Late winner a cruel blow for Wisbech Town

Wisbech Town 0, Stamford 1

Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division

Stand-in manager Dick Creasey got the best out of a young Fenmen side this afternoon, but it still wasn't enough to beat the high-flying Daniels.

The veteran manager had the home side so organised and competitive that there wasn't much between the teams, but any luck going was with the visitors as they scrambled in a late winner.

Wisbech remain seven points from automatic safety and are now level on goal difference with Histon, who are below them in the relegation area, and just three points clear of bottom side Soham Town.

After joint interim managers Arran Duke and Mark Warren quit on Thursday and captain Liam Marshall left on Friday, you might have expected spirits to be down, but the home side showed great energy from the first kick to the last.

It was Stamford who created the first chance, however, the prolific Jonathan Margetts seeing an angled lob drift narrowly wide in the third minute. But that was one a very few chances throughout the afternoon for the high scoring visitors.

Danny Draper's 12th minute stinger for Wisbech landed straight into visiting keeper Danny Haystead's gloves and, on 26 minutes, Margetts saw a free kick flash past the post.

But, with Jack Keeble and new captain Luke Wilson solid in defence, marshalled well by Sam Murphy sitting just in front, home keeper Luke Pearson was rarely troubled.

In fact both defences were on top, Jack Duffy producing a decent save from Pearson after 29 minutes, and Supporters' January Player of the Month Layton Maddison seeing an effort fly just wide for Wisbech as the half ended goalless.

Wisbech slowly began to dominate as the second half progressed and were close to scoring just after the hour when a 30-yard Toby Allen thunderbolt was saved at full stretch by Haystead, who two minutes later made another great stop to thwart teenage striker Enoch Opayinka.

But when you're down at the bottom, lady luck is seldom your friend and Stamford scored with their first chance of the half, a long throw bouncing twice in the home penalty area before Margetts headed home.

Late into injury time Wisbech right back Aaron Hart spoilt a great performance by receiving a red card after a late tackle on Stamford's Tendai Chitiza.

Wisbech Town (4-1-2-3, r-1): Pearson; Hart, Keeble, Wilson, Mcleish; Murphy; Maddison, Knowles (Warren 72 mins); Opayinka (Gascoigne 83), Allen (Vieira 64), Draper. Sub (not used): Lukyamuzi.

Stamford: Haystead, Burgess, Bartle, Armstrong, Wright (Hicks 64 mins), Blunden, Chitiza, Jake Duffy (Morgan 57), Jack Duffy (Matwasa 60), Margetts, Vince. Subs (not used): Challinor, Frew.

Star man: Sam Murphy: Gave the defence great protection and worked tirelessly all afternoon.

Attendance: 207.