UP NEXT, the first team aims to continue from last week’s recovery win against Shirebrook Town as they welcome Wisbech Town to The Stag Ground in the first of three home games.

After taking a huge hit to the survival momentum a couple of weeks ago at Deeping Rangers, the miners got themselves back in the mix last week, making it five wins from eight matches since Christmas. With just eight matches to go, Kimberley will need to find some consistency if they are to stay up.

Wisbech make the long trip to The Stag Ground having won just twice since Christmas, but the second was last week against league leaders Eastwood CFC. Wisbech will be hoping to build on last week’s result and drag themselves away from relegation danger after some heavy recent defeats.

On Saturday, the first team travelled to bottom side Shirebrook Town. A scrappy match saw the miners working a lot harder than the hosts, creating a lot of early chances. Kimberley were rewarded with a goal from Aaron Coyle towards the end of the first half with a shot that deceived everyone with its pace as it nestled into the bottom corner. Kamani Wilson thought he’d doubled the lead in the last few minutes, only for his header to be ruled out. A deserved win for Kimberley, with the 1-0 scoreline flattering the home side as the miners could and should have scored more.
Final Score Shirebrook Town 0 - Kimberley Miners Welfare 1

Wisbech Town’s last match saw table topping Eastwood CFC making the long trip to Wisbech. After two heavy defeats for the hosts, the result seemed very much like a foregone conclusion, with Eastwood scoring on the stroke of half time through Aaron Fordjour and looking odds on for the win. However, Wisbech had other ideas. Two goals in five minutes in the middle of the second half from Sam Bennett flipped the match on it’s head and gave the Fenmen a vital win.

LAST TIME AROUND

The last time the two sides met was towards the end of November at Wisbech. In a match that seriously lacked quality from either side, the home side managed to edge it, with a goal midway through the first half to send the miners back home with a 1-0 defeat.

The two sides met earlier in the season at Wisbech in September in the league cup. Wisbech opened the scoring against the run of play through Elliot Foster. Kimberley scored twice in two minutes after the half hour mark through a Ryan Wheatley header and Kai Wilson’s low shot from the edge of the box after coming on for Ben Morley just five minutes into the match through injury. Foster equalised for Wisbech midway through a scrappy and angry second half. With penalties looking likely, Josh Timson scored the winner in the first minute of injury time to send the miners home with what turned out to be their last win of the season so far.

Last season, the two teams met in March at the Stag Ground. Jon Challinor bagged the only goal of the game as Wisbech took the points in a 1-0- win.
The away match was in November last year. Sam Murphy scored in the first half, Aaron Coyle equalised on eighty minutes for the final score to be 1-1.
Earlier in the season, the two sides met at the Stag Ground in the league cup. A comfortable win for the home side came through goals from Aaron Coyle, Nathan Banton, Kole Lambert and Bijan Pakrouz after going into half time at 0-0. Final score, 4-0.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Although a Wisbech Town existed in the 1890s, the current club was established in 1920 by the merger of three local clubs. They initially played in the Peterborough & District League, winning it in 1924–25, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1931–32 and 1932–33. In 1935 the club turned semi-professional and joined the United Counties League. Former West Ham player Sam Jennings was the first major signing, and the club won the United Counties League Cup in their first season.

In 1945–46 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup, but lost to Ipswich Town. The following season they won the league title, a feat repeated the season after. In 1950 they switched to the Eastern Counties League, before joining the Midland League in 1952.
In 1995–96 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 1960s, but lost 5–1 at Kingstonian. However, after finishing second in the league that season the club were promoted to the Midland Division of the Southern League. Whilst playing in the Southern League, the club's reserve team entered the Eastern Counties League. The club reached the first round of the FA Cup again in 1996–97, losing 2–1 at home to St Albans City. The following season they reached the second round, after beating Billericay Town 2–1, before losing 2–0 at home to Bristol Rovers.

Having finished the 2012–13 season in second place in the Eastern Counties League Premier Division, the club were eligible for promotion. However, this opportunity was declined in favour of a voluntary lateral movement, rejoining the United Counties League Premier Division instead. They were runners-up in 2017–18, earning promotion to Division One East of the Northern Premier League. After finishing bottom of the Northern Premier League Midland Division at the end of the 2021–22 season, the club were relegated to the Premier Division North of the United Counties League.

Honours

Southern League
Division One champions 1961–62
Eastern Counties League
Champions 1971–72, 1976–77, 1990–91
League Cup winners 2010–11, 2012–13
United Counties League
Champions 1946–47, 1947–48, 1949–50

FINALLY

This is a huge match in the battle to stay in the division. Kimberley will hope to build on last week's improved performance, while Wisbech will want to do the same.

For the next three matches, we are offering a reduced entry fee of £5 for adults, £3 for concessions and under 16’s go free with a paying adult.

Please come along and support the boys. We need you.