Wisbech exited the FA Cup with a whimper at Byfield Road, home of Woodford United.
The same team which had performed so well at Newmarket on Tuesday started the game, but failed to light the blue touch paper. They had keeper Nick Conroy to thank for going in level at the break as he made a good full length save late in the half.
The second half saw Woodford's tactic of long balls into the corners continue, but they Wisbech defence dealt with most attacks with ease. However, at the other end, very little was being created and the Woodford keeper was a virtual spectator.
Changes were made as the half wore on with Darren Jimson replacing Liam Harrold and Darren Edey coming on for Ian Dunn.
In the 83rd minute, the home side were awarded a penalty, but the kick struck the upright and the rebound was blasted over.
A minute later, a free-kick was worked into the box and Nicky Gordon beat Nick Conroy to give Woodford the lead and ultimately the win.
New signing Tom Fielding was introduced in place of Wayne Morris with a couple of minutes remaining, but he was unable to have much impact on the match.
Dick Creasey kept the players out on the pitch after the game and made it clear in no uncertain terms his thoughts on what he had just witnessed.
Wisbech: Nick Conroy, Wayne Morris (Tom Fielding), Andy Lodge, Steve Johnson, Lee Day, Garry Butterworth, Mark Jimson, Steve Appleby, Ian Dunn (Darren Edey), Liam Nimmo, Liam Harrold (Darren Jimson)
Subs (not used): Cubberley, Horton
Excellent performance at Newmarket
Tue 23rd Aug
Newmarket Town 0 - Wisbech Town 2 (Half Time: 0-0. Attendance: 102)
Goalscorers were Liam Nimmo (28th minute shot from edge of box) and Ian Dunn (around 75 minutes - header from Darren Jimson's cross). This was by far the best performance of the season so far.
Garry Butterworth made his first start of the season and was imperious at the back. Lee Day returned after missing the Hullbridge match and put in a man of the match winning performance. Nick Conroy was a spectator for long periods of the game, but pulled off a couple of outstanding saves to keep his first clean sheet of the season. Newmarket hit the bar and saw one saved on the line, but were mostly easily contained.
Wisbech: Nick Conroy, Wayne Morris, Andy Lodge, Garry Butterworth, Lee Day, Steve Johnson, Mark Jimson, Steve Appleby, Ian Dunn (Stuart Cobb), Liam Nimmo (Scott Cubberley), Liam Harrold (Darren Jimson)
Subs (not used): Darren Edey, Chris Horton
Woodford away in the FA Cup
Sun 21st Aug
Having disposed of Hullbridge in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, the Fenmen now travel to United Counties League side Woodford United this Saturday (27th August).
Like Hullbridge, Woodford don’t have an active website, but I have managed to find the following info about them.
Directions: A361 Daventry to Banbury road, Turn left in Byfield following road to Woodford Halse. Ground on left just past industrial estate. Click here for a map of the grounds location.
They finished last season 7th in the United Counties League Premier Division, their record being:
P42 W17 D12 L13F 66 A49 GD+17 Pts63
The match against Wisbech will be their first at home in the FA Cup - their previous two games (a 0-7 defeat against Cogenhoe last year and Saturday's 1-0 win over Southend Manor) were both away from home.
This is only their seventh season of senior football. The first three were in UCL Division One before promotion from third place in 2001-02 to the Premier Division.
Wisbech made it through to the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup for the first time in three seasons with a comfortable win at Essex Senior League Hullbridge Sports.
With defensive players Richard Harnwell, Chris Dear (injured), Garry Butterworth (suspended), Lee Day and Jason Pease (unavailable) all missing, Scott Cubberley started for the first time this season up front, with Ian Dunn on the left of midfield and Andy Lodge in the centre.
Wisbech started well and after only five minutes, Liam Harrold chested down Wayne Morris's pass to Liam Nimmo who turned and fired a left foot shot past the Hullbridge keeper from ten yards.
Five minutes later Nimmo almost scored again, but his shot from an acute angle flashed across the face of the goal.
On 17 minutes, Andy Lodge's free kick was deflected towards Darren Jimson and he controlled the ball, before swivelling and hitting it left-footed into the roof of the net from seven yards, despite the close attentions of a defender.
The Fenmen continued to push forward, limiting the home side to the occasional breakaway.
On 36 minutes, instead of hoofing the ball upfield, a Hullbridge player attempted a short pass which was intercepted by Andy Lodge, who found Liam Harrold on the edge of the box. With the Hullbridge defence appealing for offside against Cubberley, they failed to spot Liam Nimmo who collected Harrold's perfectly weighted pass to score his second of the afternoon.
The visitors were given a wake-up call just before half-time when Hullbridge pulled a goal back from a corner and again just after the break when hesitation in the Wisbech defence allowed the home side to reduce the gap to one goal on 46 minutes.
With the momentum (and the slight slope) in their favour, Hullbridge's confidence grew and for a period of fifteen minutes, they had the upper hand.
The pendulum swung very much back in the Fenmen's favour on the hour when Ian Dunn's excellent pass found Scott Cubberley, who clamly knocked the ball past the onrushing keeper.
Five minutes later, any hopes of a Hullbridge comeback were dashed when Wisbech were awarded a penalty and Ian Dunn blasted the ball into the net to give the Fenmen an unassailable lead.
Darren Edey, Darren Rawthorn and Lewis Cook came on for Liam Nimmo, Scott Cubberley and Mark Jimson but there was no further addition to the score, although Liam Harrold did strike the bar in the 87th minute.
News came through shortly after the final whistle that Woodford United had won one-nil at Southend Manor and will now host the Fenmen next Saturday.
Wisbech: Nick Conroy, Wayne Morris, Andy Lodge, Steve Johnson, Mark Jimson (Lewis Cook), Darren Jimson, Liam Harrold, Steve Appleby, Ian Dunn, Liam Nimmo (Darren Edey), Scott Cubberley (Darren Rawthorn)
A hard-fought and ultimately fortuitous win over a spirited Lynn Reserves team who can consider themselves very unlucky not to have gone away with at least a share of the spoils.
One change to the starting line-up from Saturday saw Liam Harrold relegated to the bench, replaced by Richard Harnwell. Steve Appleby found himself in the unfamiliar role of sweeper, in place of the suspended Garry Butterworth.
It became apparent very quickly that Wisbech were still not firing on all cylinders and this was well demonstrated in the 8th minute when Lynn took the lead through Liam Forshaw.
The visitors almost doubled their lead shortly afterwards when a defender sliced his clearance and the ball spun back and hit the crossbar.
Both Chris Dear and Richard Harnwell were forced off through injury in quick succession during the first half and will be out for several weeks apiece. Lee Day and Liam Harrold came on in their places.
Just as it looked like Lynn would go in ahead at the break, Andy Lodge sent in in a free kick in first half stoppage time which Lee Day headed past McAnally to bring the Fenmen level and score his first goal for the club.
After soaking up more pressure from the visitors, Wisbech finally took the lead ten minutes into the second half. Liam Nimmo sent over a cross from the left which Lynn twice failed to clear and Ian Dunn bundled the ball over the line from close range.
With Lynn piling forward at every opportunity looking for the equaliser, Nick Conroy was called upon to parry a virtually point-blank shot and he had to be alert as the visitors peppered his goal with shots from range.
Scott Cubberley replaced Ian Dunn with ten minutes remaining and his pace gave Liam Harrold a goalscoring chance in stoppage time, but he was unable to find the target.
This was a game where the result was more important than the performance. Saturday's trip to Hullbridge Sports would also fit into that category, and is quite literally a 'must-win' game. Hopefully, this result will give the team more confidence.
Wisbech: Conroy, Morris, Lodge, Johnson, Dear (Day), Harnwell (Harrold), M. Jimson, Appleby, Dunn (Cubberely), Nimmo, D. Jimson
Wisbech made what is becoming their usual poor start to the League campaign at Harwich and Parkeston.
Only once in the last four seasons have the Fenmen taken even a point from their opening fixture, and even that feat was looking unlikely as Harwich raced into a 6th minute lead as Jimmy Chatters turned in a left wing cross.
Liam Nimmo found himself one-on-one with the keeper on 10 minutes, but having beat the keeper, he delayed his shot long enough for a defender to nick the ball off his toes.
On 12 minutes, Neil Calver doubled the home side's lead from the edge of the box as another left wing cross eluded the Wisbech defence.
Having worked hard to create the chance, Ian Dunn went close, but he was unable to squeeze the ball between keeper and post.
Having a two goal lead at half-time meant that Harwich could afford to sit back in the second half against what had been a rather lacklustre attack and attack on the break. And that is what happened, except the Wisbech forward line was far more potent in the second half and the home side became pinned back in their own half and the small band of travelling supporters sensed a comeback.
However, the Harwich goal and goalkeeper led a charmed life and the frame of the goal came to their rescue on more than one occasion. Andy Lodge struck the crossbar from 25 yards out, while the post was called into action as well.
Steve Appleby's rasping shot was palmed onto the bar by the keeper, who had earlier somehow managed to keep out a Liam Harrold effort with a fantastic save.
Richard Harnwell and Scott Cubberley were introduced in place of Darren Jimson and Liam Harrold, and the latter nearly pulled a goal back but his close range effort appeared to deflect off the goalkeeper, even though a goal kick was given.
In the final few minutes, Lee Day replaced Wayne Morris, which allowed Steve Johnson to move up front in a 3-4-3 formation. Ian Dunn linked up well with Cubberley in the best move of the match but his shot was well over the bar and summed up the Fenmen's afternoon.
Harwich could have increased their tally in injury time, but the striker at the far post swung and missed the ball with Nick Conroy stranded.
The number of chances created in the second half was encouraging, but unless they can be put away it counts for nothing.
Wisbech: Conroy, Morris (Day), Lodge, Johnson, Dear, M. Jimson, D. Jimson (Harnwell), Appleby, Dunn, Nimmo, Harrold (Cubberley)
Sub (not used): Edey
Wymondham still no match for lacklustre Fenmen
Tue 02nd Aug
Wymondham Town 1 - Wisbech Town 3 (Half Time: 0-1. Attendance: 0)
Not the scoreline many of the spectators were expecting, but Wymondham were not the expected pushovers their League status suggested.
Liam Nimmo made his first start for the Fenmen after recovering from a foot operation, while Ian Dunn returned to the team after a week's holiday. In fact, he only flew in this morning and hadn't slept all day or night.
Wisbech took the lead in the eighth minute as Richard Harnwell's long throw was dropped by keeper Jonathan Webb at the far post, allowing Ian Dunn to smash home the loose ball.
Despite good amounts of possession, WIsbech couldn't increase their lead and went into the break with just the one goal to their name. Wymondham had one or two chances but failed to test Conroy.
Half-time changes were Jason Pease for Lodge, Darren Jimson replacing Harnwell, Steve Appleby on for Mark Jimson and Steve Johnson coming on for Dear.
Wisbech continued to press forward and it was during one such attack that Wymondham were able to break upfield and score the equaliser after 57 minutes.
Although the scores were level, Wisbech were still controlling the game and ten minutes later, they got their noses in front again.
Good work from Nimmo on the edge of the home penalty area allowed Ian Dunn to beat the offside trap and then square the ball for Liam Harrold to score from eight yards.
On 75 minutes, having been reintroduced a few minutes earlier, Andy Lodge put in a testing high cross which the Wymondham defence watched go over their heads and onto the right boot of Wayne Morris and from there very rapidly into the net.
The home side had the ball in the net again in the final few minutes, but it was ruled out for offside.
The Fenmen seemed unable to raise their game for this match and that allowed Wymondham to get away without the expected thrashing. Having said that, the Rooks played well at times and if they can repeat that during the season, they will do well.
Next up for Wisbech is a double-header away to St Ives Town on Saturday. First team kick off is at 2pm
Wisbech exited the FA Cup with a whimper at Byfield Road, home of Woodford United.
Goalscorers were Liam Nimmo (28th minute shot from edge of box) and Ian Dunn (around 75 minutes - header from Darren Jimson's cross). This was by far the best performance of the season so far.
Wisbech made what is becoming their usual poor start to the League campaign at Harwich and Parkeston.