Eynesbury Rovers 0 v St Ives Town 3     

Huntingdonshire FA Senior Cup Semi-Final  23-01-2024

Nigel Howlett reports from Hall Road

Second half goals from Greg Kaziboni, Khris Oti and Myles Cowling saw holders St Ives comfortably through to yet another County Senior Cup Final. Equally important was the chance to give some valuable pitch time to a few of the fringe players and some new signings. Only four of the starting eleven from Saturdays very impressive win at Mickleover were also in the starting line up for this game with keeper James Dadge, centre backs Jordan Williams and Paddy Casey and wing back Aaron Smith retaining their places. In for debuts were recent signings defender Tyler Donaldson and ex Aston Villa midfielder Kai Fifield. 

With Storm Jocelyn howling a gale and driving rain straight down the pitch it was not going to be easy for either team. Ives started off with the elements in their faces. Despite that disadvantage it was the visitors who were enjoying the lion’s share of possession against their opponents almost fifty places below them in the football pyramid. Cowling had an early shot comfortably saved by home keeper Reece Lewis and Owen Dixon did well to recover and block Kaziboni’s 14^th minute effort after the winger had been put through by the lively Fifield.  

The early goal that would have set the Ives on their way should have arrived seconds later when Smith’s long throw was knocked down to Oti but the centre forward snatched at the chance and fired over from ten yards. As the half wore on the wind assisted hosts managed to create a few half chances without ever really testing Dadge. Just before the half hour Chris Khoo was brought down by Casey. Dixon fired the resulting free kick over the four man wall but straight into the midriff of Ives keeper. Five minutes later Cameron Saunders deep corner was diverted into the side netting by Dan Woolley who had ghosted in at the back post. Final half chance came seven minutes before the break when Dadge was quick off his line to hack away from Woolley after the winger had been put clear by Khoo. 

Now playing with a strengthening breeze at their backs it took Ives less than three minutes to get their noses in front after the re-start. Kaziboni galloped clear onto a long ball out of defence, outpaced his marker and cooly lobbed the exposed Lewis to open the scoring.  

Now it was all Ives piling forward. Ninety seconds later Fifield wriggled his way through the centre before unleashing a fierce shot from the edge of the box that Lewis tipped over at full stretch. It was Smith’s turn to go close on the hour as Oti held up the ball well before laying off to Kaziboni he in turn fed it on to Ives wing back who fired over from the left corner of the box. Oti again went close to scoring only seconds later fed in by Cowling he took the shot on early but fired wide of the post from just inside the box. The big centre forward kept plugging away and he went even closer in 64^th minute. Fed in by Joyce his bobbling effort beat Lewis but clipped the outside of the post. 

Ives kept pouring forward and a good move down the left involving Casey and a clever step over from Luke Harris set up a 67^th minute shooting opportunity for Fifield but his rising drive from the edge of the box was straight at Lewis who held on well. Rovers made a triple change minutes later which oddly included replacing their apparently uninjured keeper but the changes made no difference to the flow of the game. 

Ives were looking comfortable as time ticked down and their gallant opponents were beginning to run out of steam. The visitors twice went close to increasing their lead in 86^th minute. Initially Dixon’s hurried clearance rebounded off Kaziboni straight to the feet of Oti eight yards out. The centre forward spun on it quickly and got his shot away but substitute keeper Caleb Chandler reacted well and blocked the shot at point blank range. Seconds later the keeper made a much more spectacular flying save high to his right to keep out a fierce drive from Fifield after the debutant had broke away down the left and let fly from just outside the box. 

Additional Ives goals had looked inevitable throughout the second half and they finally arrived in the last few minutes. An 89^th minute Smith long throw was half cleared straight back to the wing back who curled his cross to perfection to the back post where Oti arrived unmarked to finally claim his well earnt goal for the night. Seconds later it should have been three as Oti put Kaziboni clear. He drew Chandler to him before unselfishly knocking the ball sideways Fifield who rolled it into the empty net. But the Ives number seven had got in front of Kaziboni and the ball had gone forward meaning the flag went up and the “goal” was chalked off. 

Not to be denied the visitors did grab a third deep in added time as a clever Harris flick put Oti clear through the right channel, his drilled cross picked out Cowling arriving at pace at the back post and the Ives midfielder did the rest to cement another cup final against historic local rivals St Neots Town. 

Final Score:  Eynesbury Rovers  0  St Ives Town  3 

Goals:  

EYNESBURY: 

ST IVES: Kaziboni 48, Oti 89, Cowling 90+2 

Team Line Ups: 

EYNESBURY: Lewis (Chandler 68), Hickling, Saunders, Jonny Hall (capt), Carter, Dixon, Worboys, O’Hara (Wood 68), James Hall, Khoo (Hilsdon-Peart 68), Olive, Unused subs: Silver, Sugden 

ST IVES: Dadge, Joyce, Smith, Harris, Williams (capt), Casey, Fifield, Cowling, Oti, Kaziboni, Donaldson (Richens 74), Unused subs: Mensah, Hottor, Edwards   

Cards:  Yellow:  EYNESBURY: Khoo (12), O’Hara (43)        ST IVES: none 

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Myles Cowling  

Attendance:  71 

On Saturday, Ives striker Jonny Edwards hit four goals in a stunning victory at Mickleover. Those goals took his tally to 17 in all competitions for the season.

Scoring four goals in one game is very rare at any level of football, and the Ives history books have been researched to see who was the last player to score four in one game for the club.

The answer is that has happened, but you have to go back to the 2011/12 season when it occurred not just once, but twice. Not surprisingly, it was Ives legend and fellow prolific scorer, Conor Washington who accomplished such a feat.

The first came on 17 March 2012 when the Ives hammered Irchester 7-1 at Westwood Road. Then, just a few weeks later, Washington was at it again as he bagged another four in a 6-1 win at Daventry. That was the final year that Washington was at the club before he made the move to Newport County,

So a gap of 12 years between the exploits of Washington and Edwards and with the Ives currently scoring goals for fun, it may well be that Ives fans may not need to wait that long for such a feat to be repeated again!

Since the victory on Saturday, Jonny Edwards has spoken to Andy Poole from the Southern League website. You can view the full interview HERE

*With thanks to Dave Hook, Jez Hall and Nigel Howlett for their research.

A reminder that the Ives are in Hunts Senior Cup action on Tuesday evening when they head to Eynesbury Rovers for a semi-final clash.

The Ives are currently holders of the trophy defeating Yaxley on penalties at the end of last season. The winners of the match tomorrow night will face either St Neots Town or Godmanchester who compete in the other semi-final.

The match kicks-off at Hall Road at 7:45pm.

Get ready for a fun packed evening as the St Ives Town FC Quiz Night returns to the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road.

The general knowledge quiz takes place on Friday 16 February 2024 in the clubhouse with a 7:30pm start. The cost is £20.00 per team with a maximum of 5 people on each team. There will be a cheeseboard available for each team and the evening also includes a raffle and an auction. More details of the items available in the auction will be announced nearer the time. The evening will be hosted by our very own Andrew Dunn.

You can book your team now via email: stivestownmedia@outlook.com. The deadline for bookings is noon on 16 February.

Mickleover 0 v St Ives Town  5

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  20-01-2024

Nigel Howlett reports from the Don Armott Arena

The perfect away performance saw free scoring Ives not just beat but completely demolish the previously table topping Sports. One in front from an excellent Michael Richens free kick at the break the second half became the Jonny Edwards show as the striker helped himself to four very well taken goals to knock the hosts off top spot and take sweet revenge for last seasons unbelievable defeat again nine men at the Don Amott Arena.

Ives manager Ricky Marheineke made two changes to the starting eleven from the side which had comfortably defeated the now defunct Nuneaton Borough with James Dadge returning from his short spell back with parent club Northampton Town between the sticks in place of Arber Grosha and Stevenage loanee Theo Alexandrou making his first start up front in place of Greg Kaziboni who dropped to the bench.

The game started slowly with neither goalkeeper called upon to make a save until 38^th minute. But that could have been different had Ed Hottor’s eighth minute pile driver from 20 yards not struck Alexandrou on its way towards Lewis Ridd’s goal.

The other noteworthy efforts in the early stages were a fourth minute shot from the corner of the box for the hosts by Marcus Barnes which deflected wide off the covering Paddy Casey. Dan Barton also went very close to opening the scoring in 19^th minute when he cleverly took down a ball from Casey that had looped over a defender in the gusty conditions. The young winger then stepped inside before curling an effort from the edge of the box that beat Ridd but clipped the crossbar on its way over.

Excellent build up play down the right saw Barton, Richens and Benji Mensah interchange passes before the latter put Edwards clear in a wide position. His teasing cross picked out Alexandrou in space at the back post but the youngster was stretching and could only steer his header inches wide of the post as Ridd scrambled across to try and cover the effort.

The Ives defence were looking very solid and Jordan Williams showed a glimpse of that resilience in 36^th minute as he threw himself in to block a close range effort from Stuart Beavon at the near post after the striker had got on the end of a low driven cross from the right by overlapping full back Jake Bennett. The first save of the game from either keeper was made by Dadge two minutes later as he did well to cling onto a 25 yard screamer from Ollie Greaves.

The opening goal arrived in 44^th minute when Hottor again got onto a ball that was half cleared to him on the edge of the box. As he tried to take it down he was clumsily up ended by Blaine Rowe. Richens carefully lined up the resulting free kick and curled it perfectly over the five man wall and into the top corner giving Ridd no chance.

Throughout the game the hosts had always tried to make best use of their excellent 3G surface by playing out from the back but this was inviting Ives to press them high and they had almost been caught out a few times in the first half. The second goal three minutes after the re-start came in just that fashion. Hottor won the ball high up the park and fed it into the feet of Barton on the edge of the box. He chose not to shoot but instead slid the ball sideways into the run of Edwards who emphatically beat Ridd from just inside the box.

A reaction was perhaps expected from the hosts but it did not come. Manager John McGrath made a couple of changes to try and alter the flow of the game with Dan Bradley and Will Trueman replacing Matt Bowman and Barnes respectively but Ives continued to be first to every ball preventing Sports from building any real threat on the visitors goal.

Ives third which effectively killed the game arrived in simple fashion with twenty minutes to go. Aaron Smith’s long throw evaded everyone at the near post and bounced across the six yard box straight to Richens lurking at the back post. His powerful header was brilliantly saved one handed low to his left by Ridd. But the ball rebounded onto the shins of Edwards and bounced into the net. But give the striker his due as he was doing what all good strikers do getting in the right spot at the right time.

Three minutes later Edwards cooly completed his hat trick sending Ridd the wrong way from the penalty spot. The spot kick had come about in bizarre fashion as Sports hit the self destruct button. A long punt down the park by Dadge skidded off the head of Ethan Mann and was going out for a corner when Ridd flung himself full length at the ball to try and keep it in play. He succeeded but let the ball slip from his grasp and Alexandrou was on it in a flash to nick the ball off him. The struggling keeper then stuck out an arm to take down the striker. This all happened right in front of the assistant referee who instantly flagged for the foul. A quick consultation between the officials meant a yellow card for keeper Ridd and a hat trick for Edwards.

The game was now in the bag but Edwards was not finished yet. His fourth arrived with nine minutes left on the watch as Ives once more tore a gaping hole through Sports back line. Two substitutes combined to set up this goal with Luke Harris feeding in the perfectly timed run of Myles Cowling through the right channel. Cowling picked out Alexandrou with his pull back but the striker got the ball stuck between his legs and failed to get his shot away as defenders closed him down. However he had the peace of mind to roll the ball sideways to the unmarked Edwards who calmly side footed the ball into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards.

There was still time for Alexandrou to come very close to opening his Ives account with what would have been a deserved goal in added time. He robbed a dallying Mann and strode forward before unleashing a powerful drive from 20 yards that beat the diving Ridd but thudded the upright and rebounded clear.

Overall a fantastic performance from Ives who got their deserved reward and will happily see this as three points back into the kitty, half way to replacing the six that will be lost following the sad demise of Nuneaton. Next week they welcome another title contender to quattro-tech Westwood Road in Needham Market for a game that promises to be a cracker.  

Final Score:  Mickleover   0  St Ives Town  5

Goals:

MICKLEOVER:

ST IVES: Richens 44, Edwards 48, 70, 73 (pen), 81

Team Line Ups:

MICKLEOVER: Ridd, Bennett, Bowman (Bradley 57), Atkinson, Rowe, Mann (capt), Dales (Ryder 78), Sault, Beavon, Barnes (Trueman 57), Greaves, Unused Subs: Clarke, Ferron

ST IVES: Dadge, Mensah (Harris 79), Smith, Richens (capt) (Joyce 83), Williams, Casey, Barton (Cowling 54) Hottor, Edwards, Alexandrou, Tomlinson, Unused subs: Kaziboni, Oti

Cards:   Yellow:  MICKLEOVER:  Atkinson (29), Beavon (35), Ridd (73), Sault (73) 

ST IVES: Tomlinson (45+3), Hottor (61)

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Jonny Edwards

Attendance: 351

It’s the reverse of the opening day fixture on Saturday as St Ives make the trip to Mickleover.

On the opening day it was Mickleover who secured a comfortable 2-0 victory, and started a run of results that would see them become earlier season league leaders. That hasn’t changed much and the hosts tomorrow are still top but only by scoring more goals than their nearest challengers, Needham Market who are second on the same amount of 50 points.

IVES TEAM NEWS

The Ives make the trip to Derbyshire looking to replicate their performances in the last two weeks that has seen them secure back-to-back victories against Leiston and Nuneaton. Sadly, Nuneaton have since resigned from the league and it looks likely that the points gained against Borough this season will be lost. But the Ives will be looking to put in the same level of performance at Mickleover tomorrow that has seen them score 14 goals in the last three home league games. Manager Ricky Marheineke will be hoping that James Dadge will return from his parent club, Northampton. If not, then young goalkeeper Arber Grosha will be on standby for his second game for the club following his debut against Nuneaton last weekend. Elsewhere, Myles Cowling looks set to still miss out with injury so Ed Hottor will continue whilst Ives fans will be hoping that fellow midfielder, Dan Barton is fit after being substituted with injury last week.

INTRODUCING MICKLEOVER

As mentioned above, Mickleover have had an outstanding season so far, and go into the game as current league leaders. They have returned to winning ways since Christmas and have won 3 out of their last 4 with the only defeat in that sequence coming against AFC Telford United who inflicted a 1-0 defeat on 6 January. In the run-up to Christmas, Mickleover were struggling for form and suffered defeats at Halesowen and Stamford. But they appear to be back on track and the Ives will face a tough test if they are to continue with their recent run of good form.

LAST SEASON:

27/08/22: Mickleover 3 Ives 2
07/01/23: Ives 0 Mickleover 2

GOING TO THE GAME:

Mickleover FC
Don Amott Arena
Station Road
Mickleover
DERBY
DE3 9FB

Ben Mensah was nominated as player of the match in the game against Nuneaton on Saturday.

Mensah scored the opening goal and was instrumental throughout the game and was awarded with his Player of the Match accolade by sponsors, VM Associates after the game.

Mensah is currently on loan from Peterborough United and has been among the goals of late scoring twice against Stamford on New Years Day which added to his strike in the 6-0 victory over Kettering on Boxing Day.

St Ives Town 3 v Nuneaton Borough  0

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  13-01-2024

Nigel Howlett Reports

In the end this turned out to be a routine home victory as Ives continued their excellent run since Christmas at quattro-tech Westwood Road. But the Boro looked far from the club in turmoil that they are for the first thirty minutes of the game. The visitors well documented woes over the recent past have seen them ousted from their ground over unpaid rent, losing their owner and manager and in the past few days three of their start players have departed the fold to pastures new. However they can still field an experienced starting eleven and that showed in the early stages of this game as they took the game to their hosts and created a couple of opportunities.

In only the second minute Callum Chettle seized a chance to unleash of powerful shot from the edge of the box that was only gathered at the second opportunity by 18 year old debutant keeper Arber Grosha. Ten minutes later Jaden Charles got away down the left and delivered a dangerous cross to the near post where Kane Richards threw himself at it but just failed to make contact.

Ives first chance of the afternoon arrived at exactly the mid-point in the first half when a mistake by Boro skipper Isaiah Osbourne allowed Dan Barton to scamper away through the centre. But the young winger delayed his shot a split second to long allowing Victor Nirennold to slide in and block. Jonny Edwards pounced on the loose ball but failed to hit his effort cleanly allowing keeper Dan Jezeph to make a comfortable save.

A number of visiting sides have been caught out by the pace of Ives front line in recent games and that is exactly what happened to Boro ten minutes before the break. Greg Kaziboni tricked his way past Charles down the right then showed the full back a clean pair of heels to get to the bye line. Barton and Edwards both attacked the teasing cross delivered to the back post and almost seemed to get in each other’s way. The ball rebounded off the shins of Edwards straight to the feet of Benji Mensah ten yards out and the young wing back kept his composure to casually side foot the ball home for his fourth goal in as many games.

The visitor’s heads did not go down and they continued to battle. Ed Hottor picked up a 37^th minute yellow card for clumsily scything down Prince Mancinelli 30 yards from goal. An unorthodox free kick saw Kyle Storer try to change the angle for the shot by playing the ball the ball sideways to Chettle. His driven shot took a deflection off an Ives defender but Grosha held on well.

A poor clearance from Jezeph set up Ives next opportunity in 40^th minute. The ball went straight to Michael Richens 35 yards from goal, the scrambling keeper did well to get back and just touch the Ives skipper’s ball into the box away from Edwards but it fell to the feet of Barton who failed to hit the target from ten yards. Even then the chance was not gone as Mensah arriving at pace managed to keep it in, but his first-time effort from a narrow angle slammed into the outside of the post.

There was a brief heart in mouth moment at the other end just before the break. Luke Curtlin played in Richards through the right channel and the Boro centre forward went down under the combined challenge of Jordan Williams and Grosha. Fortunately referee Daniel England was well positioned and immediately waved away claims for a spot kick.

Boro’s lack of depth of their squad following the departures was exposed as their bench was exclusively formed of inexperienced youngsters. They had been forced to make an early change when ex Ives man Camron McWilliams limped off and he was replaced by 17 year old Curtlin. They also lost skipper Osbourne at the break, his replacement also being youth team player Beau Friel. Ives looked to exploit the frailties that started to appear in the oppositions back line and went close only 50 seconds after the re-start when Aaron Smith did brilliantly to not only keep in a ball down the left but to deliver it as an inviting cross to the near post. Edwards attacked it six yards out but the ball came off his shoulder and looped over the bar.

The hosts doubled their lead ten minutes later this time ruthlessly exposing Boro’s inexperienced back line. A Smith long throw from the right was initially headed clear by Nirennold but the ball dropped to Richens 25 yards from goal. He hopefully lifted it back into the box where it dropped to Williams who had been a little slow to get out. Fortunately for Ives centre back Curtlin had been even slower and played him onside. Williams had time to take the ball down, pivot on it and get his shot away. Jezeph reacted well and got a hand to it but failed to keep the ball out of the net.

Now two in front and well in control the hosts introduced their second debutant of the day in Stevenage loanee Theo Alexandrou. The youngster’s first involvement within a couple of minutes of coming on to replace Barton was to burst down the right and deliver an inviting cross that Edwards again failed to make clean contact on.

Boro player manager Storer could blame no one but himself for Ives third in 68^th minute as he dallied on the ball inside his own box only to be robbed by his opposite number Richens who then gleefully slammed home past the exposed Jezeph.

Edwards had been desperately searching for a goal all game and he had the opportunities to get a hat trick in the closing stages. In 73^rd minute he was presented with a clear shooting opportunity by Alexandrou who had hounded and robbed a Nuneaton defender as the visitors again tried unsuccessfully to play out from the back. The centre forward’s well struck shot from the edge of the box beat Jezeph but rattled his right hand upright and bounced away. Patient Ives build up in 84^th minute saw the move finished with a fantastic teasing ball into the danger zone off the outside of his boot by Mensah. Edwards beat Jezeph to the ball but the keeper reacted brilliant to parry over the effort from point blank range.

The all action Alexandrou and Mensah were both involved in setting up the final chance for Edwards in last minute. Alexandrou initially showing his pace to keep the ball in and feed it inside to Mensah who in turn teed up Richens for a shot from just outside the box. Edwards was in the line of the shot, but rather than deflect it he took it in and spun on it getting away a fierce shot from ten yards that Jezeph did well to deflect around the post.

Ives first double of the season at the expense of the struggling Boro who look like they have a very bumpy road ahead. The hosts next three league games see them coming up against three of the top four but all of those games will be on 3G surfaces so it will be interesting to see them putting their new found belief to the test against the best on their preferred surface.

Final Score:  St Ives Town   3  Nuneaton Borough  0

Goals:

ST IVES: Mensah 34, Williams 56, Richens 68

NUNEATON:

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Grosha, Mensah, Smith, Richens (capt), Williams, Casey, Barton (Alexandrou 57), Hottor (Joyce 85), Edwards, Kaziboni (Harris 77), Tomlinson, Unused subs: Oti

NUNEATON: Jezeph, Nirennold , Charles, Storer (Edmonds 84), Chettle, Richards, Mancinelli, McWilliams (Curtlin 26), Butterfield, Rowe-Turner, Osbourne (capt) (Friel 46), Unused subs: Wallis, Whitehouse

Cards:   Yellow:  ST IVES:  Hottor (37)      NUNEATON:  Charles (66)

SPONSORS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Benji Mensah

Attendance:  331

Ives boss Ricky Marheineke has added to his first team squad by signing Theo Alexandrou who arrives on a 28 day loan from Stevenage.

Theo is a centre forward, and is a first year pro at Stevenage and made his maiden first team start in a Carabao Cup Second Round fixture at Exeter City earlier this season.

All the paperwork has been approved in time meaning that Theo will be available for selection for the first team fixture at home to Nuneaton this afternoon.

Our online matchday programme for the home game with Nuneaton is now available to read. Inside this week:

• We review the 5-0 victory against Leiston last weekend
• There’s a review of all the latest news from around the league
• We welcome to new coach, Ben Watts
• And we look back at when the Ives visited Liberty Way on the last day of last season

PLUS much more in our 46 page edition which is available to download HERE

St Ives Town welcome Nuneaton on Saturday to the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road as the hosts look to make it three home wins on the bounce.

Kettering and Leiston have been put to the sword in the last two home games with the Ives scoring 11 goals in the process and not conceding any.

IVES TEAM NEWS

For the match against Nuneaton, the Ives look set to be without the services of influential midfielder, Myles Cowling who also didn’t feature in the win against Leiston last Saturday. Fellow midfielder, Dan Barton will be in the starting line-up as he looks for more goals after opening his account last weekend. Meanwhile, Greg Kaziboni, Khris Oti and Torin Ntege will compete for a start to partner Jonny Edwards up front.

INTRODUCING NUNEATON

Nuneaton arrive in 12th position, two points above the Ives. Borough have improved as the season has progressed, but in recent weeks have had a dip in form having not won in the league since 28 November when they recorded a 2-0 victory over Kettering. Despite not recording a victory of late, they have held promotion and play-off challengers, Leamington and Hitchin to a draw in their last two games.

THE REVERSE FIXTURE

It was Nuneaton who the Ives recorded their first victory against in the second game of the season. A Brandon Njoku goal was enough for a 1-0 win.

HAPPY HOUR & MATCH SPONSORS

Don’t forget that all pints in the clubhouse are priced at £3.00 between 1:00pm and 2:30pm so make sure you are there early to take advantage of the offer. The match is being sponsored by VM Associates, and the club would like to thank them for their support.

ADMISSION PRICES

• Adults: £11.00
• Concessions (over 65): £8.00
• Military Discount (with ID card): £5.00
• Students (with ID card): £5.00
• 12-16 yrs: £2.00
• Under 12’s: FREE (When accompanied by an Adult)

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

Andrew Dunn talks to the new member of the Ives coaching staff, Ben Watts

It’s probably fair to say that Ben Watts is more than happy for his new team to score 11 goals with none against in the first two home games that he has been part of the coaching staff at St Ives Town.

A 6-0 win against Kettering and a 5-0 victory over Leiston has injected a feel good vibe to start the new year at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road, and that has certainly been felt by the new member of the coaching staff.  “I’m loving it” said Watts.  “St Ives is a great club to be involved with.  I’ve known the manager Ricky Marheineke for a while and he knew I was available after I left Kettering, and asked if I wanted to join him and his staff.  I watched the Hitchin game before Christmas, and have been involved ever since and it’s been great to witness the two excellent home performances”.

Watts started out as youth team coach at both Peterborough United and Northampton Town.  It was whilst he was at the Cobblers that he first came across current Ives player, Paddy Casey.  But it’s not just Casey who Watts knows from the current St Ives set-up.  “I know players such as Michael Richens and a few of the other lads” Watts said.  However, in a quirk of fate Watts is now teaming up with Adam Fisher who he could have worked with a few seasons ago.  “I know Adam as he wanted me to join him as part of his coaching staff when he was in charge of Welwyn Garden City, so it’s strange how we’ve now eventually ended up working together, albeit at another club”.

The Harborough based coach has also had a spell with St Neots.  “I learnt an awful lot during the period that I was involved at St Neots.  It was during the era that they were throwing a lot of money at things and we had the likes of Stefan Moore playing.  I was there for two seasons. It was a good few years ago now, and an experience if nothing else”.

Watts was put in charge of Kettering earlier this season following the departure of Poppies Manager, Andy Leese.  “I only did it for two games as I wasn’t sure it was for me” said Watts. “I make no secret of the fact that I prefer coaching than managing.  I love being out on the grass with players, and leading sessions and witnessing plans come to fruition on a matchday”.

Executing the plan is something that has impressed him so far during his short time at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road.  “So far what I am seeing is the lads replicating what you ask them to do in training on a Saturday.  I have been really impressed with their work rate, how they press and the relentless desire to improve.  The group also has a fantasitic enthusiasm and every game I have either seen or been involved in so far has been very impressive”.

It’s not just on the pitch that has impressed Watts, it’s off the pitch too.  “I love the club.  It’s a great set-up and the matchday vibe is brilliant and there are some fine people involved.  My family came to the game on Saturday and they really enjoyed it and already have a connection with St Ives Town”.

So as the season enters the second half, what does Watts see as the aims for the remaining months of the campaign.  “I think the team is more than capabale of finishing mid-table, if not above.  It’s a very open league, and anyone can beat anyone.  Like Ricky has said previously, on our day not many teams can live with our attitude, willingness and enthusiasm.  If that continues, we will win more than we lose between now and the end of the season”.

Watts will be in the dugout alongside the rest of the coaching staff when the Ives take on Nuneaton on Saturday afternoon.

Ben Watts has joined the first team coaching staff at St Ives Town.

Ben has previously managed at Rothwell Corinthians, Wellingborough Town and Raunds Town. He was also the first team coach at Stamford AFC, St Neots Town and most recently, Kettering Town. He joins the coaching staff at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road which is headed by manager, Ricky Marheineke.

The Ives boss said “Ben is a fantastic addition to the staff. A super coach, who has worked at many different levels over the years. With our young and and hungry squad who are desperate to learn and improve, Ben will offer us so much on the grass”.

St Ives Town 5 v Leiston 0

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  06-01-2024

Nigel Howlett Reports

A scintillating second half performance saw the Ives blow away previously in-form Leiston. The Blues came to quattro-tech Westwood Road boasting a record of only one defeat in their last eight matches with six of those games gleaning maximum reward. With Ives missing injured talisman Myles Cowling and forced to make a change between the sticks with Eddie Brearey recalled by parent club Oxford United the visitors may have fancied their chances. But manager Ricky Marheineke did an excellent deal late on Friday that saw the return of last season’s successful custodian James Dadge from Northampton Town and drafted the ever reliable Ed Hottor into the centre of the park to replace Cowling.

The game started slowly with both sides testing each other out in the early stages. The first shot on target did not arrive until 17^th minute and Dadge dealt with Jack Manly’s 25 yarder comfortably enough. Only moments later though Manly was left holding his head in his hands as the hard working Dan Barton robbed him deep inside Leiston territory and fed in Jonny Edwards to thump Ives ahead with their first on target effort.

Having got in front the hosts then enjoyed a good fifteen minute spell without further testing Sam Donkin in the Blues goal. In 24^th minute an excellent ball in from the right by Edwards was skilfully taken down by Greg Kaziboni just inside the box. But the striker took one touch to many allowing Chris Casement to recover and block the shot at point blank range. Three minutes later a teasing Benji Mensah ball in from the right only just evaded Edwards sliding in at the back post.

Having conceded three goals from dead ball situations at Stamford in their previous game it was very good to see Dadge come through the crowd in commanding style to claim Joe Marsden’s dangerous looking corner on the half hour. Back up the other end Ives went close again ninety seconds later. Edwards was brought down wide right by Blues skipper Seb Dunbar. Michael Richens arced the free kick into the danger zone between keeper Donkin and his defenders inviting someone to attack it. Jordan Williams did just that and even though he did not make a clean contact he did enough to force the keeper into a tumbling save low to his right.

Dadge earned his corn for the day with a brilliant save to keep Ives in front ten minutes before the break. Richens was adjudged to have brought down the tricky Jamar Loza just outside the box. Manly’s well struck free kick arced over the five man wall and was heading for the top corner before it was expertly pushed away by the big right palm of the flying keeper. The visitors also spurned a late opportunity to get level when Albie Armin headed Marsden’s free kick from the right wide from a good position.

The visiting Leiston supporters were probably expecting their charges to come out with all guns blazing looking for an equaliser at the start of the second half. But it was the hosts who started the second half like a train. A lot of Ives first half moves had ended on the head of giant Blues centre back Adam Bailey-Dennis but they found a way to take him way out of his comfort zone early in the second period. Kaziboni was the first to take him on and ghost past him in 50^th minute. Edwards should probably have done better with the cross that followed but the effort came off his shoulder allowing Donkin to make a comfortable save.

The agile keeper was left a simple spectator five minutes later as Ives doubled their advantage. Mensah got away down the right and delivered the perfect inviting cross to the back post where Richens accepted the invitation and powered home a header from eight yards giving Donkin no chance. Bailey-Dennis got himself in more trouble at that goal picking up a yellow card from referee Elliott Mayer for trying to persuade the official that the ball was out before Mensah delivered the cross. By this point the big Blues centre half was looking very rattled and only moments later he misjudged a Richens free kick into the box from the left allowing the ball to float over his head a drop at the feet of Williams. It took a smart save from Donkin to save his blushes.

A third Ives goal was looking inevitable and sure enough it came just before the hour. Kaziboni was the provider this time he got to the bye line on the right before hanging up a teasing cross to the back post where Williams rose above the crowd and powered in a header that Donkin did brilliantly to keep out. Unfortunately for the keeper the first person to react to the dropping ball was Edwards who forced it home with his knee.

Bailey-Dennis’s tribulations continued three minutes later when his lack of mobility was again found out by a perfectly weighted clip over his head by Richens which set Kaziboni clear through the right channel. The striker unselfishly tried to pick out Edwards with a square pass which just allowed the covering Casement to get a toe in.

During his loan spell from Cambridge United Barton has provided the assists for a lot of goals whilst failing to grab a deserved one for himself. That wait finally ended in 65^th minute when Edwards fed him in clear and he emphatically beat Donkin from the edge of the box. That fourth Ives goal was a signal for Blues management duo to end the misery for the struggling Bailey-Dennis replacing him with Mitchell Jackson.

The hosts came within inches of adding a fifth with twenty minutes to go. Torin Ntege who had only just come onto the park to replace Kaziboni delivered the perfect corner to the back post where Williams directed his header goalwards only to be denied by Dunbar’s block on the line.

With the Ives now easing off a little the Blues did enjoy a brief foray into the final third of the pitch at the Green Leys end which brought a little more action for Dadge. But the young keeper proved that his concentration is excellent as he made diving saves to deny Loza and Dunbar in quick succession, plunging to his right to keep out the former’s effort and to his left the latter’s.

The introduction of substitutes Ntege, Khris Oti and George Joyce brought a new impetus to the Ives efforts and they were soon back in search of more goals. Josh Tomlinson got a good flick onto an Aaron Smith long throw with Edwards toe poking the loose ball just wide of the post in 87^th minute. Seconds later Richens had a 25 yarder tipped around by the diving Donkin.

The keeper again denied the same player in the final minute of the ninety as he flung himself along the goal line to block the Ives skipper’s close range effort from a corner with his legs. The fifth goal finally arrived in the third added minute in very simple route one fashion. Edwards flicked on a long Dadge punt to put Oti clear and the big centre forward became the second player of the afternoon to open his Ives account comfortably beating the exposed Donkin.

There should have been a third player to open his account as well as with only seconds to go a more trademark flowing Ives move was ended with Oti putting Ntege clear. The Peterborough youngster looked to do everything right drawing Donkin to him before clipping the ball past the keeper but it rolled agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

Quattro-tech Westwood Road is now the place to come to see goals with the rampant Ives boasting a record of twenty four scored and only five conceded in their last six home games. Next opportunity to see them in action is Saturday 13^th November against the inconsistent Nuneaton Borough, don’t miss it.   

Final Score:  St Ives Town  5   Leiston  0

Goals:

ST IVES: Edwards 18, 59, Richens 55, Barton 65, Oti 90+3

LEISTON:

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Dadge, Mensah (Joyce 83), Smith, Richens (capt), Williams, Casey, Barton (Oti 83), Hottor, Edwards, Kaziboni (Ntege 71), Tomlinson, Unused subs: Harris

LEISTON: Donkin, Casement, Dunbar (capt), Marsden, Bailey-Dennis (M. Jackson 67), E. Jackson (Dronfield 62), Crane, Armin, Quantrell, Manly, Loza, Unused subs: Jarvis,

Cards:   Yellow:  ST IVES: Casey (43), Edwards (46)       LEISTON: Bailey-Dennis (55), Donkin (59), Armin (75), Loza (89)

SPONSORS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Dan Barton

Attendance:  271

It’s the first home league game of 2024 for St Ives Town on Saturday as they host Leiston at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road. The game will be the third meeting between the two teams this season with Leiston eliminating the Ives from the FA Cup in September followed by a draw in the league at Victory Road 10 days later.

Ives Team News

The Ives go into the game on the back of a 4-2 defeat at Stamford on New Years Day. Missing from the squad for that game was Brandon Njoku who has been recalled by Cambridge United after a successful loan period with the Ives. Fellow loanee from the Abbey Stadium, Dan Barton remains with the Ives and will feature again. Meanwhile, the impressive Ben Mensah who has now scored three goals in the last three games including a brace at Stamford on Monday looks set to continue at right back.

Introducing Leiston

Leiston arrive after suffering defeat against Royston Town on New Years Day. That defeat bought to an end a run of 8 games where they went undefeated. As a result of that run, the Suffolk outfit had moved up the table and go into the game tomorrow 13th in the table, 3 points clear of the Ives.

Last Season

Leiston got the better of the Ives in both league games last season. In September, Leiston inflicted a 2-1 defeat. In January the Ives travelled to Suffolk and lost 1-0 as the hosts continued their push for a play-off spot.

Match Sponsors

We welcome our friends from David Smith who are our match sponsors for the game tomorrow. We thank them for their continued support,

Happy Hour and Season Ticket Offer

A reminder that it is just £3.00 on all pints in the clubhouse between 1:00pm and 2:30pm. Also, if you have a season ticket at any non-league or football league club, then you can watch the game for half price. Simply show the season ticket at the turnstile to redeem the offer.

Admission Prices:

Adults: £11.00
Concessions (Over 65): £8.00
Military Discount (with ID Card): £5.00
Students (With ID Card): £5.00
U16’s to 12: £2.00
Under 12’s: Free (when accompanied with an adult)

Match Programme

You can download the online matchday magazine HERE

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

Stamford 4 v St Ives Town 2 

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  01-01-2024

Nigel Howlett Reports from the Zeeco Stadium

Ives opened 2024 by giving the high flying Daniels a scare, but as has been the case a few to many times this season they allowed a good position to slip from their grasp succumbing to a second half comeback from the hosts who eventually claimed all three points to reinforce their play-off ambitions.

Whilst home manager Graham Drury had the luxury of a full squad to pick from Ives manager Ricky Marheinke was forced to make two changes from the side which had thumped Kettering on Boxing Day. With skipper Michael Richens suspended and leading scorer Brandon Njoku recalled from his loan spell by parent club Cambridge United there were starts for Ed Hottor in midfield and Greg Kaziboni up front with Jonny Edwards taking the armband.

Strangely enough with 127 years of history and only 35 miles between these two clubs this appears to be the first recorded fixture between the two teams and it was the visitors buoyed by their Boxing Day win who were first out of the traps and came within a whisker of taking the lead after only ninety seconds. Benji Mensah put Dan Barton away down the right. The speedy winger got to the bye line before picking out Edwards by the penalty spot with his pull back, but Ives centre forward was leaning back when he struck his shot and the effort glanced off the crossbar on its way into the home “kop” behind the goal. But that section of the ground was stunned to silence along with all the rest of the home faithful only two minutes later as Ives showed they had real threat down both flanks. Aaron Smith fed in Kaziboni down the left and he too got to the bye line before threading his pull back through the crowded box to pick out Mensah in space just inside the box. The young wing back kept his cool and thanks to a slight deflection his first time effort found the bottom corner of the net to ensure that for a short while the noisiest part of the ground was the fifty or so Ives supporters in the lower section of the grandstand behind the goal.

The home side were slowly settling into the game and it soon became apparent that their raison d’etre was to get the ball forward into wide areas looking for opportunities to deliver corners, free kicks and long throws into a crowded Ives box. Ives initially dealt well with these deliveries winning the first ball as it arced into the danger zone. However the equaliser, when it arrived, half way through the first period came from a dead ball situation. Connor Bartle hurled in a long throw from the left that evaded the first line of players and seemed to surprise Edwards who perhaps needlessly knocked it away with his upper arm in full view of eagle eyes referee Alistair Wilson. The match official had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Daniels skipper Rob Morgan emphatically beat Eddie Brearey to level things up.

Having got themselves level the home side enjoyed a good spell during which they further tested the resilience of Ives back line by continuing to bombard them with balls into the danger zone at every opportunity. Brearey had to be alert to sprint off his line and bravely claim a quick Bartle free kick just ahead of Lee Shaw in 24^th minute. Two minutes later an arcing corner into the box lead to a bout of head tennis inside Ives box that was ended with Brearey spectacularly tipping Ashton Offler’s header over the bar. Brearey did well again on the half hour as he plunged to his right to push away a skimming volley from Joe Burgess after another long throw had been knocked out to him.

Having weathered that storm Ives enjoyed another good spell of their own as the half drew to a close. A deep 38^th minute cross from Kaziboni on the right picked out Smith in space beyond the far post. The wing back took on the chance first time and screamed his volley just inches over the top. Moments later and the visitors got themselves back in front with Kaziboni again the provider as Mensah grabbed his third goal in two games. The wide man outsmarted Offler wide left before getting to the bye line and carefully picking out Mensah in space at the back post. Another assured finish took Ives into the break a goal to the good and the travelling supporters into their half time refreshment in optimistic mood.

But Daniels manager Drury was much less satisfied with how the first period had gone and tore into his charges at the break. He was clearly requesting that his players upped their efforts to deliver the ball into Ives box at every opportunity and it was Bartle’s long throw which again proved the visitors undoing eight minutes after the re-start. This time the ball arced into the box where a clean header proved impossible but the ball dropped out of the crowd to Jack Duffy who gleefully prodded it over the line from close range.

The hosts only goal from open play of the afternoon arrived five minutes later and put them in front for the first time. Skipper Morgan was allowed space to run at Ives back line and he in turn fed in Duffy through the right channel. The Daniels centre forward unselfishly rolled the ball across the six yard line to pick out Bartle in space at the back post and the wing back duly obliged by side footing home.

Ives were very much still in the game and enjoyed a purple patch when they should have restored the parity with three good chances going begging from the 70th minute mark. Initially Will Glennon misjudged a Smith cross from the left allowing the ball to float over his head and drop to the feet of Edwards by the penalty spot. But the Ives skipper got the ball stuck in his feet allowing Glennon to recover and take all of the sting out of the shot when it eventually came.

Two minutes later Myles Cowling fed in Kaziboni through the inside left position and it took a brave double save from home keeper Michael Duggan to deny the Ives striker, initially sliding in to block the first shot the big stopper did even better to recover and claim Kaziboni’s attempted clip into the centre from the rebound.

The third and best of Ives opportunities to get level fell to Cowling in 76^th minute. Edwards flicked on a long Brearey punt and Barton further helped the ball on its way into the path of the all action midfielder who burst clear into the box and beat Duggan with his fierce left foot drive that looked goal bound but much to the dismay of the Ives faithful flashed just wide of the keepers right hand post.

As time ticked down manager Marheineke threw caution to the wind replacing defender Paddy Casey with striker Khris Oti who joined debutant Torin Ntege, Kaziboni and Edwards in a four man strike force for the closing stages. But the game was eventually decided with three minutes of the ninety to go when Luke Harris pulled back Tendai Chitiza in a wide right position giving the Daniels chance to deliver another dangerous dead ball kick into the box. Bartle delivered the in-swinging free kick and James Blunden ghosted in at the back post, Brearey did brilliantly to keep out the initial header at point blank range but he had no chance as Blunden poked home the loose ball.

Another battling display against one of the contenders for a play-off place where sadly no reward has been forthcoming leaves Ives left sitting only four points above the drop zone. But now with two home games against inconsistent sides in Leiston and Nuneaton Borough coming it is vital to start picking up points ahead of the following three games which are against the top three sides.

Final Score:  Stamford    4   St Ives Town   2

Goals:

STAMFORD: Morgan 21 (pen), Duffy 54, Bartle 58, Blunden 88

ST IVES: Mensah 4 & 40

Team Line Ups:

STAMFORD: Duggan, Burgess (Bennett 79), Bartle, Glennon, Offler, Blunden, Chitiza, Morgan (capt), Duffy, Shaw (Siddons 89), Vince (Challinor 74), Unused subs: Armstrong, Nassunculo

ST IVES: Brearey, Mensah (Harris 65), Smith, Hottor, Williams, Casey (Oti 81), Barton (Ntege 74), Cowling, Edwards (capt), Kaziboni, Tomlinson, Unused subs: Joyce,

Cards:   Yellow:  STAMFORD: Burgess (45), Duffy (90+3)         ST IVES:  Hottor (10), Harris (87)       

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Benji Mensah

Attendance:  602

The new year starts for St Ives Town with a trip to Stamford.

INTRODUCING STAMFORD

The hosts nicknamed ‘The Dannies’ have made an impressive return to step 3 football following their promotion from the Northern Premier League Midlands at the end of last season.  However, they go into the game on New Years Day in mixed form having won once in their last three matches which was a 4-0 win at home to Mickleover on 19 December.  Before then, they had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Berkhamsted and this was followed by the same score against Bromsgrove Sporting on 23 December.  They had no game on Boxing Day.  Stamford currently sit sixth in the table, two points off the play-offs.

IVES TEAM NEWS

The Ives make the trip after returning to winning ways courtesy of a 6-0 Boxing Day hammering of Kettering Town.  The win moved the Ives up to 15^th in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone.  Michael Richens will be suspended for the trip to Lincolnshire but boss Ricky Marheineke has a full compliment to choose from otherwise.

FORM GUIDE – LAST SIX LEAGUE GAMES
Stamford:
W L W D W D

Ives
W L L L L W

STAMFORD – KEY MAN

Jack Duffy.  The striker has 13 goals to his name to date and was a key player in the Dannies promotion winning squad last season.

GOING TO THE GAME

The Zeeco Stadium
Ryhall Road
STAMFORD
PE9 4QN

ADMISSION PRICES

ADULT: £12.00
CONCESSION (Over 60): £8.00
CHILD (12-17): £4.00
CHILD (11 & Under with paying Adult): FREE

Kick-off at the Zeeco Stadium is at 3:00pm.

St Ives Town 6 v Kettering Town  0 

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central  26-12-2023

Nigel Howlett Reports

Ives supporters received the perfect Christmas present as their heroes produced a scintillating Boxing Day performance to blow away a woeful Poppies side. The hosts were pleased to return to quattro tech Westwood Road after three tough away games which had brought no reward. With Jonny Edwards passing a pre-match fitness test they also had the very rare luxury at this stage of the season of having a fully fit and available squad to pick from. Manager Ricky Marheineke made four changes from the pre-Christmas defeat at Leamington with Benji Mensah, Aaron Smith, Edwards and Josh Tomlinson all returning to the starting eleven.

There looked to be little between the two sides in the early stages of the game and the first two chances both fell to the visitors. The Poppies MK Dons loanee Phoenix Sholtz was finding a bit of room on the right and he got in the first shot of the game in fourth minute as he cut inside and fired across the face of goal from the corner of the box.

What turned out to be the visitors best chance of the game arrived five minutes later as Sholtz hung up a cross to the back post where Dan Jarvis had ghosted in unmarked. He tried to power his header high to Eddie Brearey’s left but the Ives stopper reacted well to dive full length and claw the effort away.

Ives were beginning to get a foothold in the game and wasted two, or three, opportunities to get players clear by over hitting the through ball but all that ended with a brilliantly taken goal from Mensah in 18^th minute. The goal came at the end of a flowing move started within their own half that was ended by Myles Cowling laying the perfect pass into the young wing back’s well timed run. Mensah still had a lot to do as goalkeeper Will Johnson and a defender were both desperately looking to close him down. But the youngster kept his cool and deftly lifted the ball over both keeper and defender into the net a whirled away to celebrate leaving Johnson and his defender, Ben Toseland, to slide into each other.

From that point the hosts took the game by the scruff of the neck harrying their opponents mercilessly all over the park. Other chances came and went before Edwards doubled the lead five minutes before the break. Dan Barton set off on another of his mazy runs straight through the heart of the Poppies back line. The run eventually taking him clear of the struggling last man Kelvin Langmead. The young winger got his left footed shot away from just inside the box and it came within inches of opening his account for Ives. Keeper Johnson flung himself to his left and got a hand to the ball doing just enough to divert it onto the post. The covering Toseland looked like he was going to clear but got it tangled up his legs allowing Edwards to get a foot in and prod it over the line.

Those remaining five minutes had five more added to them thanks to an early injury to Poppies Tyrone Lewthwaite that eventually saw him relaced. During that time Ives could so easily have added to their lead on at least four, or five, occasions as they completely over ran the struggling visitors. Edwards thumped at 44^th minute 25 yarder inches wide of Johnson’s left hand post with the keeper beaten. The chance had been set up by the all action Mensah harrying and robbing Poppies skipper Rhys Sharpe deep inside his own half.

Johnson’s goal then led a charmed life in the added time. Two minutes in and again Mensah dispossessed the struggling Sharpe and this time fed in Njoku through the right channel. Ives speedy striker unselfishly pulled the ball back into the path of Mensah who had continued his run. He in turn fed it on to the unmarked Edwards at the back post and it took a brilliant block from the diving keeper to keep out the centre forward’s well struck effort.

The final added minute saw another scramble inside the Poppies box as a Smith long throw bounced around the area before being fed out to Barton on the right and he hung up a teasing cross to the back post where Michael Richens rose above the crowd and powered down a header that bounced to safety off the foot of the post with Johnson looking on.

The Poppies fans in the bumper Bank Holiday crowd were no doubt hoping, and probably expecting, a much improved performance from their side in the second half but it did not materialise as the rampant Ives piled on the pressure with an all action display that gave their opponents no time at all to settle. Only two minutes after the re-start Cowling hung up a cross to the back post where Edwards rose highest but powered his header over the top.

Smith was enjoying the freedom of the quattro tech Westwood Road pitch as he was being left in acres of space on the left side of the park as young Sholtz seemed constantly caught in two minds of whether to go and mark him or stay inside to deal with the threatening runs of Cowling and Barton. Smith was using this time and space well and in 48^th minute he fed in Mensah whose shot from just inside the box beat keeper Johnson but was cleared off the line by the covering Toseland.

Richens should probably have done a little better with a 54^th minute shooting opportunity. Smith’s long throw from the left was knocked down to the Ives skipper near the penalty spot but under pressure from defenders he snatched the effort over the top.

Brearey’s first real action since that excellent save in the first ten minutes came in 56^th minute as he was forced into a diving save low to his left hanging on well to Jarvis’s shot from just outside the box. But play quickly swung back to the opposite end of the pitch as Njoku and Mensah combined well inside the Poppies box. The move eventually ending as Mensah wriggled his way between a couple of defenders but fired over.

Ives third arrived just after the hour at the end of another flowing move. The ball again being fed out to Smith who had time to pick out his man with his cross. He went deep where Mensah did remarkably to not only keep the ball alive but flick it past a defender to get to the bye line before picking out Cowling on the edge of the box with his pull back. The midfielder’s shot was heading for Johnson’s bottom right hand corner, and that is where the keeper went, but Edwards cleverly deflected the shot on the way through sending it into the opposite corner.

Less than three minutes later Ives added a fourth. Edwards got clear on the right and drove in a cross to the near post where Njoku got across in front of his man to fire home from six yards. By this point the pressure on the Poppies goal was relentless and Ives players were so keen to score that they were getting in each other’s way. A flowing 69^th minute move saw Barton put clear down the right and as his low driven cross was delivered to the near post it was met simultaneously by Cowling, Njoku and Mensah who between them only managed to prod an effort wide.

Poppies supporters were clearly not happy with their players performance on the day and there was a sparky moment a few seconds after that let off for the visitors as skipper Rhys Sharpe reacted badly to words aimed at him from some of his own supporters as he was being substituted by Gedeon Okito. But the real signal to get the visiting supporters leaving in their droves was Ives fifth goal fifteen minutes from time. The immaculate Cowling threaded another perfectly weighted pass into Njoku’s run. The striker took on the shot first time from just inside the box, but keeper Johnson spread himself well to make a block. Unfortunately for the keeper the first person to react to the loose ball was the Ives striker and this time he made no mistake.

The Poppies almost snuck a late consolation as Langmead got on the end of a pin point cross from the left by Jarvis. Although the centre back’s header beat the diving Brearey. Mensah was on hand to clear the ball off the line to preserve the clean sheet.

There was still time for Cowling to claim the goal that his all around performance had fully deserved and to put the final nail in the Poppies coffin two minutes from time. A move started just inside the visitor’s half by Cowling as he fed the ball out to substitute Greg Kaziboni, back to the feet of Cowling, on to Njoku who pulled it back to the penalty spot where Cowling who had continued his run met it perfectly to fire into the top corner of the net.

Ives supporters with long memories will take great satisfaction in this result. The host’s first season at step three, Bonfire night 2016 saw the Poppies come to Westwood Road and batter Ives 7-0. How things have changed in the intervening seven years and now Poppies fans know just what such a battering feels like. Ives must however use this result as a catalyst to resume their upward momentum which had been knocked a little off course during their recent run of tough away games and on paper a tough run now follows with four of their next six games against teams in and around the play-off places.

Final Score:  St Ives Town   6   Kettering Town   0

Goals:

ST IVES: Mensah 18, Edwards 40 & 62, Njoku 65 & 75, Cowling 87

KETTERING:

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Brearey, Mensah, Smith (Harris 81), Richens (capt) (Hottor 73), Williams, Casey, Barton (Kaziboni 86), Cowling, Edwards, Njoku, Tomlinson, Unused subs: Tessler, Oti

KETTERING: Johnson, Toseland, Langmead, White (Miller 64), Andrade, Lewthwaite (Bennett 23), Sharpe (capt) (Okito 69), Dawson, Scott, Jarvis, Scholtz, Unused subs: Reilly, Dobson

Cards:   Yellow:  ST IVES:  none        KETTERING:  Sharpe (36), Langmead (85)

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Myles Cowling

Attendance: 512

Our official matchday magazine for the Boxing Day clash at home to Kettering is now available to read.

Inside our 44 page edition:

• We look back on our recent defeat to Hitchin
• A preview of the Boxing Day fixtures
• A look back at the Ives season to date
• And….you can take part in our 2023 St Ives Town FC quiz

Plus lots more……the link to download the programme is HERE

A reminder that the match on Boxing Day kicks-off at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road at 1:00pm