It’s the final home game of the season on Saturday as St Ives Town welcome Bedford to the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road.

The visitors arrive having been relegated over the Easter weekend but will still be looking to finish the season on a high.  For the Ives, they mathematically still require a point to secure their status in the PitchingIN Southern League Premier Division Central for another season, so will be going all out to achieve that.

What a difference a couple of games can make.  Going into the Easter weekend, the Ives looked in real danger of relegation but back to back wins over Tamworth and Royston mean they have taken a giant leap towards safety.  Ives boss Ricky Marheineke certainly has plenty of strength in depth going into the last two games of the campaign.  Nabil Shariff, who scored the third goal at Royston on Monday could be in line for a start whilst Kieron Higgs who missed out may be named in the squad.  Jonny Edwards scored twice over the Easter weekend and looks set to start as he eyes scoring more goals from the final two league games.

INTRODUCING BEDFORD

This season has been one to forget for Bedford.  The Eagles were back in step three after their promotion last year.  However, they have only won eight times in the league this season and have conceded 86 goals which is the most of any club in the division.  They arrive at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road having not scored a goal in the league since 18 February which was a 2-1 defeat at Stourbridge.  The last time they actually won in the league was on Boxing Day when they beat AFC Rushden & Diamonds 6-2 at their New Eyrie ground.

OTHER KEY GAMES IN THE RELEGATION BATTLE THIS WEEKEND

BROMSGROVE SPORTING v Barwell

Hednesford Town v KINGS LANGLEY

NEEDHAM MARKET v Basford

STRATFORD TOWN v Coalville

THE REVERSE FIXTURE

The two clubs met earlier this season on 12 November.  The Ives got off to the worst possble start when Kane Lewis was credited with an own goal.  However, Jonny Edwards and Kieran Higgs gave the Ives a 2-1 cushion at the break before Enoch Andoh netted the third three minutes from time to make the game safe.

PRE-MATCH DRINKS OFFER

Once again the club will be offering a drinks promotion in the clubhouse before the game.  All beers and pints are priced at just £2.50 between 1:00pm and 2:15pm so make sure you arrive early to take advantage of this offer.

THANK YOU TO OUR FANS…..

As this is the last home game of the season, a big thank you to all our supporters who have attended matches this season.  We hope you have enjoyed what you have seen and we look forward to seeing you for on the field action when pre-season begins in July.  However, there is plenty of off the field fundraising taking place during the closed season so keep a look out for details of the various events coming up.

If you are not attending the final home game of the season, then a reminder that there will be updates on social media throughout the afternoon with a match report, highlights and post-match reaction available over the weekend on the club YouTube Channel.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults – £11

Concessions (Over 65) £8

Military Discount (with ID Card) – £5

Students (With ID Card) – £5

U16’s to 12 – £2

U12’s – Free (Accompanied with an adult)

It’s the penultimate home game of the season on Saturday for St Ives Town as they welcome Tamworth to the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road.

It promises to be some game as the match has huge importance for both sides.  Tamworth arrive in second place having lost out on top spot to Coalville Town last week.  Coalville, who beat St Ives last Saturday are now five points clear at the top having played the same amount of games as Tamworth.  So, the Lambs will be desperately looking to win to keep in touch.  St Ives meanwhile are desperately looking for a win to pull away from trouble.  Only three points now separate them from Kings Langley, who occupy the final relegation berth.  Two of the bottom four places have already been decided with Hednesford and AFC Rushden & Diamonds already relegated.  Bedford, Kings Langley, Ives, Stratford, Basford, Needham Market and Bromsgrove are all still in the dog fight to stay up.

The Ives go into the game looking to replicate the same level of performance as last Saturday.  Despite being beaten 3-1 by Coalville, the Ives put in a fine performance that on another day would have yielded at least a point.  Manager Ricky Marheineke has an injury concern over Jordan Williams.  If he doesn’t make it, then Ben Toseland could come in and partner Michael Richens at the heart of the defence.  Elsewhere, midfielder Myles Cowling could be available again after missing recent games with injury.

INTRODUCING TAMWORTH

On paper, it looks like an away victory for Tamworth.  But, recent results for the Lambs have pointed to a bit of a wobble as the season enters the final straight.  Their last three league games have seen a home defeat against Needham Market, a win at Royston and a 2-2 draw last week at bottom side AFC Rushden & Diamonds.  Results that point to a drop in form at the crucial business end of the season.  They have Stratford, Leiston and Redditch still to play in a season that has seen them lose on only six occasions.

LAST SEASON AT WESTWOOD ROAD

11 September 2021: St Ives Town 1 Tamworth 2

The Ives were on the wrong end of an early season 2-1 defeat.  Goals from Aaron Forde and James Kellerman set-up the victory for the Lambs.  Nabil Shariff pulled one back in the last minute to set-up a grandstand finish, but it was the visitors who secured all three points.

OTHER GAMES ON FRIDAY & SATURDAY IN THE BATTLE TO BEAT THE DROP

BEDFORD v Redditch (Friday)

Alvechurch v NEEDHAM MARKET (Friday)

Coalville v BROMSGROVE

Nuneaton v KINGS LANGLEY

Rushall Olympic v BASFORD

STRATFORD v Mickleover

SPECIAL OFFER ON PRE-MATCH DRINKS IN THE CLUBHOUSE

Don’t forget that tomorrow there will be a special pre-match offer on all pints and beers in the clubhouse.  They will be priced at £2.50 between 1:00pm and 2:15pm so make sure you arrive early and take advantage of this offer.

ADMISSION PRICES:

As with the Colville game last Saturday, another big crowd is expected to the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road.  So make you sure you are there to give the boys that extra lift and cheer them onto a crucial three points.  The admission prices are:

Adults – £11

Concessions (Over 65) £8

Military Discount (with ID Card) – £5

Students (With ID Card) – £5

U16’s to 12 – £2

U12’s – Free (Accompanied with an adult)

If you cannot make it to the game, then there will be updates on social media throughout the afternoon with a match report available on the website and highlights and post-match on the club YouTube channel over the weekend.  Kick-off at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road is at 3:00pm.