No.28 - Sat. 3rd January 2009; Eastern Counties League Premier Division                         3.00pm at The Nest, Wisbech Road, Outwell, Wisbech, Norfolk. (Att: 152; Admn: £5; Prog: £1)

Matchday images (10)  >view> Wisbech Town (0) 0 Mildenhall Town (1) 4   Mildenhall flee the nest with fine win With temperatures falling well below zero the cold snap certainly took its toll on the football fixtures up and down the country today. It was going to be touch and go whether I would manage to find a match at all. Amazingly my first choice game at Wisbech Town (v Mildenhall Town) somehow managed to survive the big freeze. This was even more remarkable when I found out that my back-up game at Colchester United FC, who were playing Tranmere Rovers in the Football League, had been called off at midday.   The Wraymobile was soon negotiating a rather tricky Fenland route on its way to The Nest, home of Outwell Swifts Football Club. When I say that you are in the sticks here no pun is intended. It certainly is a remote outpost! With several local road signs in the vicinity warning the motorist: ‘Think! Don’t Sink!’ we decided that it was best to take our time and heed this well-meaning piece of advice! As we pulled into the club car park the players were already out on the pitch warming up for this intriguing Eastern Counties League Premier Division fixture. Our own pre-match preparation was less strenuous and involved adding several layers of extra clothing before heading to the nearest tea bar for a hot cuppa!   I had read earlier on a popular hopping message board that some travellers wouldn’t even consider ticking this ground off. The reasoning behind this being that Wisbech Town are only the tenants and simply part of a ground-sharing arrangement. I can never really understand this way of thinking myself. On this basis then I surely would never have completed the '92' many years ago when the likes of Charlton Athletic played at Selhurst Park and Bristol Rovers shared with Bath City. Help me out here. Surely this is a new ground? Oh dear maybe I’m a club hopper instead?!   Despite this grounds' debate a large number of ‘neutrals’ had made the Fenland trip and took advantage of a seemingly milder climate in the East. A few travellers found the game a useful alternative when their intended match, a Suffolk Senior Cup tie, at Lakenheath FC, had been called off at some stage during the morning. A well-known fanatic had even made the journey down from Birmingham after the FA Cup Third Round tie against his beloved Wolves had fallen victim to a frozen pitch. Dedication or madness! Answers on a postcard!   Although I had visited the Nest many many years ago at a time when Outwell Swifts FC played Stilton in a Peterborough and District League Division One game (on 21/05/94, result 4-1) the ground looked a totally different place today. A modern brick built clubhouse and changing pavilion; perimeter fencing and areas of cover make the venue an unrecognisable setting from the one I had been to all those years ago. The new facilities may well be part of the compulsory grading requirements which were necessary requirements if the Fenmen were to maintain their Eastern Counties League status.    A rough cinder base car park provides the motorist with plenty of space inside the main entrance, conveniently situated in front of the clubhouse. Here a cheerful band of stewards greet spectators with a smile and dispense a quite superb 40-page programme. What tremendous service! Despite all the recent refurbishment, the site somehow has an open feel about it. The ‘flat landscape’ is typical of the Fens and allows you to pick out landmarks on the distant horizon. It's weird and wonderful at the same time.   So what's the ground like? There are presently five distinct areas of cover at the venue: three identical 'open' shelters provide adequate standing cover (two are positioned opposite each other, almost level with the edge of the nearest penalty area and the other is set up behind the far goal). These are supplemented by two, more substantial, seated stands which face each other on either side of the pitch close to the half way line. The four new floodlights (one pylon in each corner) are extremely powerful and really do help to illuminate proceedings. Somehow even with these new developments you are still left with the impression that it all feels a bit unfinished and temporary. Time will tell as they say.   Refreshments are available from a rather ‘bijou’ catering van situated behind the nearest goal. With the distinct smell of griddled cooking emanating from this rather odd-looking contraption, Dennis’ Chip Wagon did a roaring trade in hot food and drinks during the course of the afternoon. However at one stage it looked as though his one man business had in fact caught fire judging by the flames and smoke coming from his hot plates! Thankfully not. Twin daughter Steph was reliably on hand to sample his fayre and a rather large bacon and cheese filled burger went down well scoring top marks in the process! Mrs W and I decided to give the cholesterol a rest and ordered a couple of teas instead!   The game was a competitive, hard-fought Premier Division encounter played on a surprisingly yielding surface which cut up badly in places later in the match. Despite missing several key players (out through either injury or suspension), visitors Mildenhall Town proved strong opposition and in the end won comfortably by a 4-0 scoreline to stay in touch with the chasing pack at the top of the league.   Goals from James Paterson, Owen Paynter, Lewis Baillie and Tom Youngs ensured it was a third straight win in as many games. Wisbech certainly found the going tough when Stuart Ablett was sent off with only half an hour played following a stamp on Baillie. The deadlock was broken deep into first half stoppage time when John Sands was brought down on the edge of the box and from the resulting free-kick Paterson curled his effort into the bottom corner of the net. Any hope of the hosts taking something from this game vanished seven minutes into the second half when Paynter showed great composure to slide a neat effort beyond the reach of keeper Horton from just 12 yards out. Two more goals in the final six minutes sealed the victory: Baillie scored at the near post before Tom Youngs (aka contributor for the NLT newspaper) finished clinically from close range. It was a well deserved victory.   So what of the future? According to several locals the club is still awaiting news about a new ground to be built on the edge of town. There may be unresolved planning problems with wrangles over access to and from the new site still going on. In the meantime the Fenmen continue to share with Outwell Swifts, a situation some believe could be a permanent solution. For more up to date news go to the WTFC website which has a informative message board. The link can be found by clicking on: http://www.wisbechtown.co.uk/   FGIF Match Rating: 3.

edited 13/01/09