League: Cambridgeshire County League 1B
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St Ives Town Reserves v Godmanchester Rovers Reserves
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Brampton v St Ives Town Reserves
v St Ives Town Reserves v Fenstanton
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Gamlingay United Reserves v St Ives Town Reserves
v St Ives Town Reserves v Ely City “A”
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St Ives Town Reserves v Mepal Sports
St Ives Town Reserves 5-0 Mepal Sports FC
Manager Tony O’Donovan bolstered his very young side with with some experience in the form of “old” St Ives town favourite Scott Fielding and it paid dividends with him showing a calm finish ten yards out after 15 minutes. A knee injury soon after prevented him playing any further part with the Ives still one nil up.
St Ives played some of their best passing football this season and were unfortunate to only add one more goal before half time when Kian Pilkington produced some lovely skill to set up fullback Bailey Baker with a far post finish.
After the break young saints continued to dominate midfield allowing more chances for now a rampant Ives. Bailey Baker scored his second on the overlap from the back with a smart finish. Ben Smith fouled in the box got up to calmly slot home the resulting penalty. Smith again was involved in the fifth with a smart pull back for Jamie Stork to supply a first time finish from just inside the penalty area.
Saints continued to dictate play in the middle of the park and their passing football was too slick for a spirited Mepal team.
Ives team
J. Purse. C. Paine. K. Frans. E. Young. B. Baker. J.Jay. C O’Donovan. K. Pilkington. B. Smith. S. Fielding. J. Stork.
Subs. D. Corvalho. D. Lobo. C. Sheppard.
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Fenstanton v St Ives Town Reserves
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St Ives Town Reserves v Alconbury
It was back to the league for the young saints side after two consecutive cup matches.
Again a depleted squad meant stand in goal keeper Joe Purse was needed between the post whilst full use of the squad was used by Tony O’Donovan saints manager.
In horrendous conditions st Ives started on the front foot and set out their intent on a high tempo passing game.
A number of chances came and went with Scott Simms hitting the woodwork while Ben Smith and Danilo Carvalho squandered good opportunities.
Debutant Gary Baillie’s experience helped the young players around him continue to play with confidence as they dominated possession without reward.
Saints finally opened the scoring after half an hour with a well worked move through midfield before a low cross was finished off well by Kian Pilkington.
Both teams continued to try to master the deteriating conditions as the second half got under way but it was proving to be a challenge for both.
Saints young midfield of Jay, Simms and O’Donovan continued to dominate play whilst fullbacks Baker and Paine were finding more time and space to attack from wide.
A number of opportunities for saints to extend their lead went begging before they paid the price and were caught out by a good Alconbury counter attack which levelled the scoreline.
Not to be deterred the young st Ives side regained their composure and took the lead again within in minutes when Ben Smith beat the Alconbury fullback and finished with style from the edge of the box.
Further chances came and went for st Ives but although unable to take them they saw out the remainder of the game relatively untroubled with Leon Quinsee dominant in defence.
In awful weather both sides did well to try and play good football and all credit to Alconbury who gave the young saints side a good test.
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Hemingfords United Reserves v St Ives Town Reserves
The new St Ives Town Reserves gain their first win in only their second game in Kershaw league 1B winning 3-2.
Against an unbeaten Hemingford team St Ives started brightly playing some excellent passing football and deservedly went ahead after 19 minutes when a pinpoint pass from Scott Simms found Ewan Young free who calmly slotted home. St Ives continued their dominance by adding to their lead four minutes later when Tom Wakley received a pass from Connor O’Donovan to beat the Hemmingford keeper confidently. Hemmingford responded shortly after to reduce the arrears but St Ives continued to dominate play. Into the second half St Ives continued to pass the ball well on a bumpy surface and extended their lead further with a Tom Wakley freekick from 30 yards. As the second half wore on Hemmingford pushed st ives with a more direct approach gaining success with their second goal of the game as st ives failed to deal with a bouncing ball in the six yard box. Our young side almost entirely made up of 16 and 17 year olds regained their composure and comfortably saw out the match creating a number of other good opportunities. A great success for such a young team competing for the first time in men’s football
Team – Bradley, Franz, Baker, Young, Pilkington, O’Donovan, Jay, Simms, Wakley, Stork, Simons
Subs – Bald, Gibbs, McDougald, Quincee, Winter
Report by Tony O’Donovan
v St Ives Town Reserves v Houghton & Wyton
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