Still plenty for Wisbech Town to play for after home draw with Eastwood
Wisbech Town 1, Eastwood CFC 1
United Counties League Premier Division North
Although Wisbech’s league season has petered out, with play-off hopes long gone and relegation only a mathematical possibility, manager Alex Street says they still have plenty to play for.
The Fenmen are 13th in the 18-team league after a late equaliser saw their opposition snatch an undeserved point at Fountain Fresh Park, but Street’s team are just one win from a cup final at Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium.
Wisbech entertain Histon in the semi-final of the Cambridgeshire Invitational Cup on Tuesday, February 27 with the final at the League One side’s ground, against fellow Step 5 outfit Soham Town or Step 4 side Cambridge City. Before that, the Fenmen travel to Ashby Ivanhoe in the league this weekend.
Street said: “The final is at the Abbey and you don’t get to play at grounds like that very often so hopefully when we play Histon here we will put on a good show and get the right result to get ourselves into the final.
“We’ve not had any silverware for a few years and it would be nice to give the fans something to cheer about. It won’t be easy, Histon are no mugs but I believe in the lads.
“The fans deserve it, people come in good numbers to away games and we’ve got to try to give them the day out they deserve.”
At Fountain Fresh Park on Saturday, Wisbech were heading towards all three points after an Andre Williams goal in the 36th minute had given them the lead. The forward player ran in with the ball from the left and placed it to score for the home side.
However, their Nottinghamshire opponents, who won the reverse fixture 3-2 the previous Saturday, hit back to equalise through Christopher Robertson just two minutes from the end of normal time. The Red Badgers had also hit a post from the penalty spot in the 47th minute.
Manager Street said: “I’m gutted for the lads and they are gutted too as we were the dominant side for the whole game. Eastwood started quickest but we were excellent, limited them to a few chances and created lots of our own – but if you don’t take them you suffer and they nabbed one at the end.
“We caused them no end of trouble. Their keeper has made a couple of good saves and was probably man of the match and we’ve missed a really good chance.
“But when you see danger you have to prevent it somehow but we didn’t for their goal. These young lads have been playing together long enough now to have learned that so that’s the only disappointing thing.
“But we showed some good signs against a side who are sixth in the table. Ethan (Wilson) getting stuck in, Andre (Williams) playing up front was excellent again. If we can keep this squad together and make a couple of additions I think we will be alright.
“If we get a full pre-season into them you will see this team grow and get a bit of consistency.
“Now we have got to go to Ashby Ivanhoe and put in a performance. We’re not going to get into the play-offs and we’re not going to get relegated so we just have to concentrate on some consistency, nicking points and getting results.”
Wisbech: George, Reed, Wren, Twite, Mattless, Roberts, Ward, Wilson (Kacirek 80 mins), Allen (Murkin 63), Challinor, A Williams. Sub (not used): Howe. Star man: Ethan Wilson. Booked: Allen, Roberts. Attendance: 177.
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