SATURDAY FOOTBALL REVIEW By Steve Green DIVISION 3B Witchford 96 Home W10 D1 L2 F47 A12 Away W8 D1 L4 F45 A28 Pts P26 56 (2nd of 14) Witchford 96 had another quite remarkable season, culminating in a 1-1 draw with arch-rivals Wisbech St Mary that c

SATURDAY FOOTBALL REVIEW

By Steve Green

DIVISION 3B

Witchford '96

Home W10 D1 L2 F47 A12

Away W8 D1 L4 F45 A28 Pts P26 56

(2nd of 14)

Witchford '96 had another quite remarkable season, culminating in a 1-1 draw with arch-rivals Wisbech St Mary that clinched the runners-up spot behind Newmarket White Lion.

Witchford lost 2-0 away to the eventual champions in only their second league outing of the season, but other than this their league and cup record was unblemished in 19 matches.

A shock 3-1 defeat at Lakenheath Reserves seemed nothing more than a minor hiccup at the time, but it was soon followed by a 3-0 home setback against Cottenham United A.

Shortly afterwards the team found themselves in the last four of both the John Ablett Cup and the Lower Junior Cup, but Withersfield beat them 4-3 in the first-named competition and the following week Witchford crashed 3-0 in the league against local rivals The Vine.

Suddenly things were not looking quite so rosy. The championship was out of reach, Wisbech were making ground hand-over-fist and there was only the Lower Junior Cup Final to look forward to.

Two more league defeats followed (against Newmarket and Huntingdon United RGE Reserves) and Wisbech had meanwhile closed to within a single point.

Four straight wins steadied the ship, but the 2-2 draw at bottom-of-the-table West Row Gunners Reserves left only goal-difference separating Witchford and their closest rivals Wisbech, whom they were destined to meet in their final game.

That match was preceded by a 6-1 cup final drubbing against Griffin Park, but - needing a draw or better to secure runners-up spot - Witchford dug-in and held out for a 1-1 share of the spoils.

It was their 37th match of a gruelling campaign.

The Vine

Home W8 D3 L2 F36 A21

Away W4 D4 L5 F29 A34

P26 Pts 43

(6th of 14)

The Vine, who lost three of their opening four league and cup matches at home, never tasted defeat on their own soil again during the remainder of the campaign.

Unfortunately they were nowhere near as good on their travels, and despite losing only twice in their last 12 league outings they could finish no higher than sixth.