With six games of the campaign left, we are at the business end of the season and St Ives Town are desperately looking to return to winning ways to give them breathing space from the relegation trap door.

That task will not be easy as tomorrow they begin three successive games against teams in the top four as they make the trip to fourth place Rushall Olympic.  What’s to come is two games at home starting next Saturday with the visit of second place Coalville who have two games in hand over current leaders Tamworth who arrive at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road a week later.

St Ives make the trip on the back of a run that has seen them record one win in the last nine games.  That was back on 4 February when they beat Hitchin Town 3-2 at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road.  Their previous outing was instantly forgettable as they crashed to a 5-1 home defeat to Stourbridge last Saturday.  Since that defeat, Ives boss Ricky Marheineke has increased his goalkeeping options by signing Eddie Brearey who has arrived on loan from Oxford United for the remainder of the season.  The young keeper will be available for selection tomorrow.  Still out is influential midfielder Myles Cowling who is missing through injury.  On the plus side Enoch Andoh should be back after not being available last weekend.

INTRODUCING RUSHALL OLYMPIC

Rushall appear to be on course for a play-off berth.  They currently sit in fourth place on 66 points and unlike the Ives go into the game in fine form.  Their last defeat was back in early February when they lost at Royston.  Since then, they recorded an excellent 3-0 win at fellow play-off hopefuls Nuneaton and last Saturday won 2-0 at strugglers Bedford Town.  The reverse fixture back in October ended in a 2-0 win for Rushall.

OTHER KEY GAMES TOMORROW

The other matches to follow in the relegation battle tomorrow are:

Needham Market, a place above the Ives host Nuneaton Borough

Stratford, one place below the Ives travel to Hitchin Town

Kings Langley, who are two places below the Ives and in the relegation zone travel to Coalville

Bedford, who are three places below the Ives and in deep relegation trouble head to Alvechurch

GOING TO THE GAME:

Rushall Olympic FC
Dales Lane
Rushall
WALSALL
West Midlands
WS4 1LJ

If you are not heading to Rushall tomorrow, then a reminder that there will be updates across social media throughout the afternoon with a full report and highlights available on the website and the club YouTube channel over the weekend.  Kick-off at Dales Lane is at 3:00pm.