NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL: Wisbech Town collect first win as they settle into life at higher level
Aaron Hart, in action here against Frickley, scored the goal that earned Wisbech Town victory at Carlton. Picture: IAN CARTER - Credit: Archant
Proud boss Gary Setchell saluted his Wisbech Town warriors following a first Northern Premier League East Division triumph.
The Fenmen opened their account with a 1-0 victory at Carlton Town last night (Wednesday) thanks to an early goal from Aaron Hart.
He pounced in the second minute after a Beckham Kennelly long throw had been flicked into his path and it proved enough to earn the points as Wisbech produced a backs-to-the-wall effort to keep out their hosts.
Goalkeeper Dan Swan was an impressive figure as he enjoyed a clean sheet in his debut for the club.
Boss Setchell said: “To go away on a wet and windy Wednesday night to a tough place like Carlton and get a result is really pleasing.
“We had a bit of a disaster with the kit not arriving until 7.15pm and we were late in from our warm-up, but then ended up getting the perfect start with an early goal.
“Anything we lacked in quality we made up for in heart and that’s what we’ll need in an unforgiving level of football.
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“It’s a proud night for us to pick up our first points and our first win in this league - and it was a huge effort from everyone involved.
“We’re better than we showed in this game, but it’s the result that counts and I’m delighted with it.”
Setchell also liked a lot of what he saw from his young side in their season-opening defeat to title favourites Frickley last Saturday.
A match which attracted a crowd of 271 to the Elgoods Fenland Stadium was settled by a Tyler Watson effort after a quarter-of-an-hour.
But Wisbech put the visitors under plenty of pressure in the second half and missed a glorious chance to level as Danny Setchell saw his penalty saved.
Manager Setchell added: “We were given a standing ovation after the game and that tells you all you need to know about our performance.
“We didn’t score and we didn’t win, but we put in a proper shift and that’s what people want to see.
“Of course we’re disappointed with the result, but we’re proud of the way our young side stood up to the challenge against a team who have made no secret of the fact they want to win the league.
“We had them hanging on in that second half and if we had put the penalty away we could even have gone on to win the game and made it a really memorable day.
“We need to ensure we always play with that same passion, drive and intensity and we definitely need crowds like that.
“The fans can help us make our place a fortress.”
Wisbech have an FA Cup trip to lower-level Sileby Rangers this Saturday before hosting Spalding United in a league clash on Bank Holiday Monday, 3pm.