PREVIEW | WISBECH TOWN VS KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE

KIMBERLEY MAKE A LONG TRIP IN SEARCH OF THEIR FIRST AWAY LEAGUE WIN

UP NEXT, the miners make a ninety mile trip East, as they visit Wisbech Town in the league cup. With no team bus on this occasion, the new players’ initiation songs will have to wait until they get to the changing room in Wisbech.

After two encouraging performances, the lads will feel that they are turning the corner and will have some confidence going into their first long away trip of the season. A spirited defeat to Skegness and a draw against Heanor when arguably the better side, shows signs of improvement in recent weeks. The signs are there that the lads will be able to put some results together and move away from the bottom end of the table as well as progress in the cups over their next few matches.

Wisbech will be hoping to make the most of their home advantage as they look to get some respite from their plight in the league and progress in the cup. Recent form is against them, and with just a single point from eight matches, the hosts will be desperate to get a result this weekend and give themselves a cup run to think about.

Kimberley’s last match was a local derby against Heanor Town on Tuesday night at the Stag Ground under the floodlights. An even first half saw plenty of good football from both sides without really making a breakthrough for the first twenty five minutes. The miners drew first blood as Dan Tuck fizzed a low cross in, only for former Kimberley player, Sam Brown to slide the ball into his own net. Heanor equalised just ten minutes later as Brown went down easily in the Kimberley box to win a penalty for Heanor that was converted by Carl Demidh for 1-1 at half time. The second half was a little more scrappy, but a moment of brilliance saw Dan Tuck bag his first of the season with a left foot rocket from twenty five yards. Again, Heanor went straight back down the other end and equalised through substitute Mason Booth-Davies who nodded in at the back post on his return from injury. Kimberley pressed for a winner, but couldn’t finish the game off. A 2-2 draw at full time.

On the same night, Wisbech travelled to face Newark & Sherwood United. Wisbech took the lead after just five minutes through Charley Sanders. The lead lasted three minutes, as Kameron Campbell equalised for the hosts. Newark & Sherwood took the lead on thirty seven through Kieran Cummings although Wisbech levelled on the stroke of half time through Elliot Foster. Wisbech collapsed somewhat in the second half as Cummings scored twice and Luke White rounded off the scoring for a 5-2 win for Newark & Sherwood.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

The last meeting between the two teams was in March at the Stag Ground. Jon Challinor bagged the only goal of the game as Wisbech took the points in a 1-0- win.

The away match was in November last year. Sam Murphy scored in the first half, Aaron Coyle equalised on eighty minutes for the final score to be 1-1.

Earlier in the season, the two sides met at the Stag Ground in the league cup. A comfortable win for the home side came through goals from Aaron Coyle, Nathan Banton, Kole Lambert and Bijan Pakrouz after going into half time at 0-0. Final score, 4-0.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Although a Wisbech Town existed in the 1890s, the current club was established in 1920 by the merger of three local clubs. They initially played in the Peterborough & District League, winning it in 1924–25, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1931–32 and 1932–33. In 1935 the club turned semi-professional and joined the United Counties League. Former West Ham player Sam Jennings was the first major signing, and the club won the United Counties League Cup in their first season.

In 1945–46 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup, but lost to Ipswich Town. The following season they won the league title, a feat repeated the season after. In 1950 they switched to the Eastern Counties League, before joining the Midland League in 1952.

In 1995–96 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 1960s, but lost 5–1 at Kingstonian. However, after finishing second in the league that season the club were promoted to the Midland Division of the Southern League. Whilst playing in the Southern League, the club's reserve team entered the Eastern Counties League. The club reached the first round of the FA Cup again in 1996–97, losing 2–1 at home to St Albans City. The following season they reached the second round, after beating Billericay Town 2–1, before losing 2–0 at home to Bristol Rovers.

Having finished the 2012–13 season in second place in the Eastern Counties League Premier Division, the club were eligible for promotion. However, this opportunity was declined in favour of a voluntary lateral movement, rejoining the United Counties League Premier Division instead. They were runners-up in 2017–18, earning promotion to Division One East of the Northern Premier League. After finishing bottom of the Northern Premier League Midland Division at the end of the 2021–22 season, the club were relegated to the Premier Division North of the United Counties League.

Honours
Southern League
Division One champions 1961–62
Eastern Counties League
Champions 1971–72, 1976–77, 1990–91
League Cup winners 2010–11, 2012–13
United Counties League
Champions 1946–47, 1947–48, 1949–50

FINALLY

Both sides will head into the game in a desperate search of a morale building victory, having endured a difficult start to the season. Kimberley will see this as a chance to continue their turnaround. Wisbech will see Kimberley as an opportunity to get their first win of the season. An exciting game will be in prospect.

For those brave and loyal enough to make the long journey to follow the boys

Admission prices are as follows

Adults £9
Concessions £6

Please come along and support the lads