Match Report
Leiston v St Ives Town
Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central 23-09-2025
Amir Hadi’s late goal rescued a point for Ives from an entertaining game on the Suffolk coast where all of the goals came in the last half an hour but there was plenty of goalmouth action at both ends throughout. Ollie Taylor claimed his first man of the match award for a number of fine saves throughout the best of which was an excellent block to deny Adam Mills after the speedy striker had got completely clear midway through the first half.
With George Munday picking up a knock in the weekend defeat at Halesowen, Jamal Adams returned to Ives starting line up to lead the line. Manager Ricky Marheineke also freshened up his side by bringing in Aaron Smith and Amir Hadi for Matty Miles and Gibou Njie both of whom dropped to the bench. Blues manager Chris Wigger made only one change from his side that had claimed an impressive point off league leaders Harborough Town three days earlier with Joao Rangel dropping to the bench to be replaced by Wyatt Hill.
After a cagy opening the visitors almost gifted their hosts an opener in tenth minute as Jordan Williams cross field ball was cut out by Willie Clemons who cut inside Duncan Idehen to bear down on goal but as Taylor came to meet him the Blues number nine could only fire his effort wide of the post.
Having survived that scare Ives went straight down the other end to create their first real chance of the game. Skipper Michael Richens picked up a ball inside and rampaged straight through the heart of the Blues back line. Instead of letting fly as is his usual, he drew in defenders before slipping the ball to Theo Alexandrou cutting in from the left. One touch to many allowed Cameron Rayworth to close him down and the defenders block took all of the sting out of the shot allowing Billy Johnson to make a comfortable save.
Back up the other end Ives were at times struggling to get the ball clear and in 14th minute the dangerous Ben Fowkes latched onto a loose ball and sped down the right before delivering a low cross to the near post where Clemons turned it just wide of the post.
Then came Taylor’s big moment where he did brilliantly to maintain the parity. The chance came about from an Ives long throw. With all of the big men up from the back the hosts showed how dangerous they can be on the break as with the ball swiftly cleared one more touch in midfield saw Mills put completely clear through the middle. Taylor came to meet the striker just inside his box and stayed big forcing the Blues striker to shoot rather than try and go around him. The agile keeper then made a brilliant reaction save to turn the ball around the post.
Taylor had a much more routine save to make in 33rd minute as a Rayworth corner was half cleared to Ryan Jarvis just outside the box. The Blues striker hit his effort well enough but it was straight at Ives custodian who held on well. It was Ives turn to break only moments later and Liam Cross was fed through the right channel. He took perhaps one touch to many and narrowed his own angle before unleashing a screamer that beat Johnson at his near post but thumped the upright and rebounded to safety.
The hosts spurned one more good opportunity to get their noses in front before the interval when Mills got down the right and perfectly picked out Clemons who had ghosted in between the centre backs but as with his previous chances the Blues number nine failed to hit the target directing his unchallenged header from ten yards wide of the post.
So plenty of action before the break but no goals. Both sides came out determined to change that in the second period. It took another smart save from Taylor to prevent
Clemons opening the scoring directly from the kick off. There was only twelve seconds on the watch when he let fly with a 25 yarder that was destined for the corner of the net before the flying Taylor palmed it around the post.
Ives first effort of the second half came from even greater distance as Adams tried to catch out Johnson from fully 45 yards and the out of position keeper was somewhat relieved as the shot dipped into his hands rather than over his head.
It was now end to end stuff as both sides went toe to toe in search of the opener. Ives had the first effort in 50th minute as Adams made a clever run to take away defenders opening things up for Jernade Meade to unleash a 20 yarder that Johnson did well to keep out low to his right. Four minutes later Taylor was in action again at the other end as he leapt high to tip away a fierce cross shot from Fowkes.
Ives were almost caught out by a quick free kick in 56th minute. Rayworth was put away down the right and delivered a cross to the near post where Clemons again failed to hit the target with a close range header.
The visitors were then gifted an opener just before the hour. Richens deep free kick was met at the far post by Williams who had ghosted around the back. His first time volley was brilliantly saved by Johnson but the ball struck the unlucky Eddie Jackson and rebounded over the line.
Blues manager Wigger quickly made a change bringing on the pacy Rangel for Jarvis and it was Rangel’s introduction that made a difference. Ives were perhaps a little fortunate to survive a scramble in their goalmouth in 68th minute as Rayworth’s cross from the right bounced around box with Ives bodies bravely blocking shots from Seb Dunbar and Fowkes before the ball was scrambled clear.
They were not so fortunate when Rangel got away down the right six minutes later. His initial cross to the back post was headed away by Williams but the ball fell to Fowkes who gave Taylor no chance with a fierce drive from just inside the box that went into the net off the inside of the far post.
The hosts were now well on top and went in search of what they thought would be a winner. They got in front with seven minutes to go when Ives lost possession in the middle of the park. Clemons fed in Rangel cutting in from the right and he fired home from just inside the box to delight the meagre Tuesday night home crowd.
But there was to be a twist in the tail as Ives showed their character and a sustained period of pressure was ended with Cross unselfishly feeding in Hadi on the left. He gleefully thumped home beating keeper Johnson at his near post to silence the home crowd and give the tiny Ives contingent behind the goal their turn to celebrate.
There was still time for one more piece of noteworthy action as three minutes into the added four Idehen was forced to pull back Clemons as the striker tried to break clear. The elegant centre back picked up a yellow card for the offence but he got the last laugh as he was on hand to head clear Fraser Alexander’s free kick at the back post to end a good night on the road for the visitors. The hosts will think it was two points lost but Ives deserved their very hard earned point.
Final Score: Leiston 2 St Ives Town 2 Half Time 0 – 0
Goals:
LEISTON: Fowkes 73, Rangel 83
ST IVES: Jackson (own goal) 59, Hadi 88
Team Line Ups:
LEISTON: Johnson, Rayworth, Dunbar (capt), Hill, Jackson, Alexander, Clemons, Mills, Frostick, Jarvis (Rangel 61), Fowkes, Unused subs: Mehew, McNeil, Crane, Keller
ST IVES: Taylor, Creary, Smith, Richens (capt), Williams, Idehen, Hadi, Adams (Njie 67), Cross (Shepherd 89), Alexandrou (Miles 89), Meade (McKoy 80), Unused subs: none
Referee: Benjamin Bowles
Cards: Yellow: LEISTON: none ST IVES: Creary (52), Meade (71), Idehen (90+3)
IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Ollie Taylor
Attendance: 152