St Ives Town v Harborough Town
Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central 03-04-2026
Despite an encouraging display overall from manager Ricky Marheineke’s side it was their high-flying visitors who ultimately took all three points in a hard-fought Good Friday clash. A well-taken goal from Neo Dobson saw Ives lead 1-0 at the break, before the Bees scored two goals in four second half minutes to complete the comeback and secure the victory.
Marheineke spoke to us at full time and highlighted the effort the players are putting in despite the poor run of results.
“It’s disappointing; I am not going to lie. The run that we’re on is disappointing, the position we’re in the league is disappointing but I can’t ask for more from the players. I am not going to stand here and criticise people.
“We have been very good in lots of games this season and unfortunately we haven’t been able to turn those performances into results.”
You can hear the full interview with Marheineke following Friday’s fixture against Harborough on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyM_0i-WX0Q
Marheineke made three changes from Ives’ last outing, with Aaron Smith, Michael Richens and Neo Dobson coming in to replace Matty Miles, Gibou Njie and Amaru Kaunda.
Harborough manager Mitch Austin also made three changes from his side’s previous game, with Liam Dolman, Devon Kelly-Evans and Terell Pennant being replaced in the starting XI by Rory McAuley, Robert Morgan and Danny Newton.
Before kick-off there was a minute’s applause in the memory of Elizabeth Connelly, which was well-observed by everyone inside Quattro-Tech Westwood Road.
The visitors began the game on the front foot as they looked to assert their dominance on the contest from the start. A passage of play which saw Ryan McLean’s dangerous ball across the box just about cleared by Ives summed up the opening 10 minutes.
Clear-cut opportunities were few and far between for both sides early on, with both sets of forward players not having a huge amount to feed off. Ives shot stopper Ollie Taylor made a few comfortable saves, first from Alex Morris’ shot in the 12th minute and then from the head of McAuley in the 20th.
The home side’s best opportunity of the opening exchanges came in the form of a sweeping counterattack that saw Dobson played through on goal, only for his shot to be blocked by a Harborough defender.
Whilst his first shot of the game was blocked, he made sure to be more clinical with his second as just before the half hour mark, Dobson was slipped through down the right-hand side of the Bees penalty area before slotting home underneath the onrushing Elliott Taylor and into the back of the net to put Ives one up.
Ives, who were defensively resolute throughout the first half, began to show their teeth in an attacking sense more following the goal. Ben Hart’s drive through the middle of the Harborough midfield on 34 minutes demonstrated the confidence boost in the players, despite the number eight being unable to provide the finish.
Josh Walsh went closest for Austin’s men before the break, as the defender let the ball bounce just outside the penalty area before having an effort at goal that he caught well, but was palmed to safety by Taylor.
Ives came out for the second half in encouraging fashion, with Dobson’s left-footed curler in the 51st minute flying just over the crossbar. The home side went close again seven minutes later when Jernade Meade latched onto a loose ball, presenting Ives with a two-on-one situation. Meade however may feel he took the wrong option in the end as instead of making the pass to Dobson, the midfielder saw the Bees’ keeper off his line and attempted an audacious chip from distance that went behind for a goal kick.
The away side continued to look dangerous when they went forward as they looked for an all-important equaliser that would turn the tide in the contest. Walsh’s in-swinging corner almost provided it as it sailed high above Taylor before clipping the top of the bar on the hour mark.
Four minutes later Harborough did get their equalising goal through McAuley, who got on the end of a corner that made it through a crowd of players, with the Bees defender heading home inside the six-yard box.
On 68 minutes, Austin’s men scored again to turn the game on its head. A long ball down the line was eventually met by substitute Terell Pennant, who cut inside on his right foot and unleashed a superb strike that nestled into the top corner leaving Taylor unmoved in the Ives goal. The goal left a sour taste in the mouths of many inside the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road, with Ives players, coaches and fans alike feeling referee Jonathan Lam missed a clear foul on Ethan Creary by Paul Malone in the build-up.
It wasn’t long after going behind before Marheineke looked to his bench for inspiration. Kaunda replaced Wyatt in the 73rd minute as Ives looked to salvage something from the contest.
The last 20 minutes of the game played out without many notable opportunities for either side, with Harborough demonstrating their ability to see out games and win out in physical encounters. Ives looked to utilise the long throw of Aaron Smith in an attempt to create some uncertainty in the Bees backline, but the physicality of the visitor’s defence was not going to be beaten on this occasion.
There was yet more frustration a few minutes before the final whistle blew when substitute Kaunda looked to have done enough to get away from his defender inside the penalty area before the linesman raised his flag for a foul on the defender. Many inside Quattro-Tech Westwood Road were not happy with the decision, which put to an end what may have been a good opportunity for Ives to snatch a point late on, despite Kaunda traveling away from goal when the foul was committed.
Despite a late push from the home side it was Austin’s men who managed to hold out for the victory, with Harborough cementing their place at the top of Southern League Premier Division Central. For Ives, it’s a defeat that makes their last four games even more important. Next up, Royston Town on Monday.
Final Score: St Ives Town 1 Harborough Town 2 Half Time 1 – 0
Goals:
ST IVES: Dobson 28
HARBOROUGH: McAuley 64, Pennant 68
Team Line Ups:
ST IVES: Taylor, Creary, Smith, Richens, Idehen, Dobson, Hart (Miles 82), Wyatt (Kaunda 73), Lawlor, Alexandrou, Meade (Baker 85) Unused subs: Source, Njie
HARBOROUGH: Taylor, Carline, Walsh, McAuley, Nabi (Kennedy 57), Morris, McLean (Stephens 81), Morgan, O’Sullivan (Pennant 57), Newton (Malone 60), Hickey Unused subs: Kelly-Evans
Referee: Jonathan Lam
Cards: Yellow: ST IVES: none
HARBOROUGH: Morris (75), Kennedy (83)
IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Neo Dobson
Attendance: 467
