Spalding United were brought down to Earth as local rivals Wisbech lifted themselves off the bottom of the BetVictor Northern Premier League South East Division with a convincing win in the Boxing Day derby.
After a 2-2 draw with Sutton Coldfield the previous Saturday in which Joel and Lewis Brownhill netted, Lewis Thorogood’s charges were left disappointed at Wisbech as the home side picked up just their third win of the season.
A quick-fire double just before the break put Wisbech in the ascendancy with Tiago Nassanculo netting on 44 minutes before John Dean finished off a quick counter attack to make it 2-0 in time added on at the end of the half.
Missing some of their new signings, the Tulips were better after the break and went close through Scott Floyd.
But Nassanculo sealed the win for Wisbech on 85 minutes.
Caretaker manager Thorogood said: “It doesn’t matter if you’re playing a team at the top or bottom, in this division you have to show them the right level of respect.
“Yes the pitch was in a poor condition and was a leveller.
“It was unplayable at times which both sides admit, but it was the same for both sides.
“What Wisbech did which we didn’t was to change the game plan.
“They were quicker to getting the ball forward to turn the defence, win the second balls and look for mistakes which they did very well.
“It was a blow to lose Joel Brownhill early with an ankle injury which left us depleted up front but we need to get the basics right both in defensive areas and across the pitch.
“We didn’t play well in the first half.
“I was particularly disappointed that we conceded the second from our own free kick which resulted in a five-on-two situation in their favour which is ridiculous.”
“In the second half their keeper made a fantastic save from a Scott Floyd header.
“It looked as if it was going over him but he got his fingers on it.
“If that had gone in it could have changed the complexion of the game, but that’s not to excuse the performance that was unacceptable.”
On the point at Sutton Coldfield on December 21, Thorogood said: “I think the disappointment of the Sutton Coldfield result was that it was much like the Kidsgrove match before it (another 2-2 draw).
“We had a 10 to 15 minute spell where we were a little hesitant and didn’t manage the game which is what you need to be able to do at this level.
“Lewis Brownhill scored an absolute screamer that would grace any Premier League game and I felt we could have gone on and won the game but we just ran out of time.”
Tulips v Wisbech: Duggan, Betts, Hugo, Spencer, Greenwood, Bucci, Burrell, Brownhill L, Brownhill J (Richards 17), Everington, Floyd. Unused sub: Smith, Ramsden, Mason.
Tulips v Sutton Coldfield: Duggan, Betts, Hugo, Spencer, Greenwood, Bucci, Ramsden (Reittie 15), Brownhill L, Brownhill J, Everington, Floyd. Unused sub: Richards, Yeomans, Burrell, Smith
Attendance: 115
MOTM: Betts
