Non-league football: Appleby is staying to win promotion

STEVE Appleby is staying on as Wisbech manager - and he?s determined to lead the club to promotion.

The Fenmen chief admitted he was contemplating his future over the festive period after growing increasingly frustrated at the high number of refereeing decisions he believes are going against his team.

But Appleby has now confirmed he will remain in the Town hotseat for at least the remainder of this season ? news he delivered in the wake of a 4-0 home success over Newmarket in the Ridgeons Premier Division yesterday which left the club four points off the top two spot they?ll need to secure promotion.

Appleby said: ?It was a much better day all-round and the results elsewhere also went for us.

?I always said we could have a real go at promotion providing we were in the mix at the turn of the year and that?s definitely the case. And I owe it to the club and the fans to stay on as manager. I?ll definitely be here until the end of the season and we?ll see how things are then.?

Midfield men Ollie Gale and Stephen Reid had Wisbech in control by the midway-point of the opening half.

A penalty from top-scorer Chris Bacon and a third goal in three games from fellow frontman Nick Davey sealed a smooth victory.

But it wasn?t such a good day for Fenland neighbours March whose five-match winning run came to an end as they went down 3-2 at Fakenham in the Ridgeons First Division.

They twice led in the opening quarter of the contest thanks to a fifth goal in as many matches from Ondre Odain and a Gav Cooke free-kick.

Odain was only millimetres away from salvaging a point when seeing a late effort deflect against the crossbar.

Boss Brett Whaley admitted: ?We weren?t really good enough in any area of the pitch and that?s a disappointment. This was the sort of game we had to get something from if we are serious about going up.?

Fellow promotion hopefuls Stamford have now won just once in their last eight Evo-Stik Division One South matches after being held to a 1-1 draw by New Mills at the Premier Kitchens Arena.

The Daniels, who remain in the final play-off place, fell behind after seven minutes but were level four minutes later when wideman Nathan Watson?s delivery was turned into his own net by a visiting defender.

But Tommy Brookbanks men were then guilty of wasting good chances in front of goal while also seeing a couple of strong penalty shouts ignored.

Brookbanks said: ?New Mills still really fancy their chances of promotion so this isn?t a bad point by any means.

?We didn?t take our chances though and things didn?t go our way with the penalty appeals.?

HOLBEACH boss John Chand hailed his players for ending their daunting United Counties League Premier Division festive fixture list in winning style.

The Tigers were mightily aggrieved to go down at table-toppers King?s Lynn on Boxing Day and felt another two points got away when they ended Long Buckby?s 100 per cent record on New Year?s Eve.

But there were smiles all round in the opening fixture of 2012 as Chand?s men saw off fifth-placed St Ives 2-0 at Carters Park yesterday.

?It was really important to get back to winning ways and we managed it thanks to an excellent performance,? said Chand.

Skipper Jamie Stevens headed the opener midway through the first half before star attacker Andrew Tidswell doubled the Holbeach advantage just after the hour.

There are three UCL Premier Division matches involved local teams tonight (3 January).

Yaxley can climb out of the relegation zone with victory over Blackstones in an In2itive Park derby clash providing Sleaford don?t pick up a positive result when they entertain Spalding.

Deeping entertain S & L Corby.

NEW signing Niks Salvanieks opened his Huntingdon account with a Bank Holiday Monday brace.

The Latvian frontman is on loan for a month from Cambridge City and notched twice in a 4-0 success at Wootton.

Declan Rogers hit the other two goals to leave Town occupying second spot and on course for promotion.

Bourne enjoyed a fine day at the same level as they swept past Raunds 4-0.

Jason Kilbride and Glenn Spearink both struck twice for the struggling Wakes who fielded debutant Matt Gilson in goal.

Gilson has recently moved to the area from Suffolk.


Source: http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/non_league_football_appleby_is_staying_to_win_promotion_1_3381722

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