WTHC 1s BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Wisbech Town Hockey Club’s Mens and Ladies 1st XIs picked up their first wins of the season at the weekend, with Jo Gomm recording a hat-trick as the ladies side edged out Cambridge University 2nd XI 3-2 at Harecroft Road.
Gomm (pictured above) scored the lone goal of the first half, before adding a second shortly after the break, following a brilliant run from Amber Scott to help set up the Wisbech forward. The University side managed to pull a goal back, only for Wisbech to restore its two-goal lead as Gomm completed her hat trick.
A second goal from the visitors set up a tense finale, but an assured performance from debutant Lexi Klibanecz in the Wisbech goal helped see the home side over the line.
The Ladies 1st XI will travel to City of Peterborough 2nd XI this weekend, hoping to secure consecutive wins in East Area Women’s Division 1 North.
Goals from Jamie Hallatt and Ryan Jackson helped the Mens 1st XI earn a 2-0 win against Cambridge City 3rd XI, with goalkeeper Will Smithee collecting his first clean sheet of the season as the Fenland side put on a strong all-round display.
It wasn’t all good news for Wisbech however, with skipper Charlie Baxter picking up a serious ankle injury during the game. Baxter is likely to miss several weeks while he recovers, including next weekend's home game against Bourne-Deeping 1st XI (1:45PM).
The Mens 2nd XI made the trip to Kettering, hoping to build on its promising start to the new season. The early signs were positive, with Pete Skitmore finding the back of the net following some fine build up play, but Wisbech were unable to kick on and eventually found themselves on the end of a controversial decision, after a shot from outside the Wisbech circle was adjudged to be a goal, despite no Kettering player inside the area getting a touch on the ball on the way in.
Wisbech rallied, finishing the stronger of the two teams, but were unable to find the decisive goal as the game finished 1-1. The 2nd XI will host Peterborough City’s 5th team on Saturday (12PM)
Following a big win on the opening weekend of the season, Wisbech Ladies 2nd XI headed to Bourne-Deeping 2nd XI in a confident mood, but found themselves unable to replicate their scoring feats of the week before, ultimately having to settle for a point as the two sides battled to a 0-0 draw.
Despite missing out on the win, captain Harriet Bateman still saw positives in her team’s performance:
“We had a really good game, with some of our young players really getting stuck. It’s a very frustrating result, but still a good point to earn this early in the season”.
Bateman’s side will host Kettering Ladies 2nd XI this weekend (3:30PM).
Wisbech Ladies 3rd XI welcomed local rivals March to Harecroft Road, but struggled to penetrate the visitors defence, despite some good link up play between Wisbech’s own defence and midfield. While the home side did not lack for effort, nor possession, March ultimately showed a more clinical edge in front of goal, and headed home with a 3-0 win.
The 3rd XI will look to bounce back at Cambridge South next weekend.
The Mens 3rd XI celebrated a second successive victory, beating St. Neots 2nd XI 3-2. Eliott Peck and Oliver Overland put Wisbech ahead, but the visitors were able to draw level late in the second half following a period of pressure on the Wisbech goal.
Wisbech were quick to bounce back however, with Peck grabbing his second of the game to secure the victory. The 3rd team travels to Kettering on Saturday to face the Northamptonshire club’s 3rd XI.
Having seen the first league game of the season called off, Wisbech Mens 4th team finally got their campaign underway at Cambridge Nomads, but a frustrating first half saw Brandon Ruff’s side trailing 3-0 at the break.
A much improved second half effort saw Wisbech come close to finding the net, with a series of short corner opportunities, as well as midfielder Jon Boyall hitting the post, but the scoreline remained unchanged as time ticked away.
The 4th XI will travel to Ely 3rd XI on Saturday, hoping to build on the positives of last weekend’s game.
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