Sherwood Colliery win at Wisbech to extend lead at the top

Assistant manager Aaron Hayer said: “We were very pleased to get the win today.

“Conditions were difficult, but we were on our game from the first whistle and fully deserved the three points.”

The Wood made just one change to the starting XI with long term absentee Nick Hood returning for a first start since early September.

Will Norcross was included after a three game absence, taking his place among the substitutes.

A late morning pitch inspection gave the game the go ahead and credit must be given to the Wisbech staff for getting the game on with many others falling foul of the weather.

The visitors started the game confidently with Jamie York pulling strings in the midfield.

That said, it was Jordan Pierrepont in the Wood’s goal who was called into action first, saving comfortably from Amir Ward.

The opening goal came in the 14th minute.

Alexander Duhameau worked hard to keep the ball alive by the right corner flag and fed Hood, who delivered a first-time ball into the penalty area.

Jacob Pearce sold a dummy to wrong-foot the Town defence and Jamie York was on hand to place home a sidefooted effort after Kieran Knight had laid the ball into his path.

With Robson Doolan giving a tireless performance alongside York in the midfield, Sherwood began to dominate the ball and the back four of Hood, Jobe Shaw, Carter Widdowson and Oliver Lobley dealt with Town’s attacks without too much difficulty.

There was some inevitability that a second goal would come, and it arrived in the 41st minute.

Town full back Joe Cole was disposed in Sherwood territory by a combination of Pearce and Doolan, the ball played at pace to Duhameau on the left.

In turn he fed the ball to Knight, who sprinted forward before seeing his shot parried by Town goalkeeper Aaron Watson, only for Ethan Wiesztort to tap home for his first goal since his return to the club.

The second half saw some initial pressure from Town as they looked to get back into the game.

However, the Wood had other ideas and effectively sealed the game in the 57th minute.

Jacob Pearce reacted to a defensive error on the right and found himself in space to deliver a superb cross that evaded Watson and found Duhameau, who finished left footed from six yards for his fifth goal in four games.

Minutes later Doolan almost added a fourth goal, his effort agonisingly drifting wide of the goal.

The Wood then took the opportunity to give valuable minutes to the substitutes with an eye on a hectic February schedule.

Town, to their credit, kept going and were rewarded with a consolation goal in the 76th minute, Sam Bennet beating Pierrepont with a low drive from a narrow angle.

The Wood saw out the remaining 14 minutes and nine minutes of added time to claim a fine away win.

AFC Mansfield's game at Deeping Rangers was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

In midweek Sherwood had beaten Gresley Rovers 5-2 while AFC Mansfield had produced an excellent 2-0 away win at Eastwood CFC.