March Town beat league leaders Wellingborough Town

March Town 1, Wellingborough Town 0

United Counties League Premier Division South

A heavy defeat at Wellingborough at the end of October was probably the result that showed March were unlikely to win the league – but their performance against the leaders on Saturday showed they have learnt a lot since then as they stay in the play-off pack.

The Hares abandoned their usual front foot, high-pressing approach against a Doughboys side leading the division and only defeated twice all season and came out with all three points.

In a game of few chances, the home team scored with a quality move after 34 minutes and then survived a late scare when an effort from the visitors was chalked off for handball.

Dan Bucciero won a 50/50 duel and slid the ball inside for Josh Burrows who put a good pass out to Ben Seymour-Shove – his quality cross into the box was cleverly glanced into the net by captain Craig Gillies for his 13th of the campaign.

There were few other real chances in the game and home keeper Jonah Gill didn’t have a save to make until the controversial disallowed goal late on. The home striker was sent off for his protestations but many around the ground thought they heard the slap of ball on hand.

With 11 games remaining, the win puts fourth-place March within six points of Wellingborough and seven points clear of Newport Pagnell Town, who are leading the pack chasing the play-off positions.

Joint manager Ash Taylor said: “Eleven games is a lot in football and we are not putting pressure on ourselves to gain promotion, but we are not going to come off the pitch in those remaining games having not given everything we have got.

“Let’s be honest, we are the underdogs and we are taking that approach as we are up against some really big sides.

“Last season we finished seventh and could have been higher, this season we have been around that top part all year, had some ups and downs and inconsistencies, which are the reasons we won’t win the league.

“But if we were fortunate enough to get in those play-off positions, then we love the big games and imagine how big they would be?”

About the performance against the leaders, he added: “What a game! We spoke last week about performances not hitting the levels they should which was why we only got a point against Leicester Nirvana, but today we have shown what we are capable of.

“I am really proud of the lads as Wellingborough are flying and, with what they have in their squad, probably favourites to win the league.

“It was a massive group effort from everyone including the subs and we deserved it for the togetherness and bravery we showed and that’s what I like to see, a team leaving everything out on the pitch.

“When we are composed and not erratic on the ball we can show real quality and our goal was real quality. We didn’t have lots of opportunities but I’m not naive enough to think we can try to go toe to toe with Wellingborough and come away with a win, so we had to change the way we played today.

“When we played them away from home they absolutely obliterated us because we did go toe to toe. They opened us up so we had to change our approach and play differently than we normally do.

“ I guess teams are used to us pressing high but we were a little more conservative today. We had a game plan and we executed everything in it and that is why we have got the win.”

Taylor left Magic Smalls, Matty Foy and Declan Rogers on a very strong subs bench and said: “Magic missed out as we were playing a more disciplined game, not on the front foot, and Matty was really unlucky after coming on and scoring last week but his attitude has been fantastic.

“He has never once thrown his toys out of the pram, he is here for what the group is trying to do and when you have that it is great.

“When you have substitutes who come on the pitch and are sulking, you never do anything. But again, Matt came on and did some great stuff.”

March are at mid-table Bugbrooke St Michaels next Saturday before another huge game at the Lane on February 17, when second-place Racing Club Warwick are the visitors.

March Town: Gill, Bucciero, Saunders, Withers, Emmington, Green, Whyatt (Foy), Burrows, Gillies, Rider, Seymour-Shove (Carolan). Subs (not used): Rogers, Smalls. Star man: Jay Whyatt. Booked: Withers, Whyatt, Saunders. Attendance: 323.

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