This week saw some light relief as Wigton travelled to Masham, from the division above, for the second round of the Challenge Cup. Unfortunately though Wigton were unable to halt their current losing streak and for the 3rd week in succession were unlucky to take nothing from the game.
A disasterious opening few minutes saw Wigton severly punished as two defensive mistakes lead to an early 2 goal lead by Masham. An inability to clear their lines by the Wigton defence gifted the Masham strikers the opportunity to punish poor clearances as they neatly despatched two well placed finishes into Grimes' bottom right hand corner.
After the early set back Wigton began to establish themselves on the tight Masham pitch as they began to threaten the aerially strong yet slow Masham back line. Wigton finally got their rewards when a well placed free kick from Adam Day from the edge of the area was headed in by Ebun Lennon. Questions were asked as to whether Ebun had actually meant to head the ball or whether it had simply struck his head as it fell between a melee of players however Ebun was definitive it that he had meant it and as a result claimed his first ever headed goal...!
Immediately following the re-start Wigton were quickly all over Masham as they searched for an equaliser. The rather ageing and slow Masham team struggling to live with Wigton as they began to pass the ball at a high tempo and it wasn't long before they drew level. Chris Lone was able to put the finishing touches with a neat turn to beat the last defender following a wonderful display of quick passing as Wigton scored probably one of their best ever team goals with a move which saw in the region of 12 passes ad involved no fewer than 6 players in the move.
Masham were rightly shell shocked and at that time the game looked like only going in Wigton's favour until an own goal by Ed Tink gifted Masham the lead again. Masham had swung a hopeful cross into the box and following a mix up between Tink and Grimes as both players went to meet the ball, Eddie getting the first touch before watching in despair as his header looped up and over the stranded Grimes.
The second half saw Wigton carry on where they left off and were quickly level when an Eddie Tink through ball was raced onto by the rejuvinated Ebun who neatly prodded past the advancing keeper for his 2nd of the game. With the scores once again level Wigton were unlucky to be punished by the referee who awarded a dubious penalty for shirt pulling in the area. The following penalty being ferociously driven by Grimes, despite him guessing the right way.
A short time later Masham re-established their early 2 goal lead when the referee again failed to spot an obvious offside when the ball was crossed into the Wigton area.
Wigton however continued to battle till the last minute and went close when Bedders was unlucky not to score from a corner and the impressive Scott Turner had a one on one saved following a quickly played free kick by Adam Day.
Unfortunately though Wigton were unable to bring themselves back into game and for a 3rd consecutive week failed to get anything from a game they had deserved to win.
Fortunately, the list of tough consecutive fixtures appears to have come to an end with the next 2 fixtures being must win league games away at Ripon and home to bottom placed Boroughbridge. With a little bit of luck and the ability to cut out defensive errors, which at present are being punished every time, Wigton should look to build on the back of their recent performances and hopefully take the 6 points from these games that they desperatley need.
