Late goals see nine-man Wisbech Town fight back to draw 2-2 with high-flying Newark Town
Nine-man Wisbech Town fought back from 2-0 down with just 15 minutes remaining to draw 2-2 with high-flying Newark Town at Fountain Fresh Park this afternoon.
But March Town were beaten 2-0 at Eynesbury Rovers, Whittlesey Athletic lost by the same scoreline at home to Haverhill Rovers and Parson Drove’s home game with Harwich and Parkeston was abandoned due to floodlight failure with the visitors leading 2-1.
Newark had beaten Wisbech 5-2 back in September and looked to be on the way to a United Counties Premier North double when they scored twice in the opening five minutes of the second half through Louis Czerwak and Ryan Smith to lead 2-0.
Things got worse for The Fenmen when Oli Williams was dismissed after a second yellow card in the 73rd minute, but four minutes later Sam Bennett scored only his third goal since returning to the club to make it 2-1.
However, a second yellow for Kyle Barker on 90 minutes left Wisbech with just nine men. But three minutes into added-on time sub Paulius Falcao scored his first goal in Wisbech red to rescue an unlikely point for Luke Hipwell’s men.
They are now six points clear of the drop zone with ten games to play, although Deeping Rangers, who occupy the last relegation spot, have two games in hand.
March failed to make ground on the United Counties Premier South leaders when they were beaten at seventh-place Eynesbury, whose goals came from Lewis Lynn in the 35th minute and Luke Young in the 61st.
The fourth-place Hares are now just two points clear of the pack chasing the play-off places.
In the Thurlow Nunn First Division North, Whittlesey Athletic lost 2-0 to runaway leaders Haverhill Rovers who have been beaten just once in the league all season and had already thrashed The Blues 4-0 in September.
Rovers’ goals came in either half, from Jarid Robson and Luke Lindsay, to leave Athletic seven points clear of the drop zone with ten games remaining.
In the same division, Parson Drove were trailing second-place Harwich and Parkeston 2-1 when the lights went out. Goals from Joe Knight and Louie Bloom had seen The Shrimpers lead 2-0. Drove pulled one back through new signing Jamie Coggins before the electrical failure saw the game called off on the hour.
Next Saturday, March host tenth-place Newport Pagnell Town, while Wisbech Town travel to play Skegness Town on Wednesday evening before facing a blank Saturday.
Mid-table Parson Drove entertain play-off chasing FC Peterborough on Saturday while Whittlesey are at home to mid-table Holland.
Wisbech Town: Bucher, Braham, Williams, Nicholson (Falcao 62), Mattless (Ward 71), Freeman, Harris (Acheampong 87), Barker, Conyard (Lennon 71), Bennett, Challinor. Sub (not used): Langford. Attendance: 171.
March Town: Street, Burrows, Brumby, Withers (Saunders), Emmington, Green, Cotton, Tait (Biggs), Allen (Henderson), Foy, Williams ( (Escorcio). Sub (not used): Callaghan. Attendance: 187.
