A moment of magic from Jack Friend sealed a 3-1 win for Wisbech Town over Newport Pagnell Town at the Elgood’s Fenland Stadium yesterday.

With 82 minutes on the clock and Wisbech leading 2-1, 16-year-old Friend ran on to Callum Reed’s diagonal pass and acrobatically volleyed the ball over Newport keeper Josh McAdoo into the top right hand corner.

It was an encouraging start for Wisbech’s newly appointed managerial duo Paul Cousins, who watched from the sidelines, and Scott Johnson, who played the full 90 minutes.

The win sees Wisbech climb to fifth in the United Counties League ahead of Tuesday’s daunting visit to Spalding United, who have yet to drop a point in six games this season.

Midfielder Steven Reid gave the Fenmen the perfect start after eight minutes.

After Matt Lunn was fouled near the right touchline Callum Reed swung in a dangerous free-kick which was not dealt with properly and Reid cushioned a header into the net.

But Wisbech lost their way and the visitors drew level on 22 minutes.

Lea Jordan produced a tidy save to deny Lukasz Filipiak from the edge of the box but Dan Silver reacted quickest to tuck in the rebound.

Tom James restored the Fenmen’s lead three minutes before half time.

Friend brought down Jon Fairweather’s crossfield ball and rolled it in to the path of James, who burst into the box and expertly finished with the outside of his right foot.

Wisbech dominated the second half and had numerous chances to get a third goal.

Friend hit the underside of the bar with a rasping shot and James was denied a second goal by a good save from McAdoo.

But McAdoo was powerless to stop Friend’s spectacular lob, a goal which will live long in the memory.

Fenmen joint-manager Paul Cousins said: “I was pleased with the response from the lads. There was a good work ethic.

“We just need to be more clinical in front of goal. We had five or six good chances. It should have been more than 3-1.

“But Scott and I would definitely have taken that for our first game in charge.”

Wisbech: Jordan, Spafford, Fairweather, Johnson, Gale, Reed, Reid, Butt, Lunn (Clayton), Friend, James.

Newport: McAdoo, Lagioia, Seminero (Cardno), Halson, Brady, Nicholls (Croxford), Mulkern, Maude, Filipiak (Spicer-Irving), Silver, Brookes.