New Wisbech St Mary FC manager Alex Kaufman on his improving Saints side
It proved to be lucky number 13 for Wisbech St Mary FC, who picked up their first point of the campaign in their 13th Thurlow Nunn League First Division North match.
Saints are rock bottom but new manager Alex Kaufman, the former Chatteris Town boss, has seen signs of improvement, including Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Needham Market Reserves.
His backroom team includes Ash Taylor, who is also well-known in Chatteris FC circles. Kaufman, who took over for the October 2 Lakenheath cup tie, has signed young prospect Christian Carter (18, below) on loan from Histon and is also dual registered with Cherry Hinton.
Photo by WSM FC.
Midfielder Adam Richardson and striker Corey Kingston, who made his Saints debut on Saturday, are also in.
Kaufman said: “Ash saw on Twitter that Corey had left Huntingdon and Corey said he and Adam had come as a pair. We got lucky with Adam and we know they’re highly-rated.”
Corey Kingston photo by WSM FC.
He added: “I like the challenge. I saw the potential of the club and I went to meet them. We’ve scored six goals in the last four games.
“If we’d finished the last three games at half-time we would be on seven points."
He said of the weekend draw: "They're a good footballing side. We managed to stop the threat but in the second half we tired because not enough of them are fit.
“We had two players sin-binned for dissent but it was more of a rallying call to each other.”
He added of the decision: "It was an absolute disgrace. I usually just get on with it. It was a shock, even to the home team."
Saints conceded a late goal at Needham, having led 2-0. Dan Hempson put Wisbech St Mary 1-0 up inside the first minute and Jake Miller made it two after 14 minutes with a volley off the bar.
But the home team pulled one back from the penalty spot after 46 minutes and, despite Tom Fitzgerald being shown a second yellow card at the start of the second half, they scored an 88th minute equaliser with Callum Page’s second goal.
Wisbech St Mary: Dan Smith, George Hutton (capt), Karl Alexander, Jordan Goult, Ashley Symonds, Stuart Beckett, Jake Miller (Scott Drewery), Karl Tansley, Dan Hempson, Corey Kingston, Andrew Willmott. Sub: Aaron Watson. Sin binned: Symonds, Hutton. Att: 91.
Tonight Wisbech St Mary travel to Lakenheath and on Saturday, when Richardson should make his debut, they entertain 11th-spot Great Yarmouth Town.
Kaufman added of Carter's availability for Yarmouth: "It depends on his parent club and he doesn't drive."