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Sunday 4th May
Buckingham Town Reserves 3-4 Wellingborough Town Reserves
Click here to see the Reserves League Runners Up resentation photo's.
Sunday 20th April
Wellingborough Town 1-2 Boston Town
The Doughboys ended their home league programme with a 2-1 defeat at home to Boston Town.
Paul Goodhand opened the scoring from a free kick after just 12 minutes, but it was the Doughboys who equalised when Jon Mitchell raced clear a minute before half time to fire home beating visiting goalkeeper Bart Griemink with a fine finish sending the home side in level at half time.
The visitors took the lead in the second half when the visitor’s top scorer Gary Bull looped his header over the Shaun Markie in the Doughboy goal shortly after the break to give the visitors three points and secure the double over the Doughboys this season.
ON Chenecks Reserves 0-1 Wellingborough Town
Kirch's lads lost their long unbeaten league record at ON Chenecks yesterday. The Cup Final winning side was depleted with all 3 usual strikers on first team duty and Danny Webb and Ben Matthews out injured.
Nathan Heycock went close once in each half and Marc Harrison headed over when well placed but it was not our day as the home side scored the only goal of the game after 75 minutes.
We need 6 points from 5 games to guarantee promotion but have to win all 5 games to win the league.
Next game at Daventry Town on Tuesday night ko 7.45pm.Terry Whenham
Thursday 17th April
Rothwell Town Under 18 1-1 Wellingborough Town Under 18
The under-18s finished their league season with a tense, nervy affair at Cecil Street against Rothwell Town and, although a point from a 1-1 draw sent the lads back to the top of the table, it now looks odds on that third place will be where we shall end up.
Wednesday 16th April
Wellingborough Town Reserves 2-1 Netherton United
Northants Lower Junior Cup FinalKirch's lads pulled off a sensational victory over a hard working, skillful and resilient Netherton United from Peterborough in the Lower Junior Cup Final last night in front of a large crowd at Kiln Park.
Some of the lads looked edgy and nervous in the build up and this showed in the early stages of the game. Netherton had a couple of chances to take the lead but the game changed on the stroke of half time. Cornell Haughton charged down the goalkeeper's clearance and the ball rebounded into the corner of the net. The half time talk was all about staying calm and doing the simple things in the second half. It didn't happen.....
Once again Netherton started the half the stronger side and it came as no surprise when their captain headed home after 62 minutes.
Haughton went close with a header and Netherton thought they had taken the lead when they "scored" again but the linesman ruled the ball had gone out for a goal kick. What a relief!
There were no further goals so the game entered extra time with the threat of penalties in everyone's mind.
However, we got another slice of luck half way through the first period when a Netherton defender slipped and handled the ball as he lay on the ground. Haughton confidently converted the spot kick with a perfect strike to the goalkeeper's left.
The Boro defence, brilliantly marshaled by captain courageous Ray Hackett, withstood the Netherton onslaught and we held out for a hard earned victory.
Everyone played their part tonight. Kirch's coaching skills were spot on as calmed nerves at crucial times throughout the evening. This is my view of each player:
Sam Foulser: Very nervous early on but made some crucial saves.
Sean Quirke: Tenacious in the tackle and kept his nerve whilst under immense pressure from the winger.
Ryan Lee: Kept going at left back and showed his great promise was noticed by many in the crowd.
Kev Vigo: Had problems early on with the strong and fast striker but won every ball in the air, as usual.
Ray Hackett: Man of the Match. Athletic, powerful, determined, leader, awesome!
Jimmy Partridge: Not as dominant as normal but very determined and influential. Flashes of brilliance and the player that everyone looked to for inspiration in midfield. A real winner.
Nathan Heycock: Quietly efficient in midfield. Won every tackle. Came of age tonight and had his first legal pint!
James Lister: Flair and skill on the wing. Not at his best but always a threat, especially at set pieces.
Marc Harrison: Struggled for fitness but seemed to get stronger in extra time, especially tracking back and defending.
Nick Harrison: Amazing return to fitness after a bad injury. Always a threat with his powerful running and aggressive attitude.
Cornell Haughton: At his poaching best with 2 lethal strikes. Lively, fast and a pest to the defenders. A hero on the night.
Danny Webb: This lad has some future. Unlucky to be left out of the starting team but came on in the second half and terrorized the Netherton defence with his pace and skill.
Adam Randall: Came on in the second half and showed great maturity for one so young. A great influence on the lads.
Rudi Pipe, Neil Codner and Adam Kirchin were unused subs but all showed a great attitude and contributed towards our success, as did physio Anton Thomas and Ass Manager for the night Alfie Taylor.
Terry Whenham
Saturday 12th April
Wellingborough Town 1-1 Blackstones
The Doughboys picked up their first point in their last 7 games with a well earned 1-1 draw at home to high-flying Blackstones.
The home side started the brighter but it was the visitors who took the lead when Dan Cotton converted a penalty on 30 minutes conceded by Wellingborough’s Matt Green.
The Doughboys, without a win in their last six games, had most of the possession in the first half but had nothing to show for their hard work at half-time.
However, this soon charged when they were level early in the second half when Jon Mitchell, who missed the midweek defeat at Yaxley, equalised from close range to earn the Doughboys a deserved point and send the home crowd home happy.
Wootton Reserves 1-2 Wellingborough Town Reserves
Believe me, this win at Wootton Blue Cross was massive for the lads. The pitch was terrible and Wootton battled hard throughout. After a blank first half the home side took the lead from a corner just after the break.
Cornell Haughton and Alfie Taylor both missed good chances to equalise but it looked like we had had it going into the last 5 minutes. Then Haughton somehow managed to score when his deflected shot looped over the goalkeeper. Haughton turned provider with the last kick of the game when his great cross found the head of Taylor who gratefully netted the winner to spark fantastic celebrations.
The dressing atmosphere was electric after stealing the points in such dramatic fashion. Then we learned that leaders Huntingdon dropped 2 points and 2nd placed Northern Star lost.
The next game is the Lower Junior Cup Final on Tuesday night at Raunds ko 7.45pm. Please come and support this great bunch of lads.Terry Whenham
Under 18' update
The Under 18's have kept up their title challenge with two crucial wins recently, beating Thrapston Town 5-1 and Stamford 3-2.
Click here for the match reports
Wednesday 2nd April
Under 18 Draw Rushden & Diamonds
Thursday sees the under-18 side play their final home game of what has been a fantastic season when Thrapston visit the Dog & Duck
As you may know, I no longer enter into fans` forum debates, but would like to express my gratitude, through the web editor, to the brilliant support we have had throughout the campaign.
At times we have exceeded first-team attendance figures - which is some achievement - but perhaps mirrors the performances produced by the lads this season.
After Thrapston we have big away games at Stamford (next Thursday) and at Rothwell Town on April 16th. Both could still be crucial to our chances of snatching the league title, although we are relying on both Rothwell and Corby Town dropping points.
However, whatever the outcome, these boys have been a joy to manage. I would go as far to say that they are as good a squad as I have had since exactly ten years ago (1997/98) when the Rothwell side I managed won the league and cup double without dropping a point – a star of which was recent first-team recruit Martin `Buster` Flanagan.
I thought that side was a once in a lifetime experience, but I truly believe that this group – and we only lose four from the squad for next season - could go on to emulate that Bones` side.
We shall all miss Rev David Hughes upon his departure to Barrrrrnstaple! But we will miss him more than most as he`s been an avid supporter of the under-18s and he delighted us all by stating that they had been the “highlight of his season and a revelation to watch”.
I am not going to single out individuals – I shall wait for the presentation evening to do that – but whether we finish first, second or third, it will still have been a brilliant season in which, not only have we done well as a team, but seven players have regularly featured in the reserve side and we have also seen Tom Randall join Nick Harrison in making his first-team debut recently.
In finishing, we would all love to see as many Doughboys` supporters down at Nene Park on Wednesday, April 23rd when we have the enormously difficult task of taking on the full-timers of Rushden & Diamonds in the semi final of the NFA County Cup.
Next season I shall be celebrating 25 years in management. What a great way to celebrate if we were to win the title – these boys deserve it.
Thanks again for your support.
Steve Whitney
Thrapston (home) Thursday, April 3rd
Rothwell Town (away) Wednesday, April 16th
Rushden & Diamonds (away) County Cup S/F Wednesday April 23rd
