IVES TRIUMPH AGAINST SUTTON COLDFIELD
St Ives Town 1-0 Sutton Coldfield Town
Pitching In Northern Premier League Midlands Division-10/08/2026
Following Ives’ frustrating opening day defeat to Carlton Town last Saturday, Manager Ricky Marhieneke’s men had an opportunity to bounce back straight away as they took on Sutton Coldfield Town on Monday evening. The home side managed to do just that as they came away from Quattro-Tech Westwood Road with their first win of the season, courtesy of a first half goal from Neo Dobson.
The Royals, who were playing their first league game of the season having participated in FA Cup action last weekend, proved a tough test for Ives, but will feel that some missed opportunities in the first half cost them in the end.
Marheineke made three changes from his side’s 3-2 defeat against Carlton, with Junior Varela and Kai Source coming into the side, as well as former Cambridge United defender Harry Dawson, who made his first appearance for the club. Matty Miles, Andy Ankrah and club captain Michael Gash made way.
Sutton Coldfield boss Jemiah Richards will have been pleased with how his side started the game, with the visitors creating a host of great opportunities in opening 30 minutes. Ives goalkeeper Alex Fisher was called into action on numerous occasions and needed to be alert to keep Royals’ forwards at bay.
With 15 minutes on the clock, Fisher was forced into his first big save of the evening as Reece Gibson’s flick-on header had to be tipped round the far post and away for a corner. Some quick thinking from Gibson three minutes later saw the number nine nip just in front of an Ives defender to win the ball before finding himself one-on-one with Fisher, with Dawson putting in a superb effort to get back and make the all-important block.
The chances kept coming for Richards’ men as Royals’ number 11 Luca Taylor was played in behind the Ives backline on the 21st minute, with Fisher making a good stop at his near post. The ball found its way out to Aaron Cameron on the edge of the area, who saw his follow-up effort blocked on the line by Sam Tessler.
The home side, who could’ve and maybe should’ve been at least two down by this point in proceedings, were struggling to find the answers to Sutton Coldfield’s positive start. With 30 minutes gone in the first half, James McQuilkin found himself in acres of space in the centre of the park and drove towards the box, unleashing a strike that flew just over Fisher’s crossbar.
Sometimes, it can take a moment of invention and quick thinking to wrestle the momentum back from an opposition side, and in the 35th minute, that’s just what the home side produced. Referee Freddie Dutton awarded Ives a free kick well inside their own half, which was taken quickly by Ezekiel Williams. Ives number four saw the run of Neo Dobson, who took the lofted ball down over his shoulder and managed to take three or four touches before firing the ball past James Wren in the Sutton Coldfield goal.
That goal was enough to see Ives go into the break with the advantage, with the majority of the 186 in attendance at Quattro-Tech Westwood Road expressing feelings of astonishment at the half of football they just witnessed.
Marheineke made a half time substitution for the first time this season, with Harry Dawson making way for Matty Miles. Dawson’s crucial block in the 21st minute the main highlight in a decent first runout for the youngster.
With the words of the Ives management team still no doubt ringing in the ears of those taking the field in black and white, Dutton got the game back underway for the second half.
Sutton Coldfield nearly produced the perfect start to the second period when the ball found its way into the back of the net after what looked to be a slightly untidy clearance from Fisher found the head of a Royals’ player, only for the referee to rule the goal out for a push on the goalkeeper in the build-up.
Ives’ best chance of the second half came just five minutes after the break as Dobson produced a fine cross to the back post to find Mark Jones. The big number nine looked for all the world as if he was going to slam the ball home from close range, but instead looked to take a touch before attempting to apply the finish, which was ultimately blocked and cleared by a recovering defender.
As the game wore on, the home side began to get some much needed control in the game and started to produce some good spells of possession as a result. Not a lot of clear cut opportunities for Marheineke’s men, but he can be somewhat pleased with how his side managed to grow within the contest.
As time ticked on there was a prevailing feeling inside Quattro-Tech Westwood road that one goal may not be enough to see out what would be a long-awaited home league victory for Ives. The visitors, who provided a substantial physical test for the Ives players out on the pitch to contend with, looked a real threat from set-pieces throughout.
Ives continued to have opportunities of their own to kill the game off as the match edged towards its conclusion. First, in the 75th minute, Dan Lawlor saw his lofted effort dip sharply and clip the top of the crossbar. Then, in the 86th minute, Kai Source was played clean-through on goal but couldn’t manage to apply the required finish as an onrushing Wren stayed big and made a good save to deny the 19-year-old.
Despite some dangerous balls being floated into the box from Sutton Coldfield late in proceedings, Ives managed to stick to their task well and clear their lines on numerous occasions. Jones in particular set the tone with his defensive work, with the forward making a number of headed clearances throughout the game.
Following a period of five minutes additional time, Dutton brought the game to a close, with Ives holding on to secure their first three points of the Northern League Premier Midlands Division season and their first home league win since last December. Sutton Coldfield will feel very frustrated with their night’s work having failed to capitalise on Ives’ poor start to the game.
Final Score: St Ives Town 1 Sutton Coldfield Town 0 Half Time 1 – 0
Goals:
ST IVES: Dobson 35
SUTTON COLDFIELD: NONE
Team Line Ups:
ST IVES: Fisher, Dawson (Miles 46), Smith, Williams (Ankrah 65), Milne, Tessler, Varela (Shepherd 65), Lawlor, Jones (capt), Dobson (Alemanji 85), Source Unused subs: Michael Gash
SUTTON COLDFIELD: Wren, Beresford (capt) (Jackson 76), Birch (McGrady 86), McGinnell, Kourouiyanni, Hurley, Burke (Campbell 76), McQuilken, Gibson, Cameron (Edmunds 85), Taylor (Abdul-Awwal Lekuti 12)
Referee: Freddie Dutton
Cards: Yellow: ST IVES: Varela (57), Jones (71), Lawlor (80)
SUTTON COLDFIELD: McGinnell (62), McQuilken (68)
IVES SUPPORTERS MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex Fisher
Attendance: 186
