St Ives Town FC VS Stamford AFC-Match Preview
Date: Monday 11th August 2025
Location: Quattro-Tech Westwood Road
The Ives will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing opening day defeat as they prepare to host Stamford in their first home league game of the season.
Ives, having been two goals to the good and cruising in their opening day match against Barwell, ended the game on the losing side as the hosts scored three unanswered second half goals to seal a 3-2 win.
However, despite also losing summer signing Liam Cross just before the break through injury, there were some positives manager Ricky Marheineke will be looking to take into Monday night’s fixture.
Kobe Chong marked his long awaited return to the starting line-up with a well-taken goal after nine minutes, whilst there was also a return for Michael Richens, who was side-lined for the entirety of last season.
There was also a nice moment for 18 year-old Neo Dobson, who capped his league debut for the Ives with a tidy finish from close-range to bag his first goal of the season.
In his programme notes before the game, Marheineke touched upon the type of challenge Monday’s opponents will present for his side and how he feels his team will be ready to deal with whatever is thrown at them throughout the season.
“I am expecting Monday’s opponents to provide a very tough test. They have a great manager and his teams are always big, strong, hardworking sides.
“I know that the team are ready and that whoever starts on Monday night will give everything they have for the club, supporters and each other.”
Stamford AFC
The Daniels make the trip to the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road having picked up a point in their first game of the season, playing out a 0-0 draw against Alvechurch.
Stamford will be looking to go one better than they did last season, with manager Graham Drury’s side narrowly missing out on a play-off place on the final day, as they finished two points behind 5th placed Harborough Town.
As with many teams in the division, Stamford will be starting their third consecutive season in step 3 with a host of new faces in their side, with the new additions joining a core group that helped the Daniels achieve their highest ever league finish.
Last Time Out
The last time these two sides met was back in mid-February this year, with a powerful header from former Ives skipper Alex Collard just before the break cancelling out an earlier strike from Stamford’s Lee Shaw, which saw the game end 1-1.
Having been caught cold by the visitor’s red hot start to proceedings, Marheineke’s men fought back into the game and were disappointed in the end not to find a winner in the second half, as they failed to make their chances count on a cold, rainy afternoon.
Last Four League Meetings
St Ives Town 1-1 Stamford AFC-15th February 2025
Stamford 2-1 St Ives Town-22nd October 2024
St Ives Town 1-4 Stamford-1st April 2024
Stamford 4-2 St Ives Town-1st January 2024
