng was proving to much to handle for Harps defence and the strike pair combined again to create an opportunity for Chong in 41^st minute. The move ended with Chong taking in the final pass from Obeng on the edge of the box before skipping past two defenders and drawing Coulson to him but the big keeper spread himself well to make an excellent save.

That save only kept the visitors in the game for a couple more minutes as Edwards effectively killed the game off with a screamer in the first added minute at the end of the first half. Smith showed an excellent touch to take down a ball on the left and feed it inside to Edwards. The big striker still had a lot to do but he took a touch before unleashing a powerful effort from 20 yards that found the corner of the net past the despairing dive of the overworked Coulson.

4-1 up at the break Ives merely had to be professional to see out the game. But they continued to go in search of more. Smith struck a 25 yard effort just wide after a corner had been knocked out to him eight minutes after the restart. Edwards spurned a golden opportunity that had been brilliantly carved out by Abimbola and Adegbola three minutes later.

Abimbola grabbed his second solo goal of the night and made it five in 58^th minute. He robbed Ben Spaul in midfield before bursting forward to again penetrate through Harps fragile centre and draw the exposed Coulson to him before finding the bottom corner from just inside the box.

Ives went close a couple more times in the next five minutes with Smith feeding in Chong cutting in from the left for the speedy striker to fire his shot just wide from the edge of the box as Coulson scrambled across to cover. A short Chong corner gave Lawrence the opportunity to curl an effort just wide from the right hand corner of the box.

With the game now effectively over both sides took full opportunity to give pitch time to some youngsters in their squad as both brought on their full compliment of five substitutes. Two of those substitutes were involved in Ives next effort in 76^th minute. Greg Kaziboni clipped a ball in from the right into the chest of Obeng and his knock down dropped perfectly for Alexandrou to fire a dipping volley just over the top.

The other three man from the bench were all involved in Ives final attempt of the night two minutes from time. Kaziboni’s deep corner from the right was headed back into the centre by Ethan Creary then half cleared by a defender to Evan Watkins. Jacob Dickson ran onto his delicate clip over the top but as he stretched to reach the ball he could only turn it into the hands of keeper Coulson.

The keeper’s swift clearance gave Harps chance to grab a late consolation goal with the ball threaded through to Marcus Williams who kept his cool to beat Wilks high to his right from just outside the box to complete the scoring for the night.

All in all a very satisfactory performance, not unlike Saturdays first fixture only this time with the goals to back it up. All three men that were brought in definitely brought something to the party with all in the frame for the man of the match accolade although Peter Abimbola just beat them to it for his powerful midfield display perfectly topped off by a well taken brace of goals.

Final Score:        St Ives Town  5  Harpenden Town  2       Half Time  4 – 1

Goals:

ST IVES: Chong 22, Adegbola 36, Abimbola 38, 58, Edwards 45+1

HARPENDEN: Anthony 24, M. Williams 88

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Wilks, Adegbola (Alexandrou 71), Smith, Lawrence, J. Williams (Creary 57), Collard (capt), Chong (Watkins 84), Abimbola (Dickson 84), Edwards (Kaziboni 71), Obeng, Casey, Unused subs: one

HARPENDEN: Coulson, Keeley, Rodrigues, Plowright (capt) (Codling 61), Palmer, Locke, Webb (Sweeting 71), Osborne, Anthony (M. Williams 61), Spaul (Ajana 71), Hilaire (McCleod 77), Unused subs: Andreou

Referee:  Joseph Karram

Cards:   Yellow:       ST IVES:   none             HARPENDEN: Osborne (6)

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Peter Abimbola

Attendance:  224

If St Ives Town beat Harpenden tonight, then they will be at home to Berkhamsted in the next round of the Emirates FA Cup. The second qualifying round tie is scheduled to take place on Saturday 14 September.

Our match programme for the Emirates FA Cup First Qualifying Round replay with Harpenden Town is now available to view. A reminder that all programmes are available online only.

Inside our 36 page publication:

• Match report from the first game on Saturday
• We go back 12 months as we look back on the Ives qualifying round tie from last season
• We introduce our visitors from Harpenden
• And we look forward to our forthcoming matches

PLUS lots more. Download your free copy HERE

Harpenden Town 0 v St Ives Town 0  

Emirates FA Cup 1^st Qualifying Round  31-08-2024

An entertaining cup tie that Ives could have won at a canter had they take one or two of their first half chances but in the end they could so easily have slipped up on the proverbial banana skin against the battling Harps who ply their trade in Spartans South Midlands Premier Division, two levels lower than their visitors.

Home keeper Connor Coulson was their first half hero as he almost single handedly kept Ives at bay. His heroics began as early as sixth minute when he plunged low to his left to keep out Jordan Williams near post flick to Aaron Smith’s long throw.

But the hosts also showed that they were going to be no push overs as Jake Anthony warmed the hands of Dan Wilks from the right hand corner of the box after he was fed by Josh Rodrigues on a quick Harps break two minutes later.

Coulson was back in action at the other end only 90 seconds later as he flung himself high to his right to palm away a stinging Jonny Edwards free kick from 25 yards that had beaten the hosts three man wall. Edwards got on the end of Meade’s resulting corner but failed to hit the target with his header from eight yards.

There was controversy two minutes later when Peter Abimbola ran onto Ed Hottor’s threaded pass through the left channel and duly beat the exposed Coulson. But although Abimbola looked well on side as the ball was played through the flag had gone up against Edwards who had been in an offside position in the centre. Needless to say the “goal” was ruled out.

Ives continued to press but Coulson remained an impenetrable barrier. The big keeper was smartly down to his near post to deny Alexandrou in 15^th minute and Ives again thought that they had got in front from the resulting Meade corner as Williams rose above the crowd to power home a header. But again the referee’s whistle had blown with Alexandrou adjudged to have impeded the keeper in the goalmouth as the corner came in.

The busy keeper again denied Alexandrou as he plunged low to his right to turn away the striker’s crisp drive from 25 yards on the midway point of the half. Ives were being patient and a passing move from one side of the pitch to the other created Paddy Casey room to deliver a 26^th minute cross to the back post where Alexandrou outjumped Rodrigues to knock the ball down for Meade but his first time half volley flew over the top.

Having done all of the pressing Ives then had a huge let off of their own just before the half hour. Dave Keenleyside’s in-swinging corner from the left deceived everyone in the centre and rebounded off the far post to create a scramble in the goalmouth. Anthony had a prod at it which Wilks did well to block at point blank range before Jake Collins hammered the loose ball over the top.

Back at the other end Coulson’s heroics continued as he hurled himself to his left to keep out Alex Collard’s downward header after the Ives skipper had won the battle to get on the end of Meade’s teasing corner. Edwards was given another shooting opportunity in 38^th minute as he was hauled down inside the D by Dan Palmer. The big centre forward went for power with the resulting free kick but Coulson was again equal to it pushing the ball over the bar.

With half time approaching Ives pressure looked like it must bring a goal. It took a combination of Coulson and Palmer to deny Edwards in 41^st minute as the Ives striker tried to force home Collard’s flick to another Smith howitzer. The crossbar then saved the Harps in the final minute of the half as Edwards got on the end of Meade’s clip in from the left and steered his header past Coulson only to be denied by the goal frame.

Having done all of that hard work with no reward to show for it, Ives came within millimetres of falling behind in the first added minute. The rebound from Edwards effort was thumped clear and Danny Webb sprinted away onto it. He beat the onrushing Wilks to it and looked like he only had to roll the ball into the empty net only for Casey to appear out of nowhere to save the visitors blushes by knocking the effort wide.

The visitors were a little slower out of the blocks in the second half but they thought that they had finally made the breakthrough in 56^th minute. Smith’s long throw from the right got the added impetus of the strengthening breeze and floated over all in the centre ending up in the net. Initially the assistant referee on the right gave the goal, presumably under the impression that Coulson’s upraised fist had made a tiny contact with the ball. But after consultation with the referee the final verdict was that no one had got a touch and again the “goal” was chalked off.

Ives continued to huff and puff but they seemed to be running out of ideas allowing the hosts to enjoy a decent period of possession for the first time in the game. The next two half chances both involved to the Harps number ten Keenleyside who curled an effort from the right hand corner of the box just over on the hour and then charged down Collard’s 76^th minute attempted clearance before feeding in Anthony who was denied a shooting opportunity by a well timed challenge from Williams.

With time ticking down the hosts put Ives under some pressure winning three corners in quick succession with ten minutes to go. The initial corner was won by Harps substitute Hadley Gleeson who drove in a low cross from the left that Collard deflected wide at the near post. It took a brilliant save from Wilks to keep out Gleeson’s rising drive as the youngster seized on the half cleared ball and let fly a screamer from 25 yards. The second corner was won in the air by Alfie Osborne whose header was deflected wide. It was a relief to all Ives supporters when Wilks rose majestically to claim the third flag kick.

The remaining time was played out with Ives camped around the Harps box but still unable to find a way through. Alexandrou and Edwards both failed to hit the target from good positions. Meade did better hitting the target with his crisp drive from the edge of the box but again Coulson was in the right place to make the save.

The final action in the first of four added minutes saw Abimbola fire wide from the edge of the box after the hard working Alexandrou had again got down the left before picking him out with his pull back.

The two sides will rejoin their battle again at quattro tech Westwood Road on Monday evening by which time both sides will know who awaits the winners of this enthralling tie with the second Qualifying Round draw taking place Monday lunch time.  

Final Score:  Harpenden Town     0     St Ives Town    0    Half Time  0 – 0

Team Line Ups:

HARPENDEN: Coulson, Rodrigues, Wiffin, Plowright (capt) (Osborne 75), Palmer, Locke, Collins (Gleeson 65), Spaul, Anthony, Keenleyside, Webb (Hilaire 61) Unused subs: Keeley, Ajana, Sweeting

ST IVES: Wilks, Meade, Smith, Hottor (Obeng 86), Williams, Collard (capt), Alexandrou, Abimbola, Edwards, Chong (Kaziboni 70), Casey (Creary 70), Unused subs: Adegbola, Lawrence,

Referee:  Maros Valko

Cards:   Yellow:  HARPENDEN:  none             ST IVES: Abimbola (31), Edwards (35), Hottor (77)

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Jernade Meade

Attendance:  431

Watch as Ives manager Ricky Marheineke provides his thoughts following the 5-1 home victory over Spalding United.

Watch all the highlights as the Ives cruise to an emphatic Bank Holiday home win against Spalding United.

St Ives Town 5 v Spalding United  1

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  26-08-2024

Nigel Howlett reports

Ives thoroughly enjoyed their sunny August Bank Holiday as they maintained their one hundred percent home record and handed out a spanking to the sad Tulips. Although Ives were very good those in the know will perhaps feel that they met their visitors at just the right time. The recently promoted Tulips had parted company with manager Elliot Sandy only three games into the new season just hours ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend which has unsurprisingly seen them lose both fixtures.

Right from the off Ives went for the jugular and Kobe Chong bundled them in front inside five minutes. Theo Alexandrou got outside Josh Ezewele down the left, got to the bye line and delivered to the near post where Chong met it with defender Josh Warburton. The defender blocked the striker’s initial attempt but Chong remained alert to prod home the loose ball before anyone else could react.

Ed Hottor spurned an opportunity to double that lead only two minutes later. A poor clearance from Tulips keeper Tony Breeden went straight to Alexandrou 40 yards from goal. He in turn fed Jonny Edwards through the left channel. His clip to the back post fell to the unmarked Hottor on the edge of the box but Ives midfielder took a touch and was instantly closed down.

The hosts did not have to wait much longer to increase their advantage as skipper Alex Collard surged through the crowd to powerfully meet Jernade Meade’s nineth minute corner from the left by the penalty spot. Collard’s header thumped the crossbar and bounced down and whilst everyone else looked on in amazement the skipper hooked home the dropping ball.

With Ives now well on top Hottor went for the audacious to try and make it three in twelfth minute. Initially robbing the dallying Kyle Barker in midfield Hottor spotted Breeden well off his line and went for the chip from fully 40 yards. The back peddling keeper was relieved to see the effort catch on the strong breeze and drift about a metre over the crossbar.

Now completely rampant and with Tulips heads drooping it looked only a matter of time before the hosts added another and sure enough the third arrived in 21^st minute courtesy of Jonny Edwards and it will probably be the easiest goal that he has ever scored. The striker was initially rampaging forward on one of his trademark runs when he somehow got the ball stuck in his feet and left it behind 25 yards from goal. Peter Abimbola was alert to the situation and picked up the loose ball in acres of space. He powered down the left and delivered another low cross to the near post where Chong again got in front of his man and hit the target from close range. Breeden pulled off a brilliant reaction save but Edwards had continued his run into the box and as the ball rebounded off the now prostrate keeper he simply had to roll it home from one yard out.

With a three goal lead it was perhaps understandable that Ives took their foot off the gas and they allowed their visitors to enjoy their first bits and pieces of possession in the final third of the pitch. Danny Draper combined well with Jonathan Ngandu before the former flashed a low cross across the face of goal in 27^th minute. The same player unleashed the Tulips first effort at goal a minute later. The effort from 25 yards flew just wide of Dan Wilks left hand post.

But Chong was still looking dangerous and he went close to adding a fourth in 41^st minute. Timing his run to perfection to latch onto Meade’s perfectly flighted clip over the top. The young striker took one touch to many giving keeper Breeden chance to close him down and make a brave save.

The half ended with Wilks seeing a little more action. He did well to hold onto a driven cross from the left by Joseph Nyahwema in 43^rd minute and was happy to watch Tyler Winters effort from just outside the box float wide in the first of four added minutes.

Tulips stand in manager James Clifton changed things around a little at the break in a desperate attempt to find a route back into the game and Nyahwema, who had switched to the right enjoyed a little early success. Wilks did well to plunge to his left and cling onto his fierce drive after the wide man had cut inside and unleashed a left footer from just inside the box in 54^th minute.

It was the busy Nyahwema who reduced the deficit just after the hour as he jinked between defenders to pounce on a loose ball inside Ives box after the hosts had failed to deal with a ball in from the right. First to react the striker fired it home low past Wilks left hand as defenders looked on.

But any hope that the visitors may have had of making a miraculous comeback was instantly extinguished as Alexandrou restored the three goal cushion inside two minutes. The goal came in direct route one fashion as Abimbola flicked on Wilks long punt down the centre and Alexandrou timed his run to perfection outpacing defenders before rounding Breeden and rolling the ball home.

By this point the game seemed to have completely opened up with the Tulips throwing more men forward in a vein hope of getting anything in the game and Ives patiently waiting to pounce as opportunities to break came at the other end. Wilks was the first keeper in action doing brilliantly to deny Winters in 66^th minute. Again Ives struggled to deal with a ball in from the right and it dropped to Winters inside the box, a good first touch took him clear but Wilks was quickly off his line to close him down and stayed big to make the save. It was Breeden’s turn next as play swung to the other end where Abimbola did well to set up a shooting opportunity for Chong and his first time effort from the edge of the box was turned wide at full stretch by the diving Breeden.

The Tulips kept pressing forward and went close a couple of times. Barker tested Wilks with a crisp 25 yarder in 72^nd minute. The keeper did well to plunge to his left and push the ball away, substitute Sam Bennett went down under challenge as he tried to get onto the rebound but as the visiting supporters half hearted appeals for a penalty were turned away Draper fired the loose ball wide. Five minutes later Winters fired a 25 yarder over the top as a final salvo from the now defeated visitors.

Ives stepped things up again as the game entered the final ten minutes and centre back Jordan Williams added a fifth in majestic style eight minutes from time. Abimbola did well initially to rob a dallying defender before feeding the ball back to Meade. His inviting cross from the left was met perfectly by the flying Williams who powered his header high into the net from ten yards leaving Breeden grasping air.

Substitute Silvano Obeng should have added a sixth four minutes later. Fellow arrival from the bench David Adegbola robbed Sam Warburton on the right before feeding Obeng’s run into the box. The striker took one touch to many allowing Breeden to close him down and make the save whilst a frustrated Edwards was waiting unmarked in the middle for a square pass.

Five different goal scorers and an excellent all round performance. No matter how much disarray their visitors may be in a team must always beat what is put in front of them and Ives did that in thoroughly clinical style.

A break from League action now sees us venture into Hertfordshire to play step 5 Harpenden Town in 1^st Qualifying Round of FA Cup next Saturday where another professional performance will be required to ensure that we are not the ones who fall on that proverbial banana skin.

Final Score:  St Ives Town    5    Spalding United   1          Half Time  3 – 0

Goals:

ST IVES: Chong 5, Collard 9, Edwards 21, Alexandrou 64, Williams 82

SPALDING: Nyahwema 62

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Wilks, Meade, Smith, Hottor (Obeng 80), Williams, Collard (capt), Alexandrou (Lawrence 83), Abimbola (Kaziboni 86), Edwards, Chong (Adegbola 74), Casey (Creary 74), Unused subs: none

SPALDING: Breeden, Ezewele, Warburton, Barker, Stainfield, White, Ngandu (Dawes 58), Draper, Graham (Bennett 58), Winters (Darlington 80), Nyahwema, Unused subs: West

Referee:  Christopher Darling

Cards:   Yellow:  ST IVES:  none           SPALDING: Barker (81)

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Ed Hottor

Attendance: 348

Get ready for our home Bank Holiday Monday clash with Spalding United by downloading our free online matchday magazine. Inside this week:

There’s a report from our last gasp victory against Banbury last weekend
We review the promotion winning season for Spalding United
And we look back at our August Bank Holiday fixture from last season

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

Halesowen Town 1 v St Ives Town  0

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

Nigel Howlett reports from The Grove

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Goals:

HALESOWEN: Tee 51

ST IVES:

Team Line Ups:

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

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

Referee:  Elliott Kaye

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

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Dan Wilks

Attendance:  749

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