FA Trophy Match Preview: Ives v Marine

It’s the Isuzu FA Trophy this weekend as St Ives Town welcome Marine to the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road for a first-round proper tie.

The match comes three weeks after the Ives progressed to this stage of the competition courtesy of a 3-2 victory over Kettering Town.  Since then, the Ives have lost against Bromsgrove and Stratford in the league but come into the game on the back of a morale boosting 3-2 victory over Royston Town on Monday night.  The game was won courtesy of a last-gasp strike from Brandon Njoku.

IVES TEAM NEWS

It is Njoku who is an injury concern after he hurt his shoulder in the latter stages of the match on Monday.  Elsewhere, Johnny Herd remains sidelined but both Paddy Casey and Myles Cowling came through the match on Monday with no recurrence of injuries that kept them out of the Bromsgrove game the previous Saturday.

INTRODUCING MARINE

Marine will arrive after making the long three-and-a-half-hour journey from their Merseyside base.  The Mariners are enjoying an excellent season which currently sees them fifth in the Northern Premier League, Premier Division.  They come into the game on the back of a 4-2 defeat at Guiseley in midweek and have lost four out of their 12 league matches they have played this season.  They are enjoying an excellent run in the FA Cup and in the fourth qualifying round defeated FC Halifax Town which has set-up a home match in the first-round proper with Harrogate Town from league two next Saturday.  The Mariners hit worldwide attention three years ago, when they hosted Tottenham Hotspur in a televised FA Cup 3rd round tie.

ONE TO WATCH

Finlay Sinclair-Smith.  The former Blackpool striker has scored 11 goals so far this season after signing for Marine during the summer.  He has also played for Bamber Bridge and FC United of Manchester.  He was leading scorer for Bamber Bridge last season, an achievement that won him the Players Player and Supporters Player of the Year award.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Happy Hour………. A reminder that before every home game this season, there is a special drinks promotion in the bar where all pints are priced at £3.00 between 1:00pm and 2:30pm.  Hot food is also available, and we look forward to seeing everyone.

Admission Prices…. Please note that the match is all pay on the gate as season tickets do not apply for this fixture.  Entry prices are below:

Adults: £11.00

Concessions (Over 65’s): £8.00

Military Discount/Students with ID: £6.00

12 -16’s: £2.00

Under 12’s (Accompanied by an Adult): £2.00

Bucket collection…. St Ives Town Football Club tomorrow welcomes representatives from the local Rotary Club who will be doing a bucket collection as they fundraise for the ‘Coats 4 Kids’ project.  More details about this can be found in the online match programme which can be downloaded from the official website from 12noon on Friday.

No Replay…. Should the tie end in a draw after 90 minutes, then there will be no extra-time or replay and the match will go straight to a penalty shoot-out.

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