It’s the FA Trophy this weekend as St Ives Town host Kettering Town at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road for a third qualifying round tie.
The match will be a welcome distraction for both teams who have struggled in the first couple of months of the season. Going into the game, the Ives are just one place off the bottom of the league table whilst Kettering are just one place and a point above them.
Both teams have played each other already and the Ives will point to the league match at the end of August when they should have wrapped up victory, only to be denied by a last gasp equaliser. Sadly, that pattern has continued throughout the campaign with the Ives struggling to see out the game when in a strong position.
The good news for the Ives is that key players are now returning to fitness. Johnny Edwards, Myles Cowling, and Brandon Njoku are all set to be in the squad whilst numbers have been boosted by the signings of two players on loan from Northampton Town. Josh Tomlinson and Peter Abimbola arrive from the Cobblers to boost defensive and midfield options.
The Poppies arrive having secured a place in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup last weekend. Their 1-0 win has set-up an away trip to National League leaders Chesterfield next weekend. But it is their league form where it has been a struggle and like the Ives they have won just once this season and that was against Bromsgrove Sporting in early September. The match will see the return to the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road of Ben Toseland. The defender has had a couple of spells with the Ives, most recently last season.
A reminder that season tickets are not valid for this fixture so it’s all pay on the gate. Admission prices are:
- 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
Please note that if the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, then there will be a penalty shoot-out. Before kick-off, there will be a 1 minute silence in memory of Ives supporter Adrian Layton who passed away recently.
Kick-off at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road is at 3:00pm.