MENS 1ST XI CONTINUE WINNING START
Having been victorious in their first two games of the 2023/24 season, WTHC Men’s 1st XI travelled to Bourne-Deeping on Saturday looking to maintain their 100% start to the campaign. Wisbech made a slow start to the game, but managed to take the lead through Sam Markillie, only for a series of errors to allow Bourne to equalise shortly after.
Markillie scored twice more before halftime to send Wisbech into the halftime break with a narrow 3-2 lead. A much improved second half saw Wisbech pull away, with Markillie adding his fourth goal of the game, while Danny Haynes, Dom Stannard, and Lewis Jackson were also on target for the men in red.
Tom Jupp’s side will look to continue their strong start to the season this Friday, when they host local rivals Long Sutton at Harecroft Road (push back 7PM).
JASON ESSER IN ACTION FOR THE WTHC MENS 1ST XI (PIC: TIM CHAPMAN)
The Ladies 1st XI made a strong start to their game at Kettering, moving the ball well and seeking to use the width of the field, but struggled to find the target despite creating numerous opportunities. Wisbech’s persistence eventually paid off however, with skipper Laura Bell scoring from a penalty corner to put the ladies ahead at the break.
Kettering stepped up the pressure in the second half, disrupting Wisbech’s passing game, and when the Fenland side went a player down following a yellow card, the hosts were able to pounce, scoring twice to claim victory.
Wisbech will look to bounce back on home soil this weekend, when they face Ipswich and East Suffolk at Harecroft Road on Saturday.
Despite dominating the early part of their game at Cambridge University 3rd XI, the Wisbech Town Men’s 2nd XI found themselves a goal down after 10-minutes, as the student side broke against the run of play to take the lead at Wilberforce Road.
Wisbech continued to push forward, creating several chances before Bradley Burton’s deflected effort saw the men in red draw level. The hosts restored their lead shortly after, but Wisbech were able to equalise before the break, with Jason Mallett scoring from his reverse stick.
A strong second half showing ensured Wisbech would remain on the front foot, with Burton bagging his second of the game following an excellent solo run and strike. The University team pressed for an equaliser, but a strong defensive effort, led by captain Jonathan Shippey, saw Wisbech hold firm to claim the three points.
BRADLEY BURTON WAS ON TARGET TWICE FOR THE MENS 2ND XI (PIC: TIM CHAPMAN)
The Ladies 2nd XI picked up a hard earned point away at Huntingdon on Saturday. Wisbech took the lead after nine minutes, when Claire Burton’s pass across the D found Lily Cooper, with the young forward firing the ball into the left hand corner. The hosts equalised before the break however, setting up a tense second half.
Goalkeeper Ali Beel made a string of saves to keep Huntingdon at bay, but with Wisbech also unable to find the back of the net, the game ended 1-1.
The result means the ladies remain unbeaten so far this season, with a home game against Cambridge Nomads 1st XI coming up for Lou Sandall’s side this weekend.
A brace from Oliver Melton helped the Men’s 3rd XI secure a 4-3 win away at Peterborough 6th XI on Saturday evening. In a back and forth first half, Melton put Wisbech ahead, before Ryan Parker added a second goal for Wisbech with a powerful strike from a penalty corner opportunity.
Peterborough came back strong in the second half, pulling a goal back early in the frame before Melton restored the two-goal cushion. Again the hosts pushed hard for a response, converting a well worked goal to keep the pressure on before a swift counter attack from Wisbech saw captain Ciaran Lowe setup Eliott Peck for Wisbech’s fourth goal of the game. Peterborough added a third goal from a penalty corner on the final play of the game.
This weekend the men face Cambridge Nomad’s 3rd XI at Harecroft Road.
THE LADIES 2ND XI PICKED UP A POINT AWAY AT HUNTINGDON (PIC: TIM CHAPMAN)
The Ladies 3rd XI started positively in their home game against Long Sutton 2nd XI, with Rachel Rivers goal helping Wisbech to capitalise on the early possession they’d achieved.
Rivers would go on to score twice more during the second half, with Steph Leeks, and Rachael Bateman also on target for Wisbech as part of a 5-1 win which helped maintain the teams 100% start to the season.
The Ladies 4th XI travelled to Huntingdon to face the hosts Development XI, allowing Wisbech to provide some playing time to some younger members of the club. Despite a hard working half, and some great saves by goalkeeper Tina Forder, Wisbech found themselves 3-0 down at the break.
A change of formation for the second half helped Wisbech regroup, creating several opportunities for the ladies in red, as well as helping ensure the team remained strong defensively and did not conceded again. Unfortunately Wisbech could not find the back of the net, and the game ended 3-0 to the hosts.
This weekend, the ladies welcome Ely City 3rd XI to Harecroft Road.