Stourbridge 1 v St Ives Town 0
Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central 10-08-2024
Nigel Howlett reports from the War Memorial Athletic Ground
Football can be a cruel game as hard working Ives had what would have been a deserved point snatched from them by Alex Moore’s wickedly deflected goal right at the death. Prior to the late kick in the teeth the visitors had held their own with a defence well marshalled by debutant skipper Alex Collard generally looking very solid and when the Glassboys did find a way through they found another of Ives six debutants in excellent form as goalkeeper Dan Wilks was equal to everything thrown at him. His display topped off by a world class save hurling himself full length to his left to one handedly keep out Alex Bradley’s powerful free kick. Sadly at the other end of the park Ives lacked creativity and were unable to force a single save from home keeper Ollie Taylor.
The season kicked off in glorious sunshine on a very firm pitch with the grass mown sow low that a number of bare patches were showing through. Both sides struggled early on to deal with the bouncing ball but both showed that they were very much up for the game with tackles flying in. Jordan Williams went in a little to robustly on Miro Pais to pick up the seasons first yellow card in sixth minute.
From early on it looked like Ives main threats were going to come from dead ball situations and a couple of long throws from Aaron Smith caused the hosts a minor problem in twelfth minute. The second was flicked on well at the near post by Collard but the loose ball was quickly scrambled away before Jonny Edwards could get on the end of it.
Ives continued to work hard and five minutes later Peter Abimbola won the ball inside the hosts half and tried to feed Edwards through. The big striker’s first time effort was blocked out for a corner but Jordan Nicholson’s flag kick was comfortably claimed inside his six yard box by Taylor.
The game’s first shot on target finally arrived in 18th minute courtesy of Pais but the left sided wide man’s effort was comfortably saved by the well positioned Wilks. Ives big stopper made another routine save four minutes later as he clung onto a powerful drive from just outside the box by Ethan Freemantle. The chance being set up by good work from Jourdain Masidi.
The flow of the game continued to go the way of the hosts but chances were being kept to a minimum by Ives hard working back line. Wilks was quick to come off his line to snuff out the opportunity after a clip over the top looked like it had put Freemantle clear. The Glassboys number nine then spurned the best opportunity of the first half in 37th minute. Moore’s threaded through ball perfectly picked out the well timed run of Freemantle but as Wilks came to close him down the hosts striker slid the ball just past the post.
The second half started almost identically to the first with an Ives defender picking up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on halfway. This time it was Paddy Casey that picked up the card for taking down Freemantle as he tried to break away. The hosts continued to probe and Pais fired inches over the top from just outside the box in 57th minute.
A 40 yard run from Theo Alexandrou on the hour sparked the start of a brief period of Ives possession. The unfortunate thing about Alexandrou’s run was that it started 20 yards inside his own half and ended with him taken down by a defender 20 yards into the Glassboys half. The free kick came to nothing. But ten minutes later Alexandrou managed the first Ives effort on goal of the game. But his 30 yarder flew well over the top with keeper Taylor looking on.
Ives “good” period ended with ten minutes to go and two minutes after that came the amazing save from Wilks that looked like it was going to earn Ives a point. Substitute Mani Sidibe had only been on a few minutes and made an instant impact as he jinked his way through Ives back line before being taken down by Jernade Meade 25 yards from goal. Alex Bradley’s well struck free kick beat Ives five man wall and was headed for the corner of the net before the hand of the flying Wilks arrived to spectacularly palm it away.
Now it was all the hosts searching desperately for a winner. Home manager Liam McDonald played all of his cards bringing on all five available substitutes and one of those replacements, Callum Coyle, went close as he cut inside from the left and curled a right footed effort just wide in 85th minute.
A brief respite saw Ives win a corner in 90th minute to give them a chance to snatch it. But although Collard got up highest to win the header he was unable to direct his effort on target under heavy pressure from defenders.
Back at the other end the hosts forced two quick corners in succession in the first minute of added time. Joel Kettle rose highest to the second of those at the back post but could only direct his downward header into the side netting. That escape looked like getting Ives the point that they had fought so hard for but with just ninety seconds of the five added minutes remaining a ball in from the right fell to the feet of Moore on the edge of the box. His curled effort was heading straight into the waiting hands of Wilks when it took a wicked deflection off a defender to go into the opposite corner and spark wild delight amongst the home faithful.
Looking back one cannot fault the level of effort from any of the Ives players and the back line and keeper look as good as we have ever seen but creativity was sadly lacking at the other end. Michael Richens sadly out with a cruciate ligament injury may be the spark that is missing. But at least the players get a very quick opportunity to put it right as we entertain Lowestoft Town at quattro tech Westwood Road on Monday evening.
Final Score: Stourbridge 1 St Ives Town 0 half Time 0 – 0
Goals:
STOURBRIDGE: Moore 90+3
ST IVES:
Team Line Ups:
STOURBRIDGE: Taylor, Bavanganga, Portman, Brown, Kettle, Moore, Freemantle (Sadibi 81), Pais (Coyle 69), Masidi (Verma 76), Jones (capt) (Bradley 69), Durrell (Prosser 81), Unused subs: none
ST IVES: Wilks, Meade, Smith, Hottor, Williams, Collard (capt), Alexandrou (Obeng 85), Abimbola, Edwards, Nicholson (Creary 64), Casey, Unused subs: Watkins, Adegbola
Referee: Simon Kavanagh
Cards: Yellow: STOURBRIDGE: none ST IVES: Williams (6), Casey (48)
IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex Collard
Attendance: 540