Five months is clearly a long time in football.

On the last Saturday in September, St Ives Town were humiliated by an 8-1 drubbing at Aylesbury in Division One (Central) of the Southern League.

Spin the clock forward to the last Saturday in February and it was a different story at ProEdge Westwood Road as Ives chief Ricky Marheineke emerged from a 1-1 draw against the same opponents disappointed not to have taken all three points.

That highlights the progress his team have made during his first season at the helm.

Marheineke said: “The lads in the dressing room probably thought I sounded quite negative afterwards, but I genuinely felt it was a game we should have won.

“But on reflection it is clearly a good point against a team who will be in the play-offs and who beat us so heavily earlier in the season.

“We have to remember where we have come from and where we are now as a team.”

The two sides exchanged early strikes with Aylesbury hitting the front before James Hall levelled with his first goal since his recent arrival from Godmanchester Rovers.

Two fine saves denied Hall further goals and visiting keeper James Weatherill also kept out Ben Seymour-Shove, but St Ives had to survive two late scares as Charlie De’Ath produced a brave block before Aylesbury man Ryan O’Toole dragged a fine chance wide in stoppage time.

St Ives face the other team from that town – improving Aylesbury United - this Saturday. Marheineke must draft in a goalkeeper for the trip to Buckinghamshire as regular number one Tim Trebes is unavailable due to a family bereavement.