Fenmen inflict derby despair on Tulips

Wisbech Town FC kicked off 2019 with a 2-1 New Year's Day derby success at Spalding United at the Sir Halley Stewart Field, writes Mark Lea.

Over the past 12 months, Spalding United have only recorded a couple of Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division One East wins in front of their own supporters.

A terrible start from the Tulips left them trailing again, then Conor Marshall's crazy own goal gifted three points to Wisbech Town following Leon Mettam's spot-kick leveller.

Toby Hillard was given too much time and space to fire the Fenmen in front after Danny Setchell's corner.

Kieran Wells hit the post when he should have scored and another opportunity missed the target.

However, Spalding got back on level terms when Mettam was brought down on the edge of the six-yard box and he beat ex-Pinchbeck United keeper Dan Swan from the penalty spot.

Mettam's free-kick went wide at the start of the second half but Wisbech stayed in control after Marshall bundled the ball over the line from Michael Frew's right-wing cross.

It could have been worse for the Tulips as Frew, Eoin McQuaid and Sam Gaughran almost added to the tally.

SPALDING UNITED

4-2-1-3: Duggan 6; C Marshall 6, Fixter 6, Humble 6, Hugo 6 (sub L Marshall 85 mins); Everington 6, Brownell 6; Davison 6; B Wells 6, K Wells 6, Mettam 7 (sub White 69 mins, 6). Subs not used: Brown, Smith.

WISBECH TOWN

3-1-4-2: Swan; Fairweather, Gaughran, Keeble; Murphy; Millson, Setchell (sub Maddison 88 mins), McQuaid, Gale; Frew, Hillard (sub Mkala 90 mins). Sub not used: Hipwell.

REFEREE

Martin Chester.

GOALS

Hillard (5 mins, 0-1); Mettam pen (36 mins, 1-1), C Marshall og (61 mins, 1-2).

BOOKINGS

Everington, Fixter (foul).

ATTENDANCE

250

Photos: TIM WILSON