March Town hit six ahead of massive FA Vase clash
March Town prepared for next Saturday’s big FA Vase game with a 6-0 home win over Lutterworth Town this afternoon.
However, Whittlesey Athletic lost 5-2 at Gorleston Reserves, while the games involving Wisbech Town and Parson Drove were both called off due to frozen pitches.
Captain Craig Gillies scored a first-half hat-trick for March against Lutterworth in the United Counties League Premier South, with goals in the fourth, 21st and 45th minute, to put him on 17 for the season. Sam Green was also on target after 22 minutes as they went into the break 4-0 up.
March, who left Toby Allen and Harvey Henderson on the bench - the two are cup-tied for next week’s big Fourth Round home clash with Daventry Town - made five substitutions in the second half. Dan Cotton then struck twice to make it 13 for the campaign for him, netting in the 90th minute and the second minute of added-on time.
The Hares have now won five games on the trot before the game against The Purple Army, who are two places and five points behind them in the table and saw their game postponed today.
March Town: Gill, Burrows, Brumby, Withers (Henderson), Emmington, Green (Whyatt), Cotton, Saunders, Gillies (Allen), Tait (Biggs), Williams (Escorcio). Star man: Craig Gillies. Attendance: 214
Wisbech Town’s game at Kimberley Miners Welfare in the United Counties Premier North was called off. The Fenmen have today confirmed the signing of Luke Harris but lost Elliot Foster, who has signed for fellow strugglers Deeping Rangers.
Manager Luke Hipwell said: “Luke is a player that I have monitored for a while. When the opportunity came up to sign him, it was something we moved quickly to do.
“He is technically excellent and will bring further quality as well as energy to an already talented group. His experience at Step 4 and above will continue to push the standards we are looking to set.
“On the flip side, we say goodbye to Elliot Foster who has signed for Deeping Rangers. We thank Elliot for his efforts this season and wish him luck at his new club.”
Over at Gorleston in the Thurlow Nunn First Division North, Whittlesey opened the scoring through Isaac Jobling’s fifth of the season after nine minutes, but by the 15th minute were 2-1 down, before Jack Carter made it 2-2 after 20 minutes with his sixth in just eight games this campaign.
The Greens took the lead again after 28 minutes and further strikes after the break made the final score 5-2. The Blues ended with ten men following injuries to Jobling and Papworth-Boston. They are still six points clear of the drop zone but have played a game more than 18th-place Haverhill Borough.
Thomas Papworth-Boston, who scored four in six for The Blues earlier in the season, returned to the starting line-up as part of a short-term loan. He is also registered with Wisbech Town and Soham Town Rangers.
In the same division, Parson Drove’s game at home to AFC Sudbury Reserves was also a victim of the weather.
Whittlesey Athletic: Foulger, Topping, Bates, M Carter, Fryett, Jobling, Gale, Jenkins, J Carter, Papworth-Boston, Tajer. Subs: Briggs, Paul, Redhead, Rippon-Hart.
Next Saturday, March are at home to Daventry in the Vase clash, Wisbech travel to play mid-table Skegness Town, Parson Drove are at home to Gorleston Reserves and Whittlesey entertain leaders Haverhill Rovers.
