Match Report
St Ives Town v Spalding United
Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central 21-03-2026
Having come into Saturday’s fixture on the back of nine straight league defeats and ten games without a win, the prospect of taking on high-flying Spalding United was not one many amongst the Ives faithful were relishing. However, a very encouraging display from manager Ricky Marheineke’s side saw Ives claim what could turn out to be a vital point against the Tulips, who slipped up in their bid to win the Southern League Premier Division Central title.
A first half penalty from Ives skipper Michael Richens, who was superb throughout, gave the home side the lead heading into the break. Spalding manager Jimmy Dean rallied his troops at half time, with the visitors providing a strong response to their poor first half showing and getting themselves back on level terms on 58 minutes through a wonderful strike from Jack Roberts. Some great goalkeeping from Ollie Taylor and stubborn resistance from the home side made sure there was no further way through for Dean’s men, with the game ending 1-1.
Marheineke made four changes from his side’s 3-1 defeat away at Needham Market last weekend, with Ethan Creary, Duncan Idehen and Tyrone Baker returning to the starting XI. There was also a place in line-up for Amaru Kaunda, who signed for Ives from Hanwell Town in the week having spent time at Quattro-tech Westwood Road last season on loan from Cambridge United. Fellow new arrivals Neo Dobson and Kai Source were also named in the squad and were available from the bench on Saturday afternoon.
Spalding boss Dean also made changes from his side’s previous outing, with Tosin Olopade, Alfie Bendle and Yusifu Ceesay dropping out in favour of Dion Sembie-Ferris, Jack Roberts and Josh McCammon.
Baring a few physical challenges being put in by both sides, the opening 10 minutes of this contest went by without much incident. The first effort of note in the game came from the boot of the inform Roberts, who saw his free kick palmed away by Taylor.
Ives were giving a good account of themselves early on but couldn’t quite turn their possession into clear cut chances. Kaunda, who asked questions of the Spalding backline throughout the first period, saw his shot on the edge of the area blocked on 15 minutes.
Richens was finding himself in good positions and when his free kick was deflected behind for a corner on 25 minutes, he got himself in a great position to meet the ball that was floated into the area, but the skipper couldn’t keep his header down. Richens had an eventful seven minutes, which saw him have another attempt at goal before receiving a yellow card for a mistimed challenge.
On 33 minutes, Theo Alexandrou showed some clever feet to get away from his man and unleash a shot that had former Ives shot stopper Dan Wilks scrambling to cover his far post, as the ball sailed agonisingly wide.
Whilst it was the home side who were very much in the ascendancy, there was a feeling that Marheineke’s men had to make sure their positive first half display didn’t go unrewarded, and when referee Paul Collier pointed to the spot on 36 minutes, it felt like an opportunity Ives simply had to take. Richens stepped up and calmly slotted the ball past Wilks, sending the keeper the wrong way and giving his side a deserved 1-0 lead.
Ives should’ve doubled their advantage before the break when a dangerous ball into the box by Creary found its way to Alexandrou coming in at the back post, but the Ives forward couldn’t keep his effort down from close range as Dean’s men were let off the hook.
As expected from a team at the top end of the table, Spalding’s under par display was never going to last for long, with the visitors coming out for the second half with the bit between their teeth. Heroics from Taylor, who made three superb saves in quick succession, including a tip onto the cross bar that looked destined for the top corner, kept the home side ahead on 51 minutes.
The Ives keeper couldn’t repeat the dose on 56 minutes as the ball dropped to Roberts around 25 yards from goal, with the Spalding forward driving a half volley towards goal that proved to be too hot for Taylor to handle as the ball nestled into the top left-hand corner.
At this stage the game started to open up, with both sides fully aware of how big a positive result would be in the context of their season. Alexandrou had a chance to provide the perfect response to Roberts’ pile driver, but his effort was easily gathered by Wilks.
Ben Fowkes, who was playing at Quattro-tech Westwood Road for the second time this season having played 90 minutes for Leiston in their 3-1 away win earlier in the season, started to make his influence felt on 64 minutes. First his dangerous low driven effort was nearly turned home from close range, before he forced Taylor into a good stop down to his right on 70 minutes which kept the scores level.
Marheineke made his first change of the afternoon on 72 minutes, with Reuben Wyatt replacing Tyrone Baker, who picked up a knock earlier in the second period. He followed that change five minutes later, introducing the returning Neo Dobson in place of Theo Alexandrou.
Dobson nearly marked his return to the side in the perfect manner when he was found by a clever ball over the top by Kaunda. The substitute opted to attempt to catch Wilks off guard by taking the shot early on the volley, but the effort didn’t trouble the backpedalling keeper.
Both sides continued to push as we headed towards the game’s conclusion. It was the travelling Tulips faithful who were most buoyed when seven minutes of added time was announced over the tannoy. However, the closest the home side came to grabbing a late winner was through a good run by Dion Sembie-Ferris, who made ground down the right side before firing an effort high over Taylor’s crossbar.
Ives did have one more close effort before proceedings were brought to a close, with Wilks having to tip a strike over the crossbar with only a couple of minutes left on the clock.
In the end the points were shared in Cambridgeshire, with the home fans leaving the ground the happier of the two sides having secured a point that many didn’t see coming before a ball was kicked. It will be vital for Marheineke’s men to take confidence from Saturday’s display and build on it if they want to stay in the division. Next up, a Tuesday night trip to Alvechurch.
Final Score: St Ives Town 1 Spalding United 1 Half Time 1-0
Goals:
ST IVES: Richens 38 (pen)
SPALDING : Roberts 56
Team Line Ups:
ST IVES: Taylor, Creary, Richens (capt), Tessler, Idehen, Kaunda, Miles, Njie, Baker (Wyatt 72), Alexandrou (Dobson 77), Meade (Hickinson 90+5) Unused subs: Aaron Smith, Kai Source
SPALDING: Wilks, White, Sembie-Ferris, Moore (capt), Fox, Thompson (Bendle 83), Roberts, Pugh (Sani 61), McCammon, Cybulski (Akanbi 74), Fowkes (Olopade 87), Unused subs: Josh Taroni
Referee: Paul Collier
Cards: Yellow: ST IVES: Richens (32)
SPALDING: White (37), Sembie-Ferris (82), Bendle (90)
IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Michael Richens
Attendance: 411