Same old story as Wisbech St Mary fall apart after bright start
WISBECH ST MARY 2, CORNARD UNITED 5
Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Division One North
For 30 minutes of today's match the Saints looked on track for victory, but an equaliser against the run of play preceded a second half collapse that is all too familiar for manager Stuart Beckett.
With four new signings in the starting line-up, the home side played flowing, attacking football for much of the first half, even though the pitch was wet and slippery.
But, for the final 30 minutes, home heads went down and the visitors were allowed a period where they could attack at will.
Saints included former Haverhill Borough and Cornard keeper Tim Jefferies in their starting line-up, along with central defender Dan Short, who returns to the club from Parson Drove, midfielder Alan Burch, who is on dual registration with Peterborough League Tydd, and former Wisbech Town striker Oli Shackleton, signed from Deeping Rangers.
Striker Harvey Neale and defender Toby Marumahoko missed the game through injury.
The home team started on the front foot and nearly took a 14th minute lead when Charlie Rudland's sweet drive from 15 yards just evaded the far post. Shortly after that, a cross/shot from left back Jack Minster was cleared off the line.
But, after 24 minutes, Saints did break the deadlock when a superb through ball by midfielder Jack Noble put away Shackleton, who controlled the ball well and rounded visiting keeper James Mordecai before slotting his side into a deserved lead.
Cornard equalised seven minutes later with their only real attack of the opening half, a neat passage of passing opening up the home defence and Charlie Lindoe finishing with aplomb.
There was a blow for Wisbech St Mary at the break as the impressive Noble was unable to continue and was replaced by Seco Embalo. A second blow came seven minutes later when, following a corner, Ryan McGibbon poked Cornard into the lead.
Heads didn't immediately go down and captain David Weaver-Pope struck the bar with a 60th minute free kick, two minutes before Embalo went close with a long range effort which drifted just wide.
But what then followed was calamitous as Saints conceded three goals in five disastrous minutes, the first a break-away with a finish from Aaron Collier as home player Jordan Goult lay injured on the floor, the second a free header for Ezra Drann after Jefferies missed a cross and the third a good finish by Collier after a simple ball over the top.
Saints scored their second in the 85th minute when Ryan Lennon slammed home his fifth of the season from 20 yards after a good through ball by Weaver-Pope.
WISBECH ST MARY (4-4-2): Jefferies; Goult, Short, Fox, Minster (Fernandes 73 mins); Noble (Embalo), Weaver-Pope, Burch, Rudland (Barrett 73); Lennon, Shackleton. Subs (not used): Beckett, Pereira.
STAR MAN: David Weaver-Pope – although his passes didn't always find their intended targets today, he never hid and battled to the end.
Previously...
Wisbech St Mary 1, March Town 5
Wisbech St Mary 4, Diss Town 3
Wisbech St Mary 1, AFC Sudbury Reserves 3
