Definite signs of improvement as Wisbech lose second league game
Wisbech Town 0, Worksop Town 3
Pitching In Northern Premier League South East Division
When the league fixtures were announced last month, Wisbech's management team would not have been marking down their first two games as ones they expected points from.
Tonight they followed up a 5-0 defeat at last season's leaders Leek Town with a 3-0 defeat against another promotion hopeful in Worksop.
But there were definite signs of improvement as, for 45 minutes, Brett Whaley's young charges created chances, scrapped, fought and gave 100 per cent against opposition that are horrible to play against.
The Tigers are not easy on the eye but are expertly drilled, extremely direct, very strong on set pieces, have a long throw expert who can create havoc and perform excellently as a unit.
After unluckily losing 1-0 at half-time, the Fenmen allowed themselves to be boxed into their own half for the first 15 minutes of the second period, conceding a second goal, but were pressing for a reply when Worksop netted their third towards the end.
After the match, Whaley said: "It's not that we cannot compete against sides like Worksop, but they were a unit and we are still learning to play together. At half time, we didn't deserve to be behind.
"The main thing for me though is, for the last few weeks, we have given goals away, made silly mistakes and been massively open and let sides score against us. But today we stopped that and made them work hard to score against us. At Haverhill and Leek we stood off people and let them have time on the ball. We never threw our bodies on the line. Today was different.
"Worksop deserved to win the game, we cannot argue about that, but 3-0 was rough on us. For the first 25 minutes against Leek we were good, and today we were good for the first 45 and spells of the second half. We knew the start was unkind in terms of fixtures but, in this league, there are no easy games."
For tonight's game, Peterborough Sports right back Dan Bucciero came straight into the team in place of Jay Whyatt after joining on a month's loan, and definitely showed the quality of a player who has a championship medal at this level.
Defender Jack Keeble, however, will be out for at least another month with a hairline fracture to his foot and winger John Dean is still sidelined with a knee injury, but keeper Luke Pearson is closing in on fitness. Defender Marvin Emmanuel and midfielder Jake Gadsden did not make the 16.
Wisbech started brightly and went close to scoring on just three minutes when Danny Draper saw a low shot turned on to the post by keeper Sebastian Malkowski.
Worksop went close when a header from a corner flashed just wide but, after 16 minutes, defender Beckham Kennelly saw a volley fly over after a Jack Gurney free kick. Four minutes later and the usually decisive Draper was denied again, this time Malkowski pulling off a great save from a one-on-one.
On 31 minutes, Fenmen keeper James Goff saved well from a fierce drive through a crowd of players, but a carbon copy three minutes later saw him unsighted as Michael Dunn's shot opened the scoring. That's the way it stayed to the break.
The home side knew what the visitors would do at the start of the second half but seemed unable to repel them as The Tigers pinned Wisbech back into their own half. The Fenmen had hardly missed a header in their own box up to this point, but three successive corners took their toll and the third was headed in by Vaughan Redford for a 2-0 49th minute lead.
It was nearly worse 10 minutes later when a stinging Dunn shot went inches wide, and then Goff pulled off a great save to deny Luke Hinsley.
Draper was not having his best game but is always a danger and should have done better when heading an 81st minute Gurney corner wide, but seconds later there was a handball in the Wisbech box and Redford stroked home the resultant penalty to make the scoreline a rather flattering 3-0 in Worksop's favour. It was the striker's eighth goal in just four games this season.
Still Wisbech pressed and, with the very last kick of the game, Draper saw a set piece excellently saved from the impressive Malkowski.
On Saturday, Wisbech entertain Newcastle Town, who struggled last season but have started this term with a win and two draws, without conceding a goal.
Whaley said: "They have started well but we have to keep learning from our own performances. We have to start imposing ourselves on the game as we did for the first half today, but for the whole 90 minutes. And if they score, we have to go back at them. We have to play at our strengths and cause them problems.
"I've been here before. Years ago, when I took over at Yaxley, we lost five on the bounce and it was a scrappy horrible win that lifted everything. Those first points on the board will be important as they will lift confidence and produce more good performances and results."
Wisbech: Goff, Bucciero, Marshall, Murphy, Kennelly, Grogan, Draper, Gurney, Vieira, Adams (Edge 71), Styles (Williams 61). Subs (not used): Whyatt, Maddison, Kimber.
Worksop: Malkowski, Greenhough, Atherton, Broadhead, Radford, Jemson, Baxendale (Allott 55 mins), Cromack (Brown 61), Hinsley, Redford, Dunn (Williams 78). Subs (not used): Johnson, Sennett-Neilson.
Booked: Dean Grogan, Sam Murphy (fouls).
Star man: Beckham Kennelly - put in some great tackles and raking passes and was a great vocal presence too.
Attendance: 210.