The Match Background

Saturday’s 2-0 victory at Gedling Miners Welfare was the perfect tonic after what had been a tough fortnight in United Counties League Premier Division North action, as the Greens saw their promising start to the campaign unravel with three-straight defeats. The latter two of those, against Newark & Sherwood United and Lincoln United, saw the Greens ship five goals in each game, making Saturday’s clean sheet as pleasing as the overall result itself. Before the Greens welcome Kirby Muxloe to the MKM next month for FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round action they face five pivotal Premier Division North encounters, starting, and by a quirk of the fixture list ending, with tonights opponents Wisbech Town. The Fenmen have endured a rotten start to their own campaign and currently prop up Premier Division North have lost all five of their games to date. That run forced a managerial change at Fenland Park last week as former Deeping Rangers boss Luke Hipwell took over from Alex Street, adding an extra layer of intrigue to tonight’s encounter that sees two sides in desperate need of the points, clash under the midweek floodlights.

Team News

Player/Manager Tom Ward will remain without goalkeeper Liam Flitton as he continues to serve a three-match suspension picked up following his sending off against Lincoln United just under a fortnight ago – it is expected that Jonasz Gadomski, who joined the Greens on loan from Grantham Town last week, will continue to deputise between the sticks in Flitton’s absence. Elsewhere, Ward himself could make a return after serving out his one match suspension at Gedling on Saturday afternoon, whilst there could be a return to action for Kyle Watkins who has been absent since picking up a hamstring problem during pre-season at Newark Town.

The Opposition

Opponents Wisbech Town meanwhile arrive in NG34 eager to kickstart a flailing campaign. Five defeats from five to open up the campaign was not how the Fenmen had envisaged their opening month of action, particularly for a side who, historically, have been one of the United Counties League’s leading clubs. Since their return from a short spell in the Northern Premier League Division One East three years go though, the Fenman have struggled to adapt and continue to wait for a spark that will see them challenging once more. Having struggled for much of last season, Town turned to the experienced former Kings Lynn Town goalkeeper Alex Street midway through the campaign, Street leading the side to safety in unspectacular fashion.

This season began with significant rumours floating around Street and his future and within five games was dispensed of after losing all five, three of them by 5-0 scorelines. With former Deeping Rangers man Luke Hipwell now in the hotseat at Fenland Park, Town will be hoping Saturday’s 0-0 FA Vase draw with Harleston Town – the Fenmen’s first shutout of the campaign – is a sign of things to come under the new manager. Hipwell has already set about reshaping his squad and the signing of Stacey Freeman could be significant, with the experienced head joining after back-to-back promotions from step four with Stamford AFC and Spalding United in the past couple of years. He’s been joined by former Skegness Town attacker Elliott Foster, a man no stranger to the Greens after scoring against them for the Lilywhites last season.

It all means the Greens come up against somewhat of an unknown entity this evening. They’ll certainly not be as clear cut favourites as the table may suggest, and with fellow winless side Deeping Rangers on the way on Saturday afternoon, it’s set to be a week of real significance for the Greens where nothing less than maximum points will feel like a missed opportunity.

Previous Meetings

As evenings go, the Greens did not really enjoy their last trip to face Wisbech Town and left the Fenland Stadium of the back of a painful 6-1 hammering. They actually took the lead in that game, Ryan Lennon firing home on the half-hour, but things quickly unravelled after that, and the Greens were behind at the break through goals from Chris Assombalonga and Sam Murphy. The Greens actually could have turned the game around early in the second half had they been more clinical, but in the end, Toby Allen’s 75th minute third for the hosts opened the floodgates. Sisa Tuntulwana grabbed the hosts fourth nine minutes later, before Allen grabbed himself a hat-trick, scoring twice in stoppage time.

The Greens took revenge for that result though, winning 1-0 in the reverse fixture at the MKM Ground. In a game most notable for Nathan Arnold’s debut as a Green, it was captain Charlie Ward’s first half strike that proved the difference in what was the Greens only victory in eight games leading up to the festive period - 133 in attendance for that one.

The Greens overall record against the Fenmen reads as so, P15 W5 D1 L9 GF22 GA41.

The Match Details

Admission to The MKM Ground (NG34 7ER) on Wednesday evening is priced at £7 for adults and £4 for concessions, with under-sixteen’s free (alongside a paying adult). We also offer a military discount for those in the armed services, and this grants you entry at £5 upon production of a valid ID. Cash and card can be accepted at both our turnstiles and at the hot food counter which serves a variety of hot and cold drinks and snacks. Our matchday programme can be found on our website or social channels in the lead up to kick-off, but for those who prefer a printed memento, you can pick up a complimentary teamsheet at the turnstiles or in the bar. Wednesday’s match referee is James Trueman, and he is assisted on the day by Nino Vacca and Chris Giles. Kick-off at Eslaforde Park is scheduled for 7:45pm.

Words; Oliver Atkin