WISBECH Town boss Steve Appleby has challenged his troops to fight for their places in the team as the Fenmen’s crucial league cup semi-final draws closer.

Appleby condemned his side’s worst performance of his time in charge when the Fenmen crumbled to a 3-0 defeat against Hadleigh United on Saturday.

But Wisbech bounced back on Tuesday night, battling to a hard-fought point in a 0-0 stalemate with Norwich United.

Appleby, who apologised to fans after the weekend’s woeful showing, said: “I would like to think that Saturday was a total one-off. We have only had this side together for a year and it does take time to settle.

“It was one of the few occasions when all 11 players were bad. I felt like I needed to apologise on behalf of all of us. The fans do need to know that we care.

“In my eyes we bounced back with the performance on Tuesday night. I can’t knock them for their performance - it was the response I wanted.”

The Fenmen have three more league games before they contest their vital semi-final with Stowmarket Town on March 29.

Appleby said: “We are taking two steps forwards and one back at the moment - but that’s better than a year ago.

“Everybody loves a bit of glory and the cup presents that opportunity. If I was a player I would be desperate to be in that side and they have got games now to prove that they should be in there.

“I won’t be afraid to replace players that are under-performing and I won’t stick with players just for the sake of it.”

Wisbech face struggling Felixstowe & Walton tomorrow as they continue to push for a top-six finish in the Ridgeons Premier Division.

• It was also a poor weekend for Wisbech Reserves as they lost ground in the Kershaw Senior A title hunt by falling to a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Milton. They have a chance for revenge tomorrow as they take on Milton again, this time in the semi-final of the William Cockell Memorial Cup.