Spalding United v St Ives Town
Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central 08-11-2025
Written By Nigel Howlett
An almost perfect counter attacking performance saw the Ives topple the league leaders on their own patch. A result that moves the visitors up into the top half of the table and knocks the hosts off their illustrious perch. But to simply focus on the result would seem a bit churlish as make no mistake this was a highly entertaining affair where the lead changed hands three times. An early goal put Ives into the ascendency but a bold attacking move from Tulips boss Jimmy Dean replacing both of his full backs with attackers at the break looked like it was going to pay off as the hosts netted two in four minutes just after the hour to turn things around. But the visitors were not to be beaten and an error from ex Ives keeper James Dadge gifted them an equaliser with fifteen minutes to go and Michael Richens spectacular winner deep in added time put the icing on the cake.
Ives manager Ricky Marheineke handed Cambridge United loanee Jahrel McKoy his first start and the youngster’s powerful, but skilful, performance stood out on a day when everyone played their part.
The visitors were fast out of the traps and could have gone in front after only ninety seconds as Jernade Meade drove into space laying off to Kellan Hickinson who in turn fed in Theo Alexandrou through the centre. Ives centre forward was quickly closed down but got his shot away forcing Dadge into a smart save low to his left.
The Tulips responded well with Bart Cybulski curling an effort wide from just outside the box and Ben Hart firing across the face of goal from the right corner of the box. All of that before an error by Dadge allowed Liam Cross to put Ives in front after five minutes. The powerful McKoy rode a couple of tackles before putting Alexandrou away down the right. Dadge came rushing from his goal to try and beat the striker to the ball but lost out. Alexandrou then showed great composure to get his head up and pick out the unmarked Cross arriving in the centre leaving the Ives number ten with the simple task of stooping to head the ball into the empty net.
Ives continued to rattle their illustrious hosts as they took every opportunity to break at pace. Alexandrou was only prevented from bursting clear on the right again by a clumsy challenge from Connor Johnson who picked up a yellow card for his troubles and also a knock that saw him limp out of the action only four minutes later. The visitors came within inches of doubling their lead from the resulting Richens free kick as Alexandrou got across in front of his man at the near post and his flick flew inches past the post with Dadge beaten.
The hosts huffed and puffed but did not really look like blowing Ives house down as they were delivering all of their crosses from both left and right straight into the hands of the agile Ollie Taylor in the visitor’s goal and he showed excellent footwork and handling to ensure that he hung onto everything.
Ives still looked the more threatening on the break and they went close again in 19th minute as McKoy fed in Ethan Creary down the right and the full back’s cross deflected off Tulips skipper Liam Moore just past the post.
The Tulips continued to press but were still struggling to really threaten Taylor’s goal. Jack Roberts fired a 24th minute free kick from 25 yards straight into Ives four man wall. Lewis White rose above the crowd to head Alfie Bendle’s 32nd minute corner wide. But it took until added time before the hosts finally got a shot on target to test Taylor. Duncan Idenhen did well to initially prevent Cybulski getting his shot away as the big centre forward powered into the box but as the pair both tumbled in a heap eight yards out the ball dropped onto the striker’s foot and he struck a powerful effort that Taylor reacted brilliantly to parry away.
Realising that he had to do something to get his side back into the game Tulips manager Dean made the bold move of replacing full backs Ben Hart and Ben Blythe with strikers Matt Bondswell and Sano Sani. He also reshuffled his side with Dion Sembie-Ferris and Bondswell playing as wing backs and both sticking to the touchline to use the full width of the pitch as much as possible.
The changes plus, no doubt, a rocket from Dean at half time saw the Tulips come out with all guns blazing at the start of the second period. Creary did brilliantly to block a close range effort from Sani with Cybulski screwing the rebound wide in 49th minute. Sembie-Ferris showed his threat two minutes later combining well with Roberts before delivering a low cross that Sani turned wide at the near post. Taylor tipped over a rising drive from Bendle moments later.
Taylor pulled off another brave save to block a Sembie-Ferris effort at point blank range in 57th minute. The pressure continued another Sembie-Ferris cross caused problems on the hour the ball eventually falling to Curtis Thompson who fired wide from the edge of the box.
The goal looked like it must come and eventually it did in 62nd minute with Sembie-Ferris again involved. Ives struggled to clear his delivery from the right. This time the ball fell to Cybulski by the penalty spot and he made no mistake drilling the ball low past the right hand of the diving Taylor.
Ives reacted well and spurned an excellent chance to get back in front less than a minute later as Meade delivered the perfect ball over the top to pick out the run of Cross. A slightly heavy touch allowed Dadge to close him down and make a brave save at the striker’s feet. Even then the keeper rode his luck as the block knocked the ball back into the knees of Cross from where it rolled inches the wrong side of the post.
Having come so close to getting back in front Ives then very quickly found themselves behind with Sembie-Ferris again the provider as he combined well with Roberts before delivering a low cross into the centre that was turned home at close range by Yusifu Ceesay.
No with their noses in front most in the crowd expected the league leaders to see the game out but Ives are a resilient outfit and continued to battle. A swift 72nd minute break down the right ended with Creary picking out Meade on the edge of the box. Moore flung himself across the line of the shot to deflect it out for a corner. Dadge made a good catch from the resulting flag kick but then inexplicably decided that he must deliver the ball swiftly down the park. Running through the crowd to the edge of the box he went to kick it clear only to thump it into the back of Richens who was running away from him. The ball ricocheted to Hickinson who calmly fired it into the empty net. Cue pandemonium as the Tulips bench erupted trying to say that Richens had deliberately attempted to block the clearance. Fortunately referee Andrew Park was in the perfect position to see the true story and the goal stood.
Game on and neither side settled for a point. An excellent save from Taylor denied Roberts in 77th minute. Two minutes later at the other end Meade found space on the left and got to the bye line. His pull back bounced off the shins of Hickinson and fell to Richens whose first time effort was bravely blocked with McKoy then firing the loose ball over from just outside the box.
Five minutes added time went up and Ives still continued to push for a winner. McKoy harried Bondswell into conceding a corner in the third added minute. Meade’s resulting corner cleared the crowd at the near post and dropped invitingly onto Richens right foot by the penalty spot. Perfect connection saw the ball fly into the corner of the net to spark wild celebrations amongst players and the small contingent of Ives fans behind the goal.
With more added time for the celebration there were still two minutes to go. Two corners were bravely repelled and as McKoy volleyed the last of those clear of the box the final whistle blew on an outstanding performance and a cracking result.
Final Score: Spalding United 2 St Ives Town 3 Half Time 0 – 1
Goals:
SPALDING: Cybulski 62, Ceesay 66
ST IVES: Cross 5, Hickenson 73, Richens 90+4
Team Line Ups:
SPALDING: Dadge, Hart (Bondswell 46), Blythe (Sani 46), Moore (capt), Johnson (White 12), Thompson, Roberts, Bendle, Sembie-Ferris, Cybulski, Ceesay, Unused subs: Lawlor, Nicholson
ST IVES: Taylor, Creary, Richens (capt), Williams, Idehen, McKoy, Cross (Njie 80), Hickenson (Shepherd 84), Miles (Medrano 75), Alexandrou, Meade, Unused subs: Smith,
Referee: Andrew Park
Cards: Yellow: SPALDING: Johnson (8), Hart (10), Sani (77), Sembie-Ferris (90) ST IVES: Idehen (24), Hickenson (83)
IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Jahrel McKoy
Attendance: 507
