Royston Town v St Ives Town

Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central 10-04-2023

Easter can so often be a pivotal period in any season and it looks like that is very much going to be the case for Ives in the 2022/23 season. Going into the Bank Holiday weekend on a run of ten games without a win had seen them slip to a position that left them on the precipice of falling into the relegation places. But what a difference 72 hours can make as two cracking performances and excellent results now sees them going into their last two games realistically needing just one more point to ensure themselves of an eighth successive season at step 3.

There was hope that the momentum gained from their hard fought victory against champions elect Tamworth on Saturday could be taken into this game but to counter it the pessimists amongst us were worried that may have taken a bit to much out of the players and Garden Walk is always a tough place to come. For once the optimists were proved correct as right from the off Ives playing with a strong breeze at their backs were getting into the faces of their near neighbours and rattling them.

Both sides struggled to come to terms with the strengthening wind early on with Ives over hitting attempted balls over the top and the hassled Crows simply struggling to get the ball forward at all. The first noteworthy moment came in 12^th minute when Luke Harris picked up an attempted clearance only just outside the box and chose to run at the home defence weaving his way past two before going down under challenge from Ronnie Henry but referee John Perry did not get a good view through the crowd of players and waved the appeals away.

The first real chance of the game fell to the hosts in 19^th minute when Charlie Castle cleverly fed in Crows danger man Matt Bateman through the left channel. Fortunately Ives keeper James Dadge was alert to the danger and closed him down quickly to make a vital block at close range.

As the half wore on Ives began to realise that their real route through the Crows back line was probably best to be found by going around the outside. Tyrone Baker’s pace and trickery was finding some joy down the left and twice in a six minute spell he carved out good opportunities which with a little more composure from those given the shooting opportunities could have seen the visitors get their noses in front. In 25^th minute the speedy winger got around Fernando Bell-Toxtle to the bye line before picking out Michael Richens arriving at pace on the edge of the box but the skipper got it all wrong and his shot ended up worrying the neighbours in the houses behind the goal more than Crows stopper Dimi Kyriatzis. Six minutes later Baker repeated the feat this time his attempted pull back ricocheted off a defender and was retrieved by Enoch Andoh wide on the right. He precisely picked out full back Paddy Casey just inside the box, sadly Casey’s effort was only a little better than Richens a few minutes earlier.

Battling against the wind and a resilient Ives defensive line the hosts opportunities were very limited in the first period and their only other noteworthy attempt before the break was a half chance in 32^nd minute where Adam Murray dropped off to the back post to get on the end of Cole Dasilva’s free kick but the Crow’s skipper could only direct his header wide of the post under pressure from Ben Toseland.

The best chance of the first half fell to Ives skipper Richens seven minutes before the break and it had an element of good fortune about it as Johnny Herd’s free kick from half way drifted over everyone on the breeze and landed at the feet of the unmarked Richens at the back post. He had time to take a touch but was quickly closed down by Kyriatzis who made an excellent save.

Home supporters were perhaps the more positive group at the break as their side were now playing with the strong breeze at their backs and to back up this theory it was the hosts who started the second period on the front foot. A 48^th minute ball over the top caught Dadge in two minds as to whether to come, or not. Bateman got on the end of it but fired wide from a good position. But the keeper redeemed himself three minutes later as Kian Harness weaved his way into the Ives box and got in a close range shot that Dadge did well to block before also making a brilliant recovery to smother the loose ball before Bateman could pounce.

That save proved even more vital when the visitors went straight down the other end and took the lead. Harris won the ball in the centre of the park before feeding in Edwards through the right channel. Henry came over to try and block but only succeeded in deflecting the effort over the body of Kyriatzis as the keeper spread himself. The ball bobbled on goalwards from the grounded group of players and just had enough impetus to find the net before Bell-Toxtle could hack it away.

The goal lifted Ives and they tore into their hosts for the next few minutes creating a couple more shooting opportunities. Almost straight from the kick off Andoh robbed George Hoddle in the centre circle and strode forward before unleashing a stinging effort from 25 yards that Henry bravely blocked with his body. Five minutes later more good hassling from Harris again won him the ball inside the Crows half, again he fed in Edwards but this time Kyriatzis was equal to the striker’s effort saving well low down to his right.

The wind had been creating problems for both sides throughout the afternoon and it gifted the Crows a route back into the game on the hour as with more than half the players on the pitch inside his six yard box Dadge found no room to move to prevent Tom Newman’s in-swinging corner from the left curling straight in at the back post to level the scores.

But Ives were not to be denied and only three minutes later they got themselves back in front. An almighty scramble in the hosts box saw shots from Andoh and Edwards blocked by the bodies of flying defenders before the ball eventually ricocheted to Baker just inside the box, the winger showed a level of composure way beyond that of his colleagues in the first half as he calmly curled his shot around the bunch of players between him and the goal and past the unsighted Kyriatzis to find the bottom corner of the net.

Now behind again Crows manager Steve Castle instantly made a triple substitution that bore a hint of desperation. James Brighton, Alfie Williams and Franco Cluffa replacing Castle, Isa Rotimi and Hoddle respectively. But the changes did little to change the flow of the game and Charlie Johnson was unlucky not to increase the lead with fifteen minutes to go as he lost his marker to get on the end of Herd’s deep free kick at the back post. His goal bound header struck Kyriatzis at point blank range and rebounded wide with the keeper unaware that he had made the save.

As the clock ticked down the nerves at the importance of the result began to show a little and the Crows began to threaten. Jordan Williams misjudged a long wind assisted free kick from Kyriatzis in 82^nd minute allowing Murray to get on the end of it but the Crows skipper directed his header straight at Dadge.

A couple of corners in the 90^th minute provided further threat as the Crows again crowded the six yard box. Johnson rose highest to the first to head the ball to safety over his own crossbar. The second in-swinger from Dasilva rattled the near post and rebounded to the edge of the box where Bell-Toxtle teed up Harness who skied his effort well over the top as Ives defenders threw themselves across the potential line of the shot.

With five added minutes there was still a little bit of time to chew the finger nails left but substitute Nabil Shariff who had only been on the field two minutes did what he does best to relieve all of the potential pressure. In the third of those added five, with most of the Crows players forward, Edwards seized the chance to break into the box. He scuffed his left foot effort, but crucially it was on target and the diving Kyriatzis could only get a hand to the ball pushing it back into play straight to the feet of the lurking Shariff six yards out. He duly obliged by rolling the ball home to spark wild celebrations amongst the large contingent of travelling Ives supporters.

Final Score: Royston Town 1 St Ives Town 3

Goals:

ROYSTON: Newman 61,

ST IVES: Edwards 52, Baker 64, Shariff 90+3

Team Line Ups:

ROYSTON: Kyriatzis, Bell-Toxtle, Dasilva, Rotimi (Williams 65), Murray (capt), Henry, Castle (Brighton 65), Hoddle (Cluffa 65), Bateman, Harness, Newman, Unused subs: Hall, Marsh-Brown,

ST IVES: Dadge, Casey, Herd (Fox 89), Richens (capt), J. Williams, Toseland, Andoh (Shariff 90), Harris, Edwards, Johnson, Baker, Unused subs: Hottor, Cowling, Kaziboni

Cards: Yellow: ROYSTON: none ST IVES: none

IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Jonny Edwards

Attendance: 409

Report by Nigel Howlett. Match highlights by Ollie Jones.

Royston Town v St Ives Town

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division Central 29-01-2022

This well deserved point shows just how far the Ives have come since their October battering from the Crows at Westwood Road. Substitute Victor Aiyelabola takes the plaudits for his well taken goal seven minutes from time but make no mistake this was not a snatched point it was very much deserved as the visitors matched and at times outplayed their mid table rivals.

With skipper Brett Solkhon still not recovered from his injury picked up at Nuneaton early in the New Year there was a cleverly worked shuffle of the pack following the success of an experiment trialled in the recent County Cup win over Eynesbury Rovers with Michael Richens dropping into the centre of defence alongside Callum Milne. Kyle Davison-Gordon also got a recall at full back replacing the injured Ty Ward. Dylan Williams dropped back into Richens usual position in front of the back four with the shuffle completed by Ben Toseland reverting to his early season wide left role.

Ives lost the toss and started the game against the elements, playing up the slope into a stiff breeze and with the low winter sun into their eyes but if was the visitors who started best. An early cross from the right by Josh Flanagan was almost spilled by home keeper Joe Welch who just recovered to claim the ball before it dropped to the lurking Nabil Shariff.

The first real chance of the game also went Ives way in 6^th minute when Richens got on the end of an of Toseland’s in-swinging free kick on the edge of the six yard box but failed to make a clean contact and was in any case adjudged to have fouled Dan Newton in his efforts to force the ball home.

Ives continued to press and Ethan Johnston failed to test keeper Welch with a golden opportunity in eleventh minute. Ed Hottor robbed a dallying Isaac Galliford 30 yards from his own goal and fed the ball into the feet of Shariff on the edge of the box. A clever flick sideways from Shariff found Johnston in a little bit of space just inside the box but he failed to make a clean contact with his attempt to find the corner of the net and only succeeded in rolling the ball into the grateful hands of the waiting Welch.

Having failed to get in front in the first quarter of an hour when they were well on top Ives had their keeper James Goff to thank for keeping them on level terms as the Crows almost opened their account from their first real chance in 17^th minute. A long throw into the box from Newton was allowed to bounce and as the visitors struggled to clear the ball was fed into the feet of Galliford twelve yards out on the left side of the box. Goff was alert to the danger and bravely closed him down deflecting the effort wide with his body at point blank range.

From this point the game evened up with the Crows probably just shading possession but both defences well on top. Centre forward Brandon Adams was generally being kept in check by Richens and Milne but he did escape the Ives centre backs once on the half hour mark and Newman picked out his run through the left channel with perfection. The finish was not so perfect as Adams blazed the ball into the grandstand behind the goal from 15 yards.

Ives remained patient retaining possession when possible and it was from a very patient build up that they carved out the final half chance of the first period just seconds before the whistle. The tireless running of Shariff saw him gain possession from Toseland on the left but his powerful shot from a narrow angle was comfortably held by the well positioned Welsh.

The hosts made a change at the break replacing the ineffective Makai Murray with Spyros Mentis but it was Ives now playing with the elements who created the first half chance of the second period in 54^th minute. Toseland and Gordon-Douglas combined well down the left with the latter finding Shariff eight yards out with his low cross. But the usually deadly striker was undone by a bobble and did not make clean contact and the chance was gone.

At the other end Finlay Titchmarsh did no better as he got on the end of a deep cross from the left by Adams in 56^th minute. But the little number seven blazed his first time volley high and wide from a good position. But the Crows wide man did a whole lot better three minutes later as he became provider for the opening goal. Given a little to much space wide on the right Titchmarsh delivered a teasing cross to the far post where Newman had ghosted in unmarked. He directed his powerful header downward but Goff will probably be a little disappointed to be beaten low down to his right as he got hands on the ball but could not keep it out.

Tyrone Baker had been causing problems with his direct running style down the right and he almost served up an equaliser only four minutes later. Bursting past his marker to get to the bye line he hung up a cross to the back post where Titchmarsh just did enough to prevent Toseland forcing the ball home.

The game was now opening up as Ives continued to go in search of the equaliser and started to leave a few more gaps at the back. Newman forced a good save low to his right from Goff with a 25 yarder in 66^th minute. Four minutes later at the other end an Ives corner caused panic in the Crows box as Flanagan flicked on Dylan Williams in-swinger at the near post and a better contact from Milne at the back post would have seen the scores levelled up.

The in form Aiyelabola was brought into the game with twenty minutes to go replacing Davison-Gordon meaning a return to left back for Toseland with Aiyelabola coming in on the right and Baker moving to the left. But it took fantastic double save from Goff to keep Ives in the game eight minutes later Adams took on and beat Richens cutting in from the left. Goff came to meet him and blocked the initial effort but the ball ran on to Titchmarsh who looked like he must score but a brilliant recovery save from Goff hurling himself to his left somehow kept the ball out.

Buoyed by the keeper’s heroics the visitors went straight down the other end and forced a series of three corners all of which stretched the Crows defence to the limit but it did not break. They were however undone only moments later as with seven minutes still remaining on the watch Aiyelabola grabbed his second very well taken goal in two games. Williams had run at the host’s defence cutting in from the left and fed a low ball into the near post picking out the perfectly timed diagonal run of the speedy striker his first touch was immaculate and his second flicked the ball left footed past the exposed Welch to level things up.

The hosts frustrations at losing their lead showed and a dreadful late tackle from Mentis on Hottor saw the Crows substitute a little lucky to only pick up a yellow card. Toseland failed to hit the target with the resulting free kick from just outside the box. There was still time for the hosts to spurn a great opportunity to grab all three points deep in added time as with Adams initial shot well blocked by Milne the ball fell to Matt Bateman eight yards out but his effort lacked any power and Goff comfortably made the save to ensure Ives went home with another valuable point from their travels.

Final Score : Royston Town 1 St Ives Town 1

Goals :

ROYSTON: Newman 59

ST IVES: Aiyelabola 83

Teams

ROYSTON: Welsh, Henry (capt), Brighton (A. Murray 57), Newton, Mensah, Adams, Titchmarsh, Galliford, M. Murray (Mentis 46), Bateman, Newman (Brown 77), Unused subs : Gouldbourne, Garrett-Douglas,

ST IVES: Goff, Davison-Gordon (Aiyelabola 71), Flanagan, Richens (capt), Milne, Toseland, Baker, Hottor, Shariff, Johnston (Cross 77), Williams, Unused subs : Fayed Rhaman, Kettle, Manangu

Ives Supporters man of the match : Tyrone Baker

Attendance : 404

Report by Nigel Howlett. Photos by Louise Thompson.

Royston Town v St Ives Town

BetVictor League Southern Premier Division Central 07-03-20

For the second time in two weeks Ives were thumped by one of the promotion chasing sides and again it was dead ball situations that proved their Achilles heel with all five goals coming about from either corners, or free kicks, delivered into their box. Just like against Sports two Saturdays earlier the towering players of the opposition proved impossible to stop for the physically smaller Ives players.

The galling thing is that the two sides had gone into this in completely different frames of mind with Ives on a high following their vital win over Leiston on Tuesday evening and the Crows on a low after missing out on the very realistic prospect of a visit to Wembley Stadium after their unfortunate FA Trophy Quarter Final defeat at Concord Rangers on the same evening. With those two results very much in mind it was no surprise that Ives manager Ricky Marheineke went for an unchanged side whilst Crows boss Steve Castle rested a number of his tired charges after their very tough extra time defeat changing eight of Tuesdays starting line up.

The game should have started so well for the visitors as they could easily have gone in front in only the third minute. Tom Hamblin cleverly lost his man to get on the end of Ben Seymour-Shove’s deep free kick. His looping header beat Crows keeper Joe Welch and was on its way into the net but Dylan Wilson decided to make sure and toe poked the ball home from almost on the goal line, unfortunately he had started in an offside position and the assistant’s flag shot up to chalk off the “goal”.

The many changes to the host’s line up meant that it took them a while to get into their stride but they began to settle down and get on top and they showed their threat on dead ball situations for the first time in 19^th minute. Aaron Phillips pulled back Josh Castiglione wide on the left to concede a free kick in a dangerous position. Castiglione’s initial free kick was blocked by Ives one man wall but the ball ricocheted to Dan Green who delivered a teasing cross to the back post where Matt Bateman managed to climb above the stretching Martin Conway in the Ives goal. Fortunately for the visitors his header hit the crossbar and was scrambled clear.

It did not take long for the Crows to understand the ascendency that they had in the air was a massive advantage for them and only two minutes later they used that air power to go in front. Castiglione delivered a deep corner from the left beyond the back post where Crows captain Ben Martin won the ball and powered his header back into the six yard box where Gus Scott-Morris rose to glance it home.

A smart interchange of passes between Adam Watkins and Brandon Adams carved out a rare chance for the Crows from open play in 29^th minute but Ben Jackson did just enough to prevent Bateman turning home Watkins low cross at the near post. Unfortunately that simply gave the hosts chance to drop another corner into Ives box. On this occasion the under pressure Conway did just enough to keep out James Brighton’s flag kick in spite of the presence of three Royston Town players all well over six foot tall surrounding him.

It looked like the Ives might keep the half time deficit to a single goal only for the Crows route one tactics to once more prove successful in the simplest fashion five minutes before the break. A long free kick was pumped into Ives box where Conway seemed to be at least partially impeded by his own defenders before being outjumped by the biggest Crow of all in Martin who simply steered his header into the empty net to double the hosts advantage.

To their credit Ives lifted themselves at the start of the second period and came within inches of grabbing a lifeline less than a minute after the re-start. Joe Curtis hassled Green into a mistake deep inside his own half and ran at the covering Crows defence before feeding the ball into the run of Wilson cutting in from the left. The young striker’s first time effort was pushed away by Welch low to his left but Seymour-Shove pounced on the loose ball unfortunately he scuffed his shot giving Scott-Morris chance to hack the ball away off the goal line.

The visitors went close again four minutes later as Seymour-Shove delivered a cross from the right into the danger zone where Robbie Parker flung himself at the ball but just failed to make contact on the edge of the six yard box. The ball was swiftly fed to the other end of the park where Watkins took the opportunity to run at Ives back line before feeding the ball to Adams on the edge of the box, he cleverly stepped inside Phillips before curling in a right foot effort that beat the diving Conway but cannoned away off the foot of the post.

The Crows decided that a few of their rested players needed game time and by the 64^th minute they had used all three of their substitutes. Scott Bridges had taken over corner duty on the left and his first touch was to deliver a teasing flag kick that Jackson did very well to prevent Bateman heading in at the back post, but unfortunately that was at the expense of another corner. This time the delivery to the back post was initially knocked down but then clipped back into the mix where substitute Joshua Oyinsan rose to power home a header only seconds after coming off the bench.

Oyinsan turned provider in 68^th minute as he did well to keep a long free kick in play by the Ives bye line where he managed to find enough space to clip the ball into the near post where Bateman forced it home at close range. The final nail in Ives coffin was delivered in familiar fashion as Bridges delivered another hanging corner from the left Conway completely surrounded by towering Crows inside his six yard box was unable to come for it allowing ex St Neots defender Taylor Parr to complete the simple task of nodding the ball home as he rose above the Ives defence.

The Ives custodian was a little more successful in keeping the ball out of his net when not surrounded as he proved seven minutes from time when he leapt high to his right to tip over a curling Bridges free kick from the edge of the box after debutant defender Rhys Kelly had brought down Brighton. The final act of the afternoon was perhaps unsurprisingly a well delivered cross into Ives box this time from the left by Brighton but Adams missed the chance to heap further misery on the visitors as he directed his header from ten yards over the top.

Just like Sports two weeks earlier the hosts crushing of the Ives lifted them into second place in the table only two points behind table toppers Tamworth and in with a very realistic chance of nicking the one guaranteed promotion spot off the Lambs. For Ives the consolation is that all of their rivals for the drop also lost so it is as you were at the bottom. They must lift themselves quickly as they now have two home games in the next week both against mid table opposition where they must glean some points to keep alive any realistic hope of a dramatic escape from the bottom three.

Final Score : Royston Town 5 St Ives Town 0

Goals : none

Team : Conway, Phillips, Toseland, Hottor, Hamblin (Kelly 51), Jackson, Wilson, Parker (capt), Seymour-Shove, Curtis (Clifton 78), Dean (Snaith 64)

Unused subs : Patrick, Powell

Supporters man of the match : Robbie Parker

Attendance : 415

Report by Nigel Howlett

Royston Town vs St Ives Town

Royston Town 1 St Ives Town 2

Evo-Stik League South Premier Central Division – 27-08-18

Ives excellent start to the season stepped up another notch as they finally cracked their Garden Walk hoodoo with a thoroughly professional come back win against their local rivals in a pulsating Bank Holiday encounter.

As is so often the case in this type of fixture the game started at a frantic pace with both sides effectively denying their opponents any time on the ball or chance to create even a half chance. Things finally began to settle down midway through the first period.

The first opportunity of the game came the way of the visitors as Jarvis Wilson picked out Ben Seymour-Shove wide on the left. The Ives winger who was making his first start of the season very effectively side stepped his marker and delivered a cross to the near post when another man making his first start Dylan Wilson got between the two Crows centre backs but directed his flicked header just wide of the far post.

The opening goal arrived on 26 minutes in simple fashion. Jarvis Wilson was perhaps a little unlucky to be adjudged to have fouled Jhai Dhillon wide on the left when he appeared to win the ball. Josh Castiglione delivered an in-swinging free kick into the box where the giant figure of Crows centre back Ben Martin rose above the crowd to force the ball home from close range.

Undaunted by the set back Ives continued to enjoy the majority of the possession and they went close to an equaliser ten minutes later. A flowing move into the hosts box saw George Bailey play in Seymour-Shove on the right, his cross was half cleared to Ollie Snaith on the left corner of the box. Snaith’s attempted clip into the box deflected off a defender and fell to the feet of Tom McGowan who blazed over the top from a very narrow angle.

The pace of Dylan Wilson was troubling the big Crows centre backs and in 38^th minute he had a hopeful shout for a penalty turned down as he chased down a clip through the middle by Seymour-Shove only to be bundled over by Adam Murray inside the box.

Ives continued to press for an equaliser and three minutes before the break Dylan Wilson and McGowan combined well to put Seymour-Shove away down the right. He delivered the perfect teasing cross into the corridor of uncertainty between keeper and defenders but unfortunately Snaith arrived just a little to late to force the ball home at the back post.

The last minute of the first period saw the visitors grab a deserved leveller from another training ground free kick. This one was awarded by the referee as Robbie Parker ran at the centre of the Crows defence and took on Murray who hauled him down just outside the box. Parker again delivered the ball into space where in a variation on Saturday’s cunning ploy against Needham Market Seymour-Shove found space on the left. His low driven effort beat keeper Harry Smart and was already on its way into the net before it was helped over the line by Murray.

Stung by the late equaliser the Crows came out firing at the start of the second period and won a corner in the first thirty seconds. It was clever delivered from the right by Castiglione who picked out Rohdell Gordon in space on the corner of the box but fortunately for Ives the Crows winger screwed his shot horribly wide.

Four minutes later another Royston corner this time from the left caused chaos in the Ives box. This time Castiglione delivered into the centre of a packed six yard box where an under pressure Tim Trebes just managed to knock the ball off the head of Martin. The loose ball fell to Vance Bola beyond the far post. Snaith bravely hurled himself in to effectively block the shot and fortunately the howls from the hosts players and bench alike that the ball had struck Snaith’s arm were waved away by the referee.

The third Royston corner in the first ten minutes of the second period again caused problems for Trebes against the giant Crows pairing of Martin and Murray. Once more the keeper just did enough knocking the ball away from the Crows pair and McGowan completed the clearance hacking the loose ball away from inside the six yard box.

The Crows went close again in 65^th minute as a decoy run by Martin created space for Dhillon to deliver a deep free kick to pick out Murray in space at the far post. The host’s centre back only succeeded in steering his free header into the side netting when he should really have done better.

Martin was only involved in the game for another three minutes. The big centre back who had picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Bailey in 64^th minute foolishly clattered through the back of the same player only four minutes later. The inevitable second yellow card was brandished by referee Brian O’Sullivan instantly followed by the red.

With Royston now lacking their man mountain at the back they were suddenly vulnerable down the middle and that is exactly where Jarvis Wilson delivered the resulting free kick. With Crows defenders all looking at each other the ball was allowed to bounce and Parker ghosted in to beat keeper Smart to the ball. His acrobatic effort hooked the ball over the keeper but also inches over the crossbar.

The hosts quickly made a change to shore up their back line sacrificing Castiglione to bring on a replacement centre back in Callum Ellesley. But Ives winner came from a move down the centre only five minutes later. Bailey won a crunching tackle in the centre of the park and knocked the ball off to Parker who threaded a perfectly weighted ball into the well time run of Seymour-Shove who outpaced Ellesley and rounded the exposed keeper Smart before gleefully clipping the ball into the empty net.

Now they were in front Ives had something to defend and they lifted their pace yet again to ensure that the hosts had no time on the ball as they were hounded all over the park. The ten men hosts tried to exert pressure but struggled to build up a real head of steam. Substitute Joe Hankins squandered their best two opportunities. In 84^th minute he almost capitalised as he got onto a loose ball inside the box, but Trebes was down smartly to block his effort at close range. In 90^th minute Murray who was by now an emergency centre forward got on the end of a long ball into the box and nodded it down to the feet of Hankins, but the Crows striker snatched at his effort under heavy pressure from Ives defenders and fired over from ten yards.

There were an added six minutes, plus two more accrued for an injury to Charlie De’ath but Ives were very effective in killing this time to claim a memorable victory at a ground which had always previously been a graveyard for them.

Once again this was a fantastic result against another of the fancied sides in this division. It was however a well deserved three points won by yet another thoroughly professional performance. Holidaying manager Ricky Marheineke was no doubt following the game on twitter and kicking every ball on the beach whilst lapping up the sunshine. Bully and the boys did you and the large Ives travelling contingent proud!!

Result : Royston Town 1 St Ives Town 2

Goals : Seymour-Shove 45 & 75

Team : Trebes, Hood, De’ath, McGowan (Leslie 81), Cartwright, Jarvis Wilson, Snaith, Parker (capt), Dylan Wilson (Wallis 64), Bailey (Rogers 76), Seymour-Shove

Unused subs : Sundire

Man of the match : Ben Seymour-Shove

Attendance : 361

Report by Nigel Howlett