Wisbech pay the price for 25 minutes of madness
Wisbech Town 2, Newcastle Town 3
The Pitching In Northern Premier League South East Division
Wisbech paid the price for an awful 25 minute second half spell as they were picked apart by their visitors from Shropshire this afternoon.
After a tight, goalless, first half, the Fenmen took a 49th minute lead through striker Avi Vieira – but the defensive frailties that have haunted them so far this season returned, with the visitors scoring in the 56th, 71st and 81st minutes.
Wisbech have now conceded 15 goals in four league and cup defeats and the way they fell apart after taking the lead will have added to manager Brett Whaley's woes.
On the plus side, they netted twice against an undefeated team who had not previously let a goal in this season and now sit second in the table.
In a very even first half, Wisbech grew into the game and were more than a match for the visitors, who didn't trouble home stopper James Goff. The home side were limited to a couple of half chances, Liam Adams seeing an opportunist long distance effort and a header go just wide.
But on the stroke of half time they should have scored. Danny Draper burst through but, perhaps with similar misses against Worksop on Tuesday on his mind, squared to wide man Merson Styles rather than shooting, and Styles blasted over from an angle.
Wisbech started the second half on the front foot and Styles was denied by home keeper Dominic Kurasik when he pounced on a weak back pass in the opening seconds.
But four minutes in and it was 1-0, when Dean Grogan headed down a Jack Gurney ball and Vieira controlled and slotted home from close range.
What happened next was totally unexpected. Wisbech lost their shape, stopped winning second balls and were pulled every which way by opponents who simply showed more desire to win.
Nathan Morley spurned The Castle's first chance in the 51st minute when he sprung the offside trap, only to be denied by the feet of Wisbech keeper Goff. Four minutes later though and Morley's cross from the left was met by Jack Van Der Laan and Newcastle were level.
Goff denied Morley again in the 67th minute as the visitors took control, and four minutes later they took the lead when the home defence never recovered from an awful goal kick by Goff, and the tricky Ryan McLean put right back Dan Bucciero on his backside before slotting past Goff.
Wisbech were all over the place now and Goff pulled off another save to deny McLean, before he made it 3-1 in the 81st minute after the home defence fell asleep at a free kick.
To their credit, Wisbech did then mount a grandstand finish. Substitutes Layton Maddison, Andre Williams and Dylan Edge all came on after the second goal and they made a difference, Edge saw a couple of chances saved before Maddison scored with a wonderful 25 yarder in injury time.
It proved to be a swansong for Maddison, who confirmed on Sunday he would be leaving the club in pursuit of more game time.
There was even time for another attack but Beckham Kennelly's towering 95th minute header was hacked off the line and the visitors went away with three points they just about deserved.
WISBECH TOWN: Goff, Bucciero, Marshall, Murphy, Kennelly, Grogan, Draper (Williams 74 mins), Gurney (Maddison 74), Vieira, Adams, Styles (Edge 74). Subs (not used): Whyatt, Pearson.
NEWCASTLE TOWN: Kurasik, Fishman, Douglas (Berks 57 mins), Vale, Askey, Dennis, McLean, T Van der Laan (Chimenes 60), Howell (Baxter 83), V Van der Laan, Morley.
BOOKED: Styles, Kennelly, Murphy (Wisbech, all fouls).
STAR MAN: Avi Vieira – put in a great shift, held the ball up well and took his goal well.
ATTENDANCE: 157.
Previously...
Haverhill Rovers 4, Wisbech Town 3
Wisbech Town 0, Worksop Town 3