Wisbech Town manager Alex Street sees signs of improvement ahead of FA Vase trip to Harleston Town

Wisbech Town manager Alex Street says he can see small signs of improvement as his beleaguered side go into FA Vase action on Saturday.

Bottom of the table Fenmen suffered a fifth United Counties Premier North defeat out of five on Saturday, 3-1 at home to Harrowby United, but scored their first league goal of the season when Toby Allen netted a 93rd minute penalty.

Street’s side also looked a more cohesive unit after the break, where they went in 3-0 down following the shipping of three soft goals. And new midfielder, former Boston United Latvian youngster Kris Zaluzinskis, and the returning wide man Amir Ward, both impressed.

They travel to Thurlow Nunn Premier mid-table outfit Harleston Town in the First Qualifying Round of the Vase.

Street said: “We go to into the Vase on Saturday against a side that drew in the FA Cup and have a replay on Tuesday, so that will take a lot out of them. We have got to go there, have a go and get ourselves into the next round.

““In many ways, it was a positive performance against Harrowby, especially after the three 5-0 defeats. We were the better side in the second half, showing a lot of positivity going forward and moving the ball quickly.

“We created opportunities too. But when you are down and the luck is against you, things don’t go your way. Their keeper made a good save to deny Toby Allen and Amir missed a chance after also going close in the first half.

“It’s a shame as what could have been a positive result has ended in a downer because of the goals we let in.

“But there are positives. We won the second half and kept a clean sheet for 45 minutes which is a good step going forward. The new players looked good too.

“Amir has to get some match fitness but worked hard and Kris came in at centre midfield and was excellent, and the subs did well and tried to make an impact.

“We were not bad performance-wise, it was just that we gifted them goals. But they keep working and once a goal or two come, the confidence will return and we will start getting results.”

On the soft goals, Street added: “I tell people their roles and the annoying thing is if they had set up as I instructed them, those goals would not have been conceded. I had a go at them at half time over the manner of the goals we let in as they all want to blame someone else. It was just a collection of errors. Letting goals in is a problem and, being a goalkeeper, that winds me up hard.”

Wisbech: West, Braham, Reed (Carter 71), Briggs, Mattless, Williams (Hoyle 77), Ward, Zaluzinskis, Murkin (Balding 57), Allen, Lines (Hamilton 60). Sub (not used): Foster. Star man: Amir Ward. Attendance: 141.