The 3-0 defeat of Kimberley Miners Welfare on Saturday afternoon was the Greens third league triumph on the spin over the past fortnight, but it arrived under a shroud of uncertainty following Tom Ward’s resignation as manager on Friday morning. Ward played at the heart of defence alongside his brother Max on Saturday, but his long-term future remains uncertain, with a permanent return to a playing brief a possibility for Ward moving forward.

Significant change is unlikely not to have too much of an impact in how the Greens line-up at Wisbech Town on Tuesday evening with reserves team manager Graham Watkins again expected to lead the side from the dugout. Under his charge, the Greens will hope to improve upon their performance in the recent reverse of this fixture when the Fenmen recorded their one and only point of the campaign so far at the Greens expense. On that occasion, Joe Smith’s calm finish recovered Toby Allen’s opener from the spot – as the Greens laboured to a first league draw of the campaign.

They’ll be without the aforementioned Joe Smith on Tuesday evening though; the influential midfielder absent for both this and the FA Vase game with Kirby Muxloe on Saturday afternoon. His hat-trick proved the difference on Saturday against Kimberley and Watkins will be hoping to see some of his other seasoned players step up to mantle. He’ll check on the fitness of former Wisbech Town captain Kegan Everington after the midfield man limped off during the first half on Saturday after falling awkwardly on his ankle. Charlie Ward – also withdrawn during the opening stanza – should be fit to feature with him suffering from illness as opposed to injury on Saturday.

Opponents Wisbech Town meanwhile have lost all four games since the two sides met towards the end of last month. In that time they’ve conceded 13 goals, a tally compounded by a comprehensive 3-0 reversal at Eastwood Community on Saturday. To the Fenmen’s credit they did hold title-chasing Community right through to the break, but Alex Troke’s 47th minute breakthrough saw the hosts burst through the cracks and further strikes from Phil Watt and Tyler Blake condemned the Fenmen to an eighth defeat in nine.

The Greens will not want to look back on last seasons visit to the Fens as inspiration too, coming out on the back of a painful 6-1 hammering. That was the Greens 9th defeat in 16 contests with the Fenmen in all – the remainder of that overall record seeing the Greens record five victories of their own alongside two draws. One of those victories came on home soil in the return fixture last season – 133 spectators witnessing Charlie Ward’s header make the difference in a 1-0 Greens victory at the MKM Ground.

Admission to Fountain Fresh Park on Tuesday evening is priced at £9 for adults with concessions set at £6. Those aged between 12 and 16 are priced at £3 whilst under 11’s go free of charge. Tuesday evenings match referee is Ryan Andrews, and he is assisted on the day by Pedro Silva and an official yet to be confirmed. Kick-off at Fountain Fresh Park (PE14 7AL) is scheduled for 7:45pm.

Words: Oliver Atkin