Wisbech Town 7
Holbeach United 2
Gutted boss Seb Hayes admitted that Holbeach United were “cannon fodder” in Monday’s 7-2 humbling at Wisbech Town.
Hayes was forced to field a hugely depleted side in the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division clash against the Fenmen, who made them pay big time.
Luke Wilson netted the opener inside 20 seconds, before Alex Beck (15) and Michael Frew (32) made it 3-0. Josh Ford (pen 38) pulled one back for the Tigers before the break, but Billy Smith (48 and 58) scored either side of a Tommy Treacher goal (57) to put the game beyond Holbeach.
Things then began to get messy, with Treacher sent off for a second yellow card and Wisbech keeper Sam Vince burying a penalty on 62 minutes. There was still time for wing wizard Smith to round off the rout with his hat-trick strike on 68 minutes.
Hayes, who must now lift his side for Saturday’s game at Peterborough Northern Star, admits he’s never known a selection crisis like he has now.
But he wants to see more pride from a side that he is infuriated by.
“We lost the game inside 20 seconds,” said Hayes. “It was one-way traffic all game.
“Once again, we didn’t manage the game at all and our mentality was absolutely shocking.
“The performance was a disgrace. There was no life in us and we got what we deserved.
“I took a bit of stick from some of the fans – and I accept that. The buck stops with me, but some players turned up with terrible attitudes.
“Wisbech were laughing at us, but all I saw was the players wanting to go home.
“We’ve got a dreadful injury crisis and I can’t wait for the season to end. But what I want to see is a bit of pride from the lads wearing a Holbeach shirt.
“I believe in my ability to manage at this level and I want to rebuild in the summer. But I still can’t understand how we can go five games unbeaten and then perform like this in the two derby games over Easter.
“They need to have more pride in the shirt, the fans, the club and themselves. I’m absolutely gutted about the performance, it really hurts. It was men against boys and we were just cannon fodder.”
Charley Sanders is the latest player to be added to Holbeach’s injury list after picking up a nasty head injury over the weekend.
He, like Spencer Tinkler and Dan Jenkins, won’t play again this season.
Tigers: Drury, Ford, Madigan, Warfield, Jackson, Griffiths, Harker (Nicholson), Dougill, Zuerner (Grimwood), Treacher, Munton.
