Dereham Town 2-3 Wisbech Town A FIVE goal thriller, a local derby and to top it all the small matter of the league title was at stake.
But despite the Magpies best efforts a resilient Fenmen outlook battled back, against the odds, to rain on Dereham’s parade.
As you would expect, in such an important game, the first 20 minutes were a cagey and tight affair with both sides having to battle hard in the middle of the park.
The Fenmen’s first real chance fell to Matt Lunn, who forced the Magpies keeper Andy Wilton into a great diving save after a delicate flick from Chris Bacon. However soon after the hosts, with great vocal support behind them, erupted into life.
Then after a good spell of pressure from the home team, Dereham took a deserved lead after 28 minutes. Ryan Hawkins finishing off Luke Tuttle’s cross after some neat build up play involving both Tuttle and Bammant.
The hosts then lost Shaun Bammant after 41 minutes, through what looked like a hamstring injury.
However the knock didn’t seem to disrupt Town who were close to adding to their lead in first half stoppage time.
However whatever Steve Appleby said at half time seemed to work as The Fenmen were back on level terms after just three minutes.
Matt Lunn cut the ball back to Danny White who calmly side footed past Milton.
Wisbech were boosted by the goal and were intent on spoiling the Magpies parade. They were creating good chances to at 1-1 a curling free kick from Callum Reid was met by the head of Chris Bacon who headed just over from 6 yards out. Wisbech were dominating and with 59 minutes on the clock they had a deserved lead. Danny White headed home his second goal of the evening, finishing off Chris Bacon’s cross.
Then just three minutes later the Fenmen extended their lead, this time Chris Bacon’s shot deflected past a helpless Andy Wilton.
Then with 25 minutes left to play, Bacon saw red for a single footed horror challenge on Howard which was closely followed by a booking for Neal Spafford for a similar tackle which left many Dereham players rightly appealing for a red card.
With ten men the Fenmen came under strong pressure from the hosts, who seemed to be lacking in the final third without Shaun Bammant. In the 84th minute Spafford was on hand to clear Borrer’s shot off the line and time was running out for Dereham.
Then with 87 minutes on the clock a stunning free kick from Adam Smith set up a nail-biting end to the match and with 10 men the Fenmen were looking vulnerable.
However despite the host’s best efforts they couldn’t find an equaliser in the seven added minutes which means that Dereham will now have to wait until Saturday to clinch their title.
Dereham: Wilton, Murphy, Hannant, Borrer, Howard, Gusterson (Roberts, 79), Hawkins, Smith, Bammant (Howell, 41), Tuttle, Bussens (Kay, 58). Subs not used: Powley, Willis. Goal: Hawkins (28), Smith (87).
Booked: Roberts.
Wisbech: Jordan, Fairweather, Cousins, Spafford, Johnson, Reid (Jackson, 83), Millson, White, Reed (Gale, 75), Lunn, Bacon. Subs not used: Roberts, Friend, Reeve. Goal: White (48, 59), Bacon (62),
Booked: Spafford, Reed.
Red card: Bacon.
Referee: T Nield
Man of the match: Spafford, (Wisbech).
Attendance: 369.
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