March come back to take the derby spoils against battling Wisbech St Mary
WISBECH ST MARY 1, MARCH TOWN 5
Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Division One North
For 70 minutes of this final game before lockdown, bottom of the table Wisbech St Mary battled gamely against their high-flying visitors.
Although the Hares controlled the game, the well-organised Saints fought well to stay in contention and actually took the lead with a wonderful free kick by David Weaver-Pope in the 49th minute.
But this was just the wake-up call March needed, and, with Eoin McQuaid dictating things in midfield, scored five goals in a dominant 27 minute second half spell.
Now, March enter lockdown second placed in the table with nine wins from 10 games and St Mary are last with 12 defeats from 13, but although the Hares should gain promotion, the Saints have shown enough in their last couple of games to suggest they will avoid the drop.
As the teams came out at a foggy FTL Commercials Ltd Stadium, there was a surprise in the home line-up as dual registered Danny Setchell wore the Saints purple.
Also lining up for Saints was 6' 1" central defender Toby Marumahoko, signed from Peterborough Northern Star, who replaced manager Stuart Beckett in the starting line-up. The March squad was missing Lewis Gibson and Efraim Romanos.
March controlled possession in the first half, with Saints sitting back, absorbing pressure and looking to hit them on the break. A couple of half chances fell to Craig Gillies, and Toby Allen saw a 20-yarder in the 28th minute well saved by Joe Tarris.
At the other end, a great 31st minute pass by Setchell found right back Seco Embalo and his accurate cross saw Harvey Neale's first time effort well saved by Charlie Congreve.
Tarren Moxon had come on after just 17 minutes for March, replacing the injured Tom McLeish, and he went closest for the visitors in the first half, hitting the post with a free kick.
But the best chance fell to Neale right on half time, after Ryan Lennon surged down the left and picked out his strike partner, only for the youngster to side foot straight at Congreve with much of the goal gaping.
Injured Lennon was unable to come out for the second half, but, two minutes into it and we had a game on our hands. Jack Saunders hacked down Setchell and captain David Weaver-Pope stepped up to lash an unstoppable 30-yard effort past Congreve.
The lead lasted just seven minutes though, as Saunders, playing at left back after McLeish's injury, put in a beautiful ball from the flank that Toby Allen guided home from close range.
The Saints still had belief though and Weaver-Pope saw another shot saved for a corner on the hour before Neale headed a Setchell corner just wide from the resultant corner.
The influential Weaver-Pope then went off with a 66th minute injury and March scored within seconds when a ball over the defence found Friend, who, as ever, was deadly in a one-on-one situation.
Eight minutes later and the striker scored again, killing a McQuaid ball beautifully, cutting in and finishing with aplomb.
The fourth came in the 80th minute when Gillies headed down a McQuaid corner for captain Danny Emmington to smash home, and, with the home side now visibly tiring, Gillies helped himself to the final goal three minutes later, trapping and rifling home from another McQuaid corner.
WISBECH ST MARY (4-4-2): Tarris; Embalo, Marumahoko, Fox, Bass (Noble 75 mins); Goult, Irotuhme, Pope-Weaver (Fernandes 66), Setchell; Lennon (Minster 45), Neale. Subs (not used): Pereira, Beckett.
MARCH (4-3-3): Congreve; Barker, Emmington, Short, McLeish (Moxon 17 minutes); Burrows (Warren 58), McQuaid, Saunders (Anderson 64); Allen, Gillies, Friend. Subs (not used): Sacovich, Pocklington.
BOOKED: Neale (Wisbech St Mary, foul); Saunders, Anderson (March, fouls).
GOALS: Weaver-Pope (1-0, 47 mins), (Allen 1-1, 54), Friend (1-2, 1-3, 66 & 74), Emmington (1-4, 80), Gillies (1-5, 83).
STAR MAN: Eoin McQuaid – majestic in midfield, always on the front foot and instrumental in three of the goals.
