Gamble on the Ivies

A new era at Ivybridge Town has taken the club to the Western League and a first ever step in the FA Cup yielded a memorable victory.

Under the management of Wayne Gamble and Lance Bailey, the Ivies romped to the South-West Peninsula League title last season and the club is making massive strides, on and off the pitch.

The fixture computer was not very kind, however, handing Ivybridge a difficult opening tie with Bridgwater, who headed home from Erme Valley with a 2-0 victory, and that was followed by a tight 1-0 loss at Barnstaple. Promotion favourites Clevedon Town are next on the league menu.

There has been success in the oldest club competition in the world, with Ivybridge securing a brilliant 3-1 triumph at St Blazey, and one guarantee from Gamble and his team is they will be super fit and exciting to watch.  

“The club was destined to be in the Western League and I was delighted to give them a little confidence boost to make that step up,” said Gamble. “We’ve added some grown men and experience to give them a bit more steel alongside the talented youngsters.

“We’re loving every minute; a new clubhouse is being built and lots of development at the ground. There is a lot of excitement at Ivybridge Town.

“Whoever we play, whatever the standard, we come into our own in the last half-hour of games because we’re so fit, and the fittest sides normally finish in the top half of the table. Added to that, we’ve got pace in attack, which makes us an exciting side to watch.

“We’re certainly not going into the Western League to make up the numbers. We’ve got some lads who could play in the league above and a good mixture of ages.

“Everything is going in the right direction, and that’s all I care about.

“The big difference in this league is being clinical in attack. Last season, we might create seven or eight chances in a game, so you can afford to miss two or three, whereas the Western League it is a case of being punished when those chances are not taken.

“We learned that in the Bridgwater game, where we had two great chances at 0-0 but didn’t take them, and they scored both their chances. We dominated the Barnstaple game and couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.

“The FA Cup game at St Blazey was great for us, we scored some goals and won the game in our first ever taste of the competition.

“When it comes back to the league, I’ll look at the table at Christmas and see where we are, but I know we will be alright this season. The pieces are in place for a positive future at Ivybridge Town Football Club.”