Determined Greens Return To Winning Ways

The Greens showed immense resilience and determination to see off a dogged Wisbech side courtesy of Charlie Ward’s finely taken first half header, securing the Greens a much-needed three point haul in the process.

A series of suspensions and absentees meant joint-managers Tom Ward and Nathan Arnold were forced into three changes as Sebastian Robbermond, Tom Ward and Ryan Flitton all dropped out of the side dumped out the FA Vase by Worcester City a fortnight ago. In came Kristers Zaluzinskis, who made an unexpected return to action for the Greens, while Ryan Rushen and Kyle Watkins made welcome returns from spells out injured. Opponents Wisbech Town meanwhile also made three changes to the side that were defeated in United Counties League Premier Division North action last weekend by Loughborough Students. Out went Robert Conyard, Oliver Williams and Ethan Wilson with their places in the starting eleven taken by Michael Frew, Patrik Kacirek and Sam Murphy.

Both sides started in steady fashion at the Longwater Stadium with plenty of heart and battle shown, with little end product attacking wise. A first effort of any real note arrived in the 6th minute when Jacob Fenton smashed a freekick well over the crossbar before fine work on the break from Akeel Francis saw him find Shaun Harrad out wide, the latter ultimately blasting across goal and just wide. It was Francis who was pulling the strings again on the half-hour mark when he collected Liam Flitton’s ball forward with aplomb before setting Ryan Rushen free who could only sweep an effort high and wide of the net.

At the other end, the visitors generated their first real attempt at goal when Aaron Hart was allowed to advance on goal and shoot but his effort was easily collected by Flitton in the Greens goal. The game finally got its spark in the 38th minute when determined work from Tristan Drummond earned the Greens a first corner of the contest, one that was delivered by Jacob Fenton and in-turn, headed sweetly beyond the outstretched dive of Dan George and into the bottom corner of the net to put the Greens ahead. That lead was then very nearly doubled in swift fashion when Dominic Kew was alive in the box and smashed an effort just over the crossbar whilst back at the other end, Flitton was in action again to collect Toby Allen’s freekick which caught a deflection on its way through the crowd.

It was a slightly more open beginning to the second period and the Greens were put under some mild pressure by the away side with Liam Flitton called into action twice early on first denying Toby Allen after he’d cut inside his man before bravely saving at the feet of an advancing Jon Challinor just five minutes later. The Greens though, did begin to regain a strangle hold when Francis was unlucky not to connect with a fine cross from Jacob Fenton.

The away sides most dangerous threat continued to come through the lively Allen and he was again denied by Flitton’s comfortable hands though it was the Greens who should really have sewn the three points up with ten minutes remaining when Rushen made the most of a Kern Miller mistake to break free and see his effort well blocked by Dan George in the Fenmen goal, before Harry Twite produced a pair of excellent last-ditch blocks to deny first Jacob Fenton and then Akeel Francis from the rebound.

The Greens were nearly made to rue that miss when Amir Ward found space in the box but miscued his volley from close range before Rushen was again excellently denied by George at close range after Nathan Arnold had sent him free beyond the Fenmen backline. There was to be one last, heart-stopping moment when Michael Frew found space for Wisbech and saw his effort drift wide of the post with Flitton planted, but despite this, the Greens made sure of their first three point haul in three United Counties League Premier Division North games.

The Greens return to the Longwater Stadium again next Saturday afternoon when Melton Town are the visitors for a 3PM kick-off in United Counties League Premier Division North action.

Words: Oliver Atkin