Ricky Marheineke has reflected on his best result as St Ives Town manager – but he was quick to admit it didn’t arrive courtesy of the best performance.

Town triumphed 2-1 at second-placed Hanwell Town in Division One Central of the Southern League last Saturday to collect a first away win since August.

Jack Higgs converted the decisive penalty eight minutes into the second period after Kieran Fitzgerald had been brought down.

Teenage striker Fitzgerald had earlier laid on a third minute opener for fellow frontman Stuart Eason, but that effort was cancelled out eight minutes before the break.

Marheineke admitted: “We have played a lot better and lost so it is about time we came away from a game with three points when not being the best team.

“We’ve been shipping far too many goals on the road which has been a big factor in having the worst defensive record in the league.

“But we’ve brought in new faces who are making a difference. Tim Trebes has been outstanding in goal since coming in from Huntingdon and we’re now getting a settled back four in front of him.

“It’s now back-to-back wins in the league and hopefully we can go on a run from here.

“We set ourselves a 40-point target for safety this season and want to get there as soon as possible. We’re now 17 off hitting it.”

St Ives host Marlow – another team to have won their last two league games – at ProEdge Westwood Road on Saturday.

Ollie Medwynter has rejoined former club Huntingdon after falling down the Ives pecking order.

Marheineke has shelved plans to bring Jared Cunniff back to the club from Newport Pagnell while he will not follow up his initial interest in Kettering ace Josh Moreman.

One attacking player who could arrive is Charley Sanders, whose contract was recently cancelled at Conference North side Boston United.

St Ives bowed out of the Red Insure League Cup on home turf last Tuesday when being beaten 3-1 by Royston Town.