"Bucks looking to get back to winning ways at St Ives"

Match Date : September 9th, 2023 3:00 pm
Competition : Southern League Premier Central
Ground : Quattro-Tech Westwood Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 6DT
Kick Off : 15:00

The Bucks will embark on one of their longer away days of the season this weekend, when Kevin Wilkin’s men head to Cambridgeshire to take on St Ives Town

After making a great start to 2023, the Ives fell away dramatically after January and they were briefly drawn into the relegation picture. However, Town ended the season with three straight wins which saw them ultimately end up in 16th, some 11 points off the drop.

And last year’s campaign is reflective of all of St Ives’ six seasons at step three – oscillating somewhere between a relegation scrap and the comfort of lower mid table. Boss Ricky Marheineke has been the man in charge for all of those campaigns and is, in fact, now in his ninth season in charge at Westwood Road. Marheineke was appointed in the summer of 2014 and led the Ives to the Southern League Premier in the 2015/16 season, when Town beat AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2-1 in the playoff final.

On the pitch, the Ives are led by midfielder Michael Richens, who previously captained Kettering Town to the Southern League Premier Central title in 2018/19. Meanwhile, up front Town had one of the division’s top marksmen last season in the shape of Jonny Edwards; the dangerous forward notched 23 league goals last term. Cambridge United loanee Brandon Njoku seems to be the man to watch this season though, bagging three goals so far.

St Ives currently sit in 19th spot, having picked up five points from their first six games. Ives have been well in every game so far this season though, with even their 2-0 opening defeat to Mickleover not looking terrible given the league leader’s current form. Last weekend Town exited the FA Cup following a 2-1 defeat at Leiston.

The Ives are yet to win in front of their own fans, drawing one and losing two of their home games so far. Meanwhile, the Bucks are of course yet to win on the road this season and have picked up just one point from nine away from home. Bucks boss Wilkin will no doubt be aiming to end that sequence at Westwood Road on Saturday.

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MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Website: www.stivestownfc.co.uk

Ground Address: Westwood Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 6DT