The Match Background
With defeat at Eastwood Community on Saturday afternoon, the Greens winless run in league action was extended to three games – encompassing a 1-0 loss to Belper United and a 2-2 midweek draw with Sherwood Colliery last week. Both on Saturday and in midweek, the Greens will feel hard done by not to have left with more of the spoils, particularly at Debdale Park last Wednesday evening, where the Greens led 2-0 with half an hour to play. That does not tell the whole story, though, with Tom Siddons sending off and a 94th-minute Louis Pennington drive eluding Liam Flitton, both notable incidents in what was an enthralling contest in Nottinghamshire last midweek. The Greens and their Player/Manager, Tom Ward, will take heart from two determined performances against sides expected to be challenging at the top this campaign – but they'll also hope to arrest this worrying trend in results as they firmly hope to be another of those sides challenging too. With some big names hopefully returning from injury and suspension on Tuesday evening, the Greens will expect this is the start of an improved run of form.

Last Time Out
Defeat against Eastwood Community made it two reversals in as many weeks at Coronation Park after the 1-0 loss against tenants Belper United just over a fortnight ago. The Greens weren't at their fluid best but would feel they were worth at least a point in the muggy heat in western Nottinghamshire. A goalless first half gave way to a frantic second in which both sides traded goals and chances. The Greens very nearly produced the dream start to the second period when Tom Siddons set up Ryan Rushen to crash the crossbar within 20 seconds of the restart, but the Greens were left to rue that miss when Eastwood stole the advantage a few minutes later when a driving run from Kyle Tomlin saw him set up Marcus Marshall to tap home the opener from close range. That lead was doubled in the 58th minute when another powerful run, this time from Tyler Blake, ended with his cross being diverted home via a Green shirt to leave the visitors with a mountain to climb. But climb that mountain they attempted, and just four minutes later, the Greens were back in the contest when Marcus Pancho found Ryan Rushen to sweep home a fine effort into the far right-hand corner. Despite this, the Greens couldn't find a sustained route back into the contest – the best chance to equalise falling to Ryan Lennon, whose persistence saw him eventually stab the ball inches wide of the far post after he'd been well set up by Dominic Kew.

Team News
Player/Manager Tom Ward will hope to see some of his star players return to the starting XI ahead of the contest with Wisbech as he looks to turn the tide on a frustrating run of form. One man definitely set for a return is Captain Charlie Ward, who has completed his three-match suspension for a red picked up during the 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Shepshed Dynamo. Ward will also hope that Joe Braithwaite can find his fitness ahead of the contest in the Fens – he pulled out of the starting line-up on Saturday at Eastwood after failing a late fitness test. Jacob Fenton is still at least a couple of weeks off full fitness following his hip flexor injury. However, there could be some good news for Ward with Issa Gaye's imminent return to the starting line-up. Marcus Pancho also returned to the squad at Eastwood on Saturday, and he'll hope to be able to force his way back into the starting line-up after a lively cameo from the bench at Coronation Park.

The Opposition
After the recent parting of ways with Manager Leon Mettam, goalkeeper Alex Street has been confirmed as the club’s new manager after overseeing an initial three games. Club captain Jenk Acar and influential midfielder Danny Brooks have recently departed the Fenland Stadium along with Arun Jones, who has moved to Newark & Sherwood United. Despite these changes, Wisbech served up a five-star performance over the weekend to see off league leaders Belper United 5-0 in one of the more eye-catching results of the season so far. That recorded the Fenmen a second victory of the campaign to date, the other arriving courtesy of a 3-1 win over Pinchbeck United in the first midweek round of fixtures in August. Since then, the Fenmen's league form dipped as they suffered three straight defeats, first at home to Ashby Ivanhoe and then at Boston Town before a 1-0 reversal at Skegness Town last midweek. Away from the league, the Fenman have enjoyed relative cup success so far, defeating March Town United in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary round whilst also comfortably seeing off Godmanchester Rovers 3-0 in the FA Vase 10 days ago.

Ones to Watch
Despite many recent departures, the Fenmen still boast a squad with plenty of exciting talent and United Counties League experience. That starts with the new Manager, Alex Street, who was part of the Kings Lynn Town team that won the National League North title in 2019/20 and subsequently made National League appearances the following campaign. Elsewhere, Sisa Tuntulwana – formerly of Grantham Town – has gathered many plaudits over the last year at this level and is well known to Tom Ward and Louis Bland – he presents a strong attacking outlet for the Fenmen whilst also providing quality and strength in defence. The Fenmen's goal threat comes in the form of Toby Allen, who already has five goals to his name in nine outings for Wisbech; he's joined at the top end of the leaderboard by the experienced Robert Conyard, who has four goals to his tally this season. He scored 10 goals in 20 appearances for the Fenmen last season after notching 10 for March Town United in the Premier Division South.

Previous Meetings
The Greens had the stranglehold on this contest last season, first registering a 1-0 victory at the Longwater Stadium in biblical rain and wind. 120 spectators braved the November conditions to see the only goal snatched by Jacob Fenton in the 24th minute with a composed finish beyond Street – and with both sides struggling against the conditions, one goal was enough to take the three points. It did look like the Fenmen would deliver revenge when the two sides met again at Fenland Park in January, particularly when Kegan Everington powered in Danny Brooks' corner in the first half. But things rather fell apart for the hosts in the second period when first Max Matless saw red for a tangle with Lewis Daff, before Archie Wallace saw Wisbech down to nine for a last-man tackle on Joe Smith. By that point, Jacob Fenton had already bought the visitor's level early in the second half. The two-man advantage began to show when Rodrigo Goncalves first powered home to put the Greens ahead before Joe Smith's composed finish secured the points with four minutes remaining in front of 181 spectators.

The Match Details
Admission to the Fenland Stadium is priced at £9.00 for adults, and £6.00 for concessions, while children are charged at £3.00. Copies of the club's matchday programme will be on sale at £2.00 per copy. For those travelling to Wisbech, the all-important postcode for the Fenland Stadium is PE14 7AL – Tuesday's match referee is Ryan Allison. His assistants on the day are Paul Gale and Adam Revell. Kick-off at the Fenland Stadium is set for 7.45PM.

Words: Oliver Atkin