Wisbech Town Walking FC exited the Soccer Sensations tournament at the quarter-final stage
Wisbech Town's walking football team took to the road for the Soccer Sensations in Hull, returning to the scene of their Queens Tournament success.
This time around they were playing for The Humber Trophy, a competition played like the Ryder Cup in golf.
Ricky Bemrose, Ben Baylis, Rich Mellor, David Frosdick, Steve Wyness, Scott Sawers, Wayne Beasant turned out for the Fenmen, with their first fixture a well-contested game against Pudsey.
They started on the front foot and took the lead through a Frosdick strike, but the lead didn’t last long as Pudsey equalised before Wyness struck to put the reds back in front. Although Wisbech dominated possession, Pudsey managed to equalise again before Wyness managed to net a winner for a 3-2 win.
Next up for the Fenmen was a physical Queens team. Wisbech got into their stride early in this game, moving the ball at pace and creating chances, and it was Mellor who got the breakthrough before the returning Sawers doubled the lead for the Reds. It was then Mellor again who rounded off a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Up next was a replay of the Queens final as Wisbech played Hull Pacemakers.
A very competitive game ensued, and with Bemrose and the Hull keeper making some good saves it looked like the game was going to end as a 0-0 draw.
However, with about 20 seconds left on the clock, Wyness fired in a fierce shot to give Wisbech a 1-0 win.
A new opponent in Rothwell Old Boars were next up, but in a game which Wisbech dominated they struggled find a breakthrough and it was only a sweetly struck shot from distance by Baylis that won the game.
Wisbech finished the group stages unbeaten, and found themselves third in the overall league on goal difference.
There was an open draw for the knockout stages and Wisbech drew Gainsborough Trinity in the quarter finals.
Things didn't get off to a good shot when a shot deflected off Baylis and wrong-footed Bemrose, with the Fenmen finding themselves behind early on.
Wisbech battled back and Mellor restored parity in the game, but Gainsborough then struck again with a quick strike from the edge of the area to regain the lead.
Wisbech again dug deep and found themselves level after a strike by Frosdick. The decisive moment came when a Gainsborough player was left free in front of goal and the referee blew his whistle for a running Frosdick trying to get back, with the Gainsborough player slotting the ball into the net and the referee awarding the goal - causing confusion amongst the Wisbech players.
Wisbech laid siege on Gainsborough’s goal but were up against a goalkeeper having the game of his life, pulling out save after save, with Sawers denied when through one-on-one, Baylis hitting the foot of the post, Baylis having a strike parried and Wyness denied from point blank range.
For all their effort,Wisbech were out after being unable to reverse the 3-2 scoreline.
Although Wisbech were knocked out, they still returned home with some silverware as Lincolnshire won the regional points against Ridings 20-4. The Lincolnshire teams participating were Wisbech, Sleaford Academicals, Gainsborough Trinity, Grimsby Corinthians and Louth Town.
Manager Jonny Pearce said: "That quarter final was just one of those games, we could have been there until next week and not scored again as their keeper was exceptional and it was probably the best goalkeeping performance I’ve witnessed in walking football.
"We made some errors in defence that cost us in that game and is something we can learn from. We have had a busy schedule since returning from lockdown.
"Winning three tournaments out of five is not a bad return and now we have four weeks to get in some training sessions and rest from tournaments so we are ready to defend our PDFL title which starts on October 24, then we will look at entering more tournaments in the new year."
