Cup Classic In The Fens - Wisbech Town vs. Spalding United

Storm passes over The Fenland Stadium

After a week of revisits and weddings, it was good to get back on the cup trail and get to a new ground. The one tie that really screamed out was the Fenlands derby between Wisbech Town and Spalding United. There was a division between the two teams with Wisbech in The United Counties League and Spalding in The Southern Division of The Northern Premier League. Unfortunately I missed out visiting the fantastic Fenalnd Park but as far as new builds go, The Fenland Stadium wasn't too bad. Wisbech went into the match in a confident mood after putting nine past Sleaford in midweek and they had won 4-1 at Biggleswade in the previous round. Spalding themselves have had a good start to the season, winning both of their opening games. The only time I'd seen either club play before was when I saw Spalding play at Soham Town Rangers in an FA Trophy tie which they won 6-1 so I was hoping for a closer game today.

Start of a cracking cup tie

Wisbech have the first chance of the game as a free kick into the box is flicked just wide. Spalding however make even better use of a free kick as they take the lead. The free kick in question is headed back across goal and is lashed in from close range to give the visitors the lead. Wisbech level things up midway through the half as a ball in is recycled as it is squared across the six yard box and slotted home from close range. Then just before half time, the hosts complete the turn around. A ball up the right flank plays the attacker in before he powers a shot past the keeper at his near post.

The Wisbech fans and players celebrate the equalizer

Wisbech look to extended their advantage as the forward cuts in from the flank but his effort goes just wide of the target. It is another Spalding free kick into the area that produces the equalizer. They are able to put the ball in twice and on the second occasion, the ball is flicked in from close range. Both teams throw caution to the wind as they look to win the tie at the first attempt. The closest either side comes is when Spalding fail to fully clear the danger but the resulting effort goes just over and they have to do it all again on Tuesday night. 

The Spalding defense stands tall in the second half

The trip from London to Wisbech ended up taking quite a while. I first had to take a train from Kings Cross to Peterborough with the fast training 45 minutes. The then twice hourly X1 from the bus station should have taken a similar amount of time but the stereotypical traffic on the single carriageway East Anglian roads meant the bus portion of the trip took nearly an hour. Wisbech was pleasent enough to make it worth while though and I was able to take in the Wisbech and Fenland Museum. Pubwise, The Globe on the market place had a good choice of beers as well as the sports channels. If you want to try beers from the local Elgoods Brewery then The Angel Inn had a couple on. A good way of breaking up the twenty minute walk to the ground is to pop into The Black Bear which was a welcoming locals pub. The clubhouse also had Elsgoods beers on and the burgers are also recommended. The ground and town were definitely worth the long trip.  

Decent cup tie crowd in front of the clubhouse