Match Report

St Ives Town v Chasetown

Emirates FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round  01-10-2022

Ives made history on Saturday as their 3 – 1 victory at quattro-tech Westwood Road over Chasetown saw the club through to the fourth qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup for the first time in the club’s 135 year history. Just one game away from a potential tie with the likes of Cambridge United, Peterborough United, or once mighty Portsmouth, or Derby County. Their opponents may have been from one level lower but they had a much better cup pedigree having played Cardiff City in the Third Round proper 15 years ago.

The hosts got off to the perfect start as leading scorer Jonny Edwards converted Myles Cowling’s low cross to put them in front inside the first twenty seconds in a move down the right which also involved Dylan Williams and Greg Kaziboni. With Kaziboni on the right and Enoch Andoh operating on the left Ives had a real threat down both flanks and it was Andoh’s turn to get involved six minutes later as he fed inside to Williams whose 20 yarder was well held to his right by keeper Curtis Pond. 

The visiting Scholars were not going to lie down and with Kris Taylor and Jack Langston to the fore they slowly worked their way back into the game winning a succession of corners and from the sixth of these they found an equaliser in 18^th minute. Joey Butlin found some space at the near post to power home Taylor’s in-swinger from the left.

The visitors continued to press for most of the remainder of the first half but Ives back line well marshalled by Jordan Williams held firm to ensure that the Scholars were limited to only half chances. Keeper James Goff was smartly off his line to prevent Mitch Botfield getting clear onto a Butlin through ball in 21^st minute and Callum Milne did just enough to deflect another Butlin header wide twelve minutes later.

Ives were unable to create much threat during this period and their only real opportunity was again carved out by the speed and trickery of Andoh. In the 22^nd minute the winger outpaced Oli Hayward to get to the bye line and serve up an inviting cross to the back post where Edwards was lurking waiting to power it home but the desperately stretching Taylor just managed to get the faintest of touches which was just enough to prevent Edwards getting a clean header and the ball flew harmlessly wide.

So honours even and all to play for at the break, or was a trip to Staffordshire on Tuesday evening destined to be the outcome?. We were all greeted by an unexpected shower of rain at the start of the second period but it did not dampen Ives enthusiasm and just like the first half they started like a train. Man of the match Andoh continued to torment Hayward as he took on and beat the full back at every opportunity. He got to the bye line again four minutes after the restart and clipped a cross into the centre that Pond looked certain to claim but the big keeper let the ball slip through his fingers and it bobbled around the Scholars box eventually falling to Williams on the edge the midfielder was unlucky to see his curling effort clip the crossbar and go over. But only seconds later the hosts were back in front and it was a deserved goal for Andoh. The goal kick was knocked back up the park setting Edwards for a run through the centre and having drawn in the defenders he unselfishly slipped the ball to the fast arriving Andoh who beat the exposed Pond emphatically from just inside the box.

The goal sparked a period of pressure from the hosts as they went for a third goal to kill the game. Moments after the goal Andoh was involved again with Williams putting him away past Hayward again. This time he drove in a low cross through the goalmouth that was almost forced home by the sliding Edwards at the back post.

Ives went even closer to the, all important, third goal in 58^th minute. An in-swinging Dylan Williams corner from the right was cleanly met by Milne at the back post and his header back into the mix was won by Andoh who directed his header goalwards, but it lacked power allowing Hayward to get up and head the ball off the goal line.

Unlike in the first half, the anticipated response from the visitors did not really materialise as Ives continued to work hard to frustrate their opponents. The closet that the visitors came to restoring parity was fifteen minutes from time as the hosts struggled to clear the ball from their box. It eventually fell to Butlin 25 yards out and his curling effort beat Goff but was inches to high just clipping the crossbar on its way over the top.

Michael Richens was perhaps a little fortunate to avoid picking up a card in an incident that lead to both managers receiving cautions in 80^th minute. The Ives skipper clattered into Mitchell Clarke right in front of the visitor’s dugout. With both players lying prone on the deck excellent referee Emily Heaslip immediately stopped play to summon medical assistance. As both physios sprinted on the two benches exchanged angry words and a mini confrontation followed forcing the official to select both managers for punishment in the absence of any other obvious candidates.

Edwards and Andoh continued to combine well and cause their opponents more problems. In 85^th minute a direct run deep in Scholars territory from Andoh ended with him feeding in Edwards through the centre and it took an excellent covering tackle from Ryan Wynter to snuff out the threat.

After the long stoppage for treatment of Richens and Clarke a nervy five, or six, added minutes were anticipated. But Johnny Herd ensured that there was no need for nail biting in added time as he roamed forward down the left, exchanged passes with substitute Ed Hottor and fired low past keeper Pond with the outside of his left boot from just outside the box just as the watch ticked past the ninety minute mark. Wild celebrations followed and these were repeated six minutes later when referee Heaslip blew the final whistle.

Little St Ives are in the hat for 4^th Qualifying Round draw on Monday where they will be joined by the likes of Chesterfield, Wrexham, Notts County and a whole host of other ex football league clubs.    

Final Score: St Ives Town   3  Chasetown  1  

Goals: 

ST IVES: Edwards 1, Andoh 50, Herd 90+1

CHASETOWN: Butlin 18,

Team Line Ups:

ST IVES: Goff, Lewis, Herd, Richens (capt), J. Williams, Milne, Kaziboni (Baker 70), Cowling, Edwards, D. Williams (Hottor 75), Andoh (Sheriff 90), Unused subs: Sandiford, Shariff, Johnston

CHASETOWN: Pond, Hayward, Evans, Taylor, Wynter, Clarke (Mansell 82), Botfield (Letford 78), Langston (Lund 70), Butlin, O’Callaghan (capt), Yates, Unused subs: Melbourne, Unwin, Reid, Edmunds

Cards: Yellow: ST IVES:  none    CHASETOWN: Wynter (57), Botfield (66)

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH:  Enoch Andoh

Attendance: 417

Report by Nigel Howlett. Video by Dave Hook & Ollie Jones. Photos by Louise Thompson.