Bromsgrove Sporting 2 v St Ives Town 3
Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central 21-09-2024
Nigel Howlett reports from The Victoria Ground
A half time substitution by manager Ricky Marheineke made the difference as Ives claimed their first victory of the season away from home and on grass, albeit a very good surface. The visitors could perhaps count themselves a little fortunate to be level at the break, although they were clinical in taking their chances to twice come from behind in a disjointed first period. The introduction of the movement and pace of Cambridge United loanee Amaru Kaunda at the break caused the Rouslers defence all sorts of problems in the second period and it was only fitting that the youngster claimed the winner with a smart finish in a crowded box ten minutes from time.
A change of formation saw Ives playing a flat back four with Benji Mensah giving way to an extra striker in Silvano Obeng. Aaron Smith also returned at left back in place of Johhny Herd and there was a debut for new signing Johnson Gyamfi who replaced the now departed Theo Alexandrou.
The visitors made a slow start against their lively hosts Jamie Meadows had already forced an early save out of Dan Wilks before Harry Crook capitalised on an error from Jonny Edwards to put the Rouslers in front after only four minutes. Edwards back helping out his defence played a poor ball out that was easily cut out by Crook who raced away down the left before cutting inside and beating Wilks low to his right from the edge of the box.
Gyamfi could have had a golden debut as he spurned a glorious chance for an equaliser in Ives first meaningful attack six minutes later. Kobe Chong battled across the edge the hosts box getting through a couple of tackles before the ball ricocheted off him to the unmarked Gyamfi 18 yards out with only keeper Charlie Price to beat. But the debutant snatched at the chance and dragged his first time effort wide.
The Rouslers lively front pair of Crook and Charlie Wragg were pulling Ives defence around and Crook outpaced Ives back line to keep in a 20th minute clip over the top. Full back Shay Palmer should probably have done better with Crook’s pull back but blazed his effort wide of the far post from just inside the box.
Ives well fashioned equalised came from a speedy 23rd minute break with Obeng holding the ball up well and feeding it back to Jernade Meade. The midfielder slid the ball perfected into the well timed run of Chong through the right channel. The pacy striker still had a lot to do as he was under heavy pressure from Aksum White but he did well to hold off the defender and beat the advancing Price with an effort from 15 yards that found the bottom corner.
The Rouslers responded with Wragg almost getting through the centre as he took down a long ball and tried to nip between Ives centre backs forcing Alex Collard to take him down inside the D. Collard picked up a yellow card for his action but the skipper was proved right as Ives six man wall did its job to keep out Wragg’s free kick.
But just after the half hour Ives became the architects of their own downfall again as for the only time in the game Ed Hottor got caught in possession inside his own half. Dylan Thomas galloped away from him down the left and delivered a low cross to the near post where it was knocked away but only as far as Crook on the edge of the box and Rouslers number 12 gleefully accepted the gift and again beat Wilks low to his right.
Hottor almost immediately redeemed himself as he was the provider for Ives second equaliser of the game only three minutes later. Smith’s long throw was only half cleared to Hottor on the right corner of the box, a couple of strides forward and his driven cross was turned home from close range by the unmarked Jordan Williams to level things up for the second time.
Each side had one more chance to get back in front before the break with Crook forcing a full length diving save out of Wilks with the Rouslers 37th minute effort and Chong firing well wide from the edge of the box after Collard had knocked down Meade’s free kick to him in the final added minute.
Marheineke’s change at the break bringing on Kaunda for Obeng proved the catalyst to a dominant second half display from Ives The movement and pace of Gyamfi, Chong and Kaunda was an immediate problem for the hosts and with Hottor and Meade running the game in the centre of the park the hosts resorted to going long which was meat and drink for Collard and Williams.
Gyamfi was causing a lot of problems down the left and he was unceremoniously scythed down by Aaron Roberts in the build up to Ives going close on the hour. Referee Lewis Mountain’s excellent advantage allowing Chong to get away down the right and his clip to the back post was only just to powerful for Kaunda arriving at pace. Roberts picked up a yellow card for the challenge which forced Gyamfi out of the game but he was replaced by the equally pacy Benji Mensah so no let up for the beleaguered hosts back line.
Chong’s 67th minute corner somehow evaded everyone in the box and flashed just wide of the far post. Edwards almost got through in 70th minute only to be taken down by George Forsyth just outside the box. Forsyth joined his fellow centre back in referee Mountain’s notebook and a clever free kick saw Edwards shot tipped over by keeper Price.
Ives second half pressure finally fashioned a winner with nine minutes to go, but it came in controversial circumstances. A crowd of players went up for a high ball at the back of the box and substitute Jack Newell went down in a heap. With Rouslers players and fans alike shouting for the referee to stop the game for a head injury Ives played on with Smith delivering the ball back into the centre Collard showing a good touch to take it down before feeding Kaunda who immediately spun on it and fired into the bottom corner through the crowd and low past the unsighted Price.
The hosts huffed and puffed without really creating anything in the remaining time and the closet to another goal game in the fourth of five added minutes when Kaunda burst through onto Paddy Casey’s perfectly weighted clip over the top. As Price came to meet him the youngster tried to lob the host’s exposed stopper but did not get enough on it allowing Price to make a comfortable save.
A 95th minute corner for the hosts saw Price venture into Ives box and the big keeper won the header at the back post but could only steer his effort well wide. Moments later referee Mountain brought an end to proceedings to conclude a very satisfactory day at the office for Ives.
Now we can turn our attention back to the FA Cup with the visit of Kettering Town to quattro tech Westwood Road next Saturday offering the opportunity of a second ever adventure to the 4th Qualifying Round for the Ives.
Final Score: Bromsgrove Sporting 2 St Ives Town 3 Half Time 2 – 2
Goals:
BROMSGROVE: Crook 4, 32
ST IVES: Chong 23, Williams 35, Kaunda 81
Team Line Ups:
BROMSGROVE: Price, Palmer, King, Roberts, Forsyth, Thomas (Cook 60), Rowe (capt), Meadows (Newell 73), Crook (Snape 79), White, Wragg (Robinson 73), Unused subs: Patterson
ST IVES: Wilks, Casey, Smith, Meade, Williams, Collard (capt), Gyamfi (Mensah 60), Hottor, Edwards, Chong (Adegbola 90+3), Obeng (Kaunda 46), Unused subs: Creary, O’Keefe
Referee: Lewis Mountain
Cards: Yellow: BROMSGROVE: Forsyth (60), Roberts (69), White (80) ST IVES: Collard (26), Edwards (40),
IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Ed Hottor
Attendance: 475