St Ives Town overcame a horror start to claim an impressive victory on the road, albeit at a cost. 

Star player Ravi Shamsi was carried off 15 minutes from the end of Ives’ 3-1 win over Bedford Town who made it three Southern League Premier Division Central away games without defeat on November 12. 

The visitors found themselves behind inside the first five minutes as Connor Tomlinson’s driven cross shot past Ives goalkeeper James Goff and off the knee of teammate Kane Lewis. 

But as the Eagles’ early pressure subsided, Ives worked their way back into the game and levelled on 23 minutes. 

From Goff’s clearance, Kieran Higgs harried defender Michael Harriman into a mistake, as the ball dropped to Jonny Edwards who beat ‘keeper Alex Street from 10 yards. 

The game then hinged on a decision by referee Jack Shepherd two minutes later. 

Shamsi cleverly took down a long pass and was set to burst clear, only to be taken down by Richardson who was shown a straight red card. 

Ives’ star man then saw his free kick hit the woodwork after spotting Street lining up at the back post, expecting a cross as Shamsi went for goal instead. 

Ricky Marheineke’s men then took the lead four minutes before half-time when Higgs capitalised on a poor header from Sam Warburton that allowed the Ives player to open his account for the club. 

The visitors were keen to play out time in the second half and confirmed the win three minutes from time, a goal that Bedford’s defenders and Street will not want to see again. 

Edwards closed down Street on a back pass as he tried to play the ball to Sam Dreyer, but substitute Enoch Andoh nipped between them to roll the ball home. 

Ives’ triumph was tinged with sadness when Shamsi was carried off with an apparent recurrence of a knee injury that had previously kept him away for 10 months before his return to the squad. 

St Ives, who then lost 3-1 at Barwell on Monday night, host Needham Market at Quattro-Tech Westwood Road on November 19, 3pm. 

St Ives Town: Goff, Lewis (Johnson, 30’), Herd, Richens (C) (D. Williams 46), J. Williams, Milne, Higgs, Hottor, Edwards, Shariff, Shamsi (Andoh, 74’).  

Unused subs: Lembikisa, Kaziboni.