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Wisbech caught out
by sloppy defending
FA VASE
Fourth round
WISBECH 2
DUNSTON UTS 2
(after extra-time – replay on Saturday)
SCORING two stunning goals should have left Wisbech a step closer to Wembley. Instead conceding a couple of shocking ones has left them facing a replay in the rather less grand footballing surroundings of Gateshead.
The Fenmen faithful turned out in force for what boss Steve Appleby had hoped would be a ‘fantastic occasion’ on Saturday and they saw a couple of strikes worthy of such a big day thanks to frontman Nick Davey and enigmatic winger Matt Lyon.
But some dreadful defending from set-piece situations meant the men in red couldn’t provide the result the majority of the 548 turnout wanted in a match that went the distance.
“If we could defend a set-piece properly, we would be through,” admitted Appleby – a man who can always be relied upon to tell it how it is. “We scored two terrific goals but conceded two bad ones.
“But we have to take heart from the fact that we’ve been behind our own downfall. The fact we couldn’t defend those set-pieces is the reason we didn’t win the game, not the opposition.
“We know it will be tough up there in the replay and we’ll definitely need our tin hats, but I don’t see any reason why we can’t finish the job.”
Striker Chris Bacon was only a whisker away from handing the Fenmen a dream start just 25 seconds into the contest. In the end it took them until the 25th minute to hit the front through his strike-partner, but it was certainly worth the wait.
A quickly-taken Bacon free-kick, a surging Steven Reid run, a fine low Neal Spafford delivery and a sweeping Davey finish caused an eruption at the Elgoods Fenland Stadium.
Such a classy move was a rarity in a match that became a tough battle for both sides. Unfortunately the visitors didn’t require anywhere near as much quality for their goals.
Dunston’s top-scorer Andrew Bulford bundled in their leveller six minutes into the second half after a Terry Galbraith free-kick had caused chaos in the Fenmen defence.
Dunston’s 42 year-old former professional Chris Swailes and Michael Dixon also squandered glorious chances from other set-pieces but Wisbech’s defending went from bad to worse when wideman Lee McAndrew’s 75th minute free-kick bounced through a crowded box and flummoxed keeper Ryan Rayner.
That could easily have been a knockout blow but Wisbech – who had lost centre-back Stacy Cartwright to a broken nose when still ahead - picked themselves up off the canvas.
And the magic of Lunn hauled them level as he danced through a couple of challenges before rifling in from an impossibly acute angle.
“Matt’s one of the most frustrating players you’ll ever come across,” continued Appleby. “But for all that he’s a match-winner and capable of moments of quality like the one he produced there.”
Only a fine save denied Lunn a second in the dying moments of normal time before substitute Ollie Gale struck an upright in the opening exchanges of extra-time.
That was as close as either side came to a winner, although the hearts of footballing romantics will have skipped a beat when Wisbech legend Darren Jimson swiped a half-volley inches wide with his first contribution.
But there was to be no fairytale finish for the Fenmen against a side by then reduced to 10 men following the extra-time dismissal of Dixon - just a 400-mile round-trip to the North-East.
Wisbech: Rayner, Fairweather, Johnson, Reeve, Cartwright (Gale), Spafford, Millson (Thompson), Reid, Lunn, Davey, Bacon (Jimson). Unused: Murphy, Lovelace.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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