The Quattro-Tech Westwood Road is the host of what is surely match of the day in the Southern League Premier Division Central this weekend as St Ives Town welcome second place Needham Market.

It’s the recent form of the Ives that makes this match so appealing. The hosts go into the game on the back of a 5-0 victory at previous leaders Mickleover last Saturday.  Previous to that, they recorded a 3-0 home win against the now defunct Nuneaton Borough and prior to that there was two thumping home victories.  A 6-0 drubbing of Kettering Town on Boxing Day followed by a 5-0 demolition of Leiston on 6 January.

INTRODUCING NEEDHAM MARKET

Needham arrive having lost only twice in the league all season.  An opening day 6-1 reverse at the hands of Stratford followed by a 1-0 defeat on Boxing Day at AFC Sudbury.  They have spent long periods in the top three, and claimed top spot in the last month, but lost that last weekend as they didn’t have a game which opened the door for Redditch to become leaders after the Ives stunned Mickleover.

IVES TEAM NEWS

Away from the league, the Ives continued their impressive form in midweek with a 3-0 win at Eynesbury Rovers in the Hunts Senior Cup.  Myles Cowling was on the scoresheet and he looks set to be included from the start after recovering fully from injury.  Jonny Edwards, who scored four goals at Mickleover last Saturday will continue up front and Ives boss Ricky Marheineke could be tempted to continue with Stevenage loanee Theo Alexandrou after impressing at Mickleover last week.

FORM GUIDE – LAST SIX (Not including any matches v Nuneaton)

IVES: L L W L W W

NEEDHAM MARKET: W D W L W W

LAST SEASON AT THE QUATTRO-TECH WESTWOOD ROAD

It was on 19 November 2022 when the two teams last met in a league fixture at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road.  The Ives looked set for maximum points after Nabil Sharriff had put them in front.  However, a last gasp strike from the visitors meant that the points were shared.

MATCH SPONSORS

A special thank you to Ives fans John Coulson and Jerry Wood for sponsoring the match tomorrow.  We hope you enjoy the afternoon.

HAPPY HOUR

A reminder that there will be a drinks promotion in the bar between 1:00pm and 2:30pm where all pints are priced at just £3.00.

Kick-off at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road is at 3:00pm.