Wisbech boss furious with his players after United Counties League Premier Division North thumping at Harrowby United

Wisbech Town boss Luke Hipwell pulled no punches after seeing his side comprehensively beaten by Harrowby United at the weekend.

Hipwell apologised to the club's fans after the Fenmen were thumped 4-0 by their mid-table hosts in the United Counties League Premier Division North.

A shell-shocked Hipwell said: "I just want to apologise to anyone who came to see that and associated with the club, that was embarrassing.

"This was the most toothless and underwhelming performance since I joined the club.

"As a result of that, I will be making changes, that's if I'm allowed to. We were terrible today, we didn't lay a glove and didn't want to do the ugly things like win second balls.

"There wasn't enough talking and not enough leadership and there should be based upon what we've got in the building.

"If I was a lad who wasn't in the squad today, I'd be thinking well surely I'm going to get a chance and that will be the case for some.

"Numerous times I've come out here after games and sometimes we may have got a result and others we haven't, and said the words: 'fight, endeavour, work rate, etc, etc' but I didn't see that today.

"The first half I thought we were the better team and should have scored. They've scored a world strike from a second phase of a corner.

"At half-time, I said to the players that we needed to stay disciplined, not get done on the counter and keep probing but we just didn't do it."

The Fenmen are now just five points from the drop zone having played three games more than Shirebrook Town, who occupy the second relegation spot.

The Wisbech boss admitted his side is now in a real scrap to retain their league status ahead of Saturday's visit from play-off chasing Newark Town to Fountain Fresh Park.

"I just won't accept where we are," he said.

"Where I was looking at moving up the table we're now in a real scrap, there's no doubt about it.

"I need to see something different against Newark and I feel really sorry for the supporters as I know how much this football club means to them.

"To come all this way and see that, it doesn't sit right with me.

"It will be back to the drawing board for me. Yes, we've got to stick together but some of these players need to hold their hands up and realise that they can do better and add something.

"I feel the squad we've built here is a squad that shouldn't be losing 4-0 ever and that can't happen again.

"I feel a little bit let down today. I work meticulously for us to be the best we can be and I haven't got value today. That really bugs me.

"We've now got 11 games left and we need to do something."

Wisbech Town: Lakin, Challinor, Williams, Barker, S. Harris, Freeman, Lennon, L. Harris, Conyard, Bennett, Ward Subs: Nicholson, Frew, Langford, Falcao, Gilbert.

Attendance: 105.