Wisbech Town share the points after entertaining draw with Sutton Coldfield
Wisbech Town 2, Sutton Coldfield Town 2
Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division
Wisbech were unlucky not to come away with all three points after an entertaining game at Fountain Fresh Park this afternoon.
In an end to end game that belied the league positions of the two young teams battling it out, the 17th placed Fenmen took an early lead, went down 2-1 to the 15th placed Royals and then equalised before half time.
After an even first half, Wisbech were the better team after the break and twice went agonisingly close to grabbing all three points.
From the the side that drew 0-0 at Bedworth United last week, tall defender Ben Richards replaced Jon Fairweather who, along with Luke Wilson, was at a wedding. Front man Avi Vieira came in for the benched Eoin McQuaid and Dan Palacios was still injured.
Wisbech started on the front foot and opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Dylan Edge's accurate cross from the right was headed home firmly by Toby Allen for his sixth goal of the season.
However, the visitors replied straight from kick off, a ball being played down the right and crossed in for 19-year-old Maxwell Brogan to equalise.
The goal gave Sutton confidence and they began to assert themselves on the game, taking the lead in the 34th minute when a through ball by teenager Jack Burgess found the impressive Callum King-Harmes too easily and he slotted it past Luke Pearson in the home goal.
But Wisbech are growing into this season and have developed a really competitive edge, and came back at their opponents, equalising two minutes before the break when Dylan Edge's cross/shot was turned in at close range by the hard working Danny Draper, his third of the season.
After the break, Wisbech were the more threatening side, although with talented overlapping left back Harry Eden and the fast attackers King-Harmes and Isai Marselia always dangerous, the visitors had their moments.
Allen attempted a 51st minute wonder goal,but his 25-yard scorcher cleared the bar, and two minutes later the striker just failed to turn in Vieira's whipped in cross. At the other end Eden saw a snap shot go inches over.
The pivotal moment came in the 83rd minute when Vieira got on the end of a cross from impressive substitute Eoin McQuaid, only to see his swivelling drive thump against a post. Wisbech kept the attack going and, seconds later, Draper's header found the grateful arms of keeper Gwilliams.
Wisbech were the only winners now and as the visitors defended deeper and deeper, the home team could sense victory, and nearly got it in the dying moments when a cross from Edge found the trusty left foot of McQuaid, but his fierce volley was brilliantly saved.
Wisbech Town (4-3-3): Pearson; Hart, Richards, Marshall, Mcleish; Draper (Maddison 90 mins), Chingoka (McQuaid 80), Murphy; Vieira, Edge, Allen (Osilaja 69). Subs (not used): Keeble, Tsaguim.
Sutton Coldfield Town: Gwilliams, Christophorou, Eden, Brogan, Beresford, Smith, King-Harmes, Shaw, Marselia (Brown 71 mins), Burgess, Francis (Gibson 59). Subs (not used): Dodd, Morrison, Jones.
Bookings: Murphy, Vieira (Wisbech); Gibson (Sutton Coldfield) – all fouls.
Attendance: 197.
Star man: Avi Vieira: Chingoka, Draper and Murphy all played well in midfield, Richards and Marshall impressed at the back and Edge set up two goals, but playing in an unaccustomed wide right position, Vieira worked tirelessly for the team and was unlucky not to score.
- A collection at the match raised £316.24 for Prostate Cancer UK in honour of former player and supporter Malcolm Lindsay (82), of March, who has the disease and has been told it is terminal.