March Town out of FA Vase after defeat at home to Daventry Town
March Town’s Wembley dreams are over for another year after a 1-0 home defeat against fellow United Counties Premier South outfit Daventry Town this afternoon.
A goal from Luke Emery two minutes into the second half was enough to send the Purple Army into the last 16 in front of a crowd of more than 700.
The Hares started the game brightly but the visitors created the better chances in the opening period before scoring in the 47th minute.
They then lost Merson Styles for ten minutes after he was sin-binned for dissent, but March could not press home the one man advantage.
There were then chances at either end, with the visitors holding out over seven minutes of added-on time.
Meanwhile, Wisbech Town suffered a 1-0 defeat in their United Counties Premier North relegation six-pointer at fellow strugglers Hucknall Town, Niall Towle scoring his 22nd of the season from a 57th minute penalty after Solace Uyi-Olaye was brought down.
Hucknall applied the most pressure in the first half without creating many clear chances and after the break they still looked the better side, although The Fenmen always looked a danger on the break.
Wisbech are now in 17th place, five points clear of the relegation area but having played three games more than 19th place Shirebrook Town.
Over in the Thurlow Nunn First Division North it was all square at 2-2 in the derby game between Parson Drove and Whittlesey Athletic.
Drove led 2-0 at the break through Stefano Cavozzi - on his debut on dual registration with Wisbech - and Brad Easey but first goals of the season for Harry Jenkins and Matt Heron pulled Athletic level after the break and they also missed a penalty.
Whittlesey are now seven points clear of the drop zone after getting ten points from their last six games and Drove remain ninth.
Next Saturday fourth-place March will look to cement their place in the play-off spots when they travel to play a G.N.G Oadby Town side who are second from bottom and lost 4-1 at the GER in October.
Wisbech Town are away to mid-table Harrowby United, Parson Drove travel to fourth-place Framlingham Town and Whittlesey are at home to bottom side Swaffham Town.
March Town: Gill, Burrows (Escorcio), Brumby (Foy), Withers, Emmington, Green, Cotton, Saunders, Gillies, Tait (Biggs), Williams (Oladarin). Sub (not used): Rider. Attendance: 738.
Wisbech Town: Lakin, Braham (Gilbert 70), Williams (Falcao 75), Barker, S Harris, Freeman, Lennon (Frew 60), L Harris (Nicholson 86), Conyard, Bennett, Ward (Challinor 60).
Whittlesey Athletic: Foulger, Redhead, Tajer, M.Carter, Briggs, A.Fryett, Gale, Jenkins, Bates, Rippon-Hart, Jobling Subs: J Fryett, Heron, Goulding, Topping, Paul.
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