MANAGER Steve Appleby said Wisbech Town’s 5-1 Fen Derby demolition of March Town United proved that he would not need to add to his squad for their crucial FA Vase clash.
The Fenmen boss admitted he had looked into a short-term move for a striker, with talismanic forward Chris Bacon suspended for next Saturday’s fourth-round trip to Gornal Athletic.
But after experimenting with winger Deakan Napier up front alongside top scorer Dubi Ogbonna on Tuesday, Appleby admitted he was confident his team could adapt.
“I’m happy with what we’ve got,” he said.
“We will obviously miss Bacon but we’ve got Matt Lunn, Deakan Napier and young Jack Friend so we’ll be fine. I can’t see that we’ll add to the squad for the Vase.”
Napier provided two goals for strike partner Ogbonna, whose first-half hat-trick set up Wisbech’s third emphatic win over the Hares this season.
A second-half penalty from Bacon and a 79th minute tap-in for fellow substitute Lewis Clayton ensured the Fenmen cruised through to the Cambs Invitation Cup semi-finals.
“I thought we outclassed them to be honest,” said Appleby.
“In these derbies you expect them to come out all guns blazing to try and win but I thought we matched them straight away - in fact I thought we more than matched them.
“We were forcing the tempo and, once we got our noses in front, there was only going to be one winner.”
Another positive for the Fenmen was the return of captain Paul Cousins, who continued his comeback from injury by playing for more than an hour.
“Cousi looks close to fitness,” said Appleby. “I’m pleased that, after the lay-off with the weather, I could give people game time and try a few new things.”
The Fenmen, whose top-of-the-table clash with Mildenhall Town was postponed at the weekend, travel to Thetford Town in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division tomorrow.
Appleby said: “We need to get three points on the board because with all these cup games we can’t afford to drop too far behind.
“I’ve told the players that they’re playing for their shirts.
“You can’t just think about the Vase but what they do in that game will decide whether they play - it will be their performance that decides whether they’re on that teamsheet.”
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