MATCH REPORT: Cribbs 2-1 Wimborne Town

Cribbs 2

Wimborne Town 1

Sat 18th November 2023

Goals: Morgan

Att: 170

Despite having the vast majority of possession, and playing all the football in the first half, Wimborne found themselves behind at the interval to a well-taken breakaway goal. Cribbs extended their lead twelve minutes into the second period. A late Harry Morgan goal set up a frenetic final ten minutes but the home defence, with a little help from the woodwork, held out for the three points.

Manager Tim Sills brought Sam Griffin and Cam Munn into the starting line-up. George Griffiths from Christer Warren’s Reserves was on the bench.

Despite all the recent heavy rain, the pitch looked good and played good. Wimborne started brightly and were quickly into their fluent passing game. The pattern of play was soon evident: the visitors confidently played the ball on the ground, sometimes quickly, sometimes just to keep possession, as they probed for an opening; then the well-organised defence, and Cribbs’ central defenders had excellent games, would step in near the edge of the penalty area and clear hard and long, hoping it would go somewhere near the lively Duru. Mostly, Magpies’ defenders would re-gain possession, and the pattern would repeat. Mostly!

However, on twenty-nine minutes Duru’s speed took him clear down the inside-right channel only to be thwarted by Ross Flitney’s diving block. It was a taste of what was to come thirteen minutes later. Duru found himself in space wide on the right. This time he made no mistake as he cut in to fire into the far top corner past Flitney.

Wimborne had created chances at the other end. Their first, just a minute before the mid-point of the half, was a shot by Harry Morgan after a central charge-down. Sam Griffin pulled the ball back from the left by-line for Harry Baker who shot too high. Griffin, stretching, poked a trade-mark Oakley Hanger cross over the bar. But the visitors were struggling to turn possession into clear-cut chances.

The Magpies started the second-half brightly too. Sam Jackson found Sam Griffin whose deflected shot was well-saved by keeper Johnson, who was to have a very good half. Cribbs’ skipper Hodgson tested Flitney following a long throw-in, but it was at a comfortable height for the big stopper. Then on fifty-seven minutes the home side doubled their lead. Duru found space on the right to cut the ball back from the by-line; Connor Cocklin and Billy Walker combined to block a first shot but were helpless as Fletham’s shot from the rebound deflected off an outstretched leg and agonisingly span beyond the clutches of Flitney.

This encouraged Cribbs to put attacking moves together more: Flitney tipped Stoneman’s shot over the bar; Stoneman’s free-kick flew just wide; and Duru’s tricky dribble ended with a shot over the bar. At the other end, Cam Munn showed sublime skill as he ghosted past players to pass into the danger area. But Wimborne really came to life when Jamie Johnston joined the fray wide on the left. On eighty-seven minutes the visitors grabbed a life-line. A corner on the right came out to Munn who fired low from the edge of the penalty area for Morgan to cleverly deflect the ball into the net.

Now it was one-way traffic towards the Cribbs’ goal. Morgan hit a shot just over; Beale’s low cross was scrambled away; likewise Munn’s cross; with Flitney joining the numbers in the penalty area for another corner, Munn’s deflected shot came back off the post; Jackson’s shot was blocked; and keeper Johnson made a super catch under pressure. But Wimborne couldn’t force the equaliser they deserved in the six minutes added-on.

Cribbs had a game plan which played to their team’s strengths, and they carried it out to take the points. It wasn’t pretty, but it was pretty effective. This wasn’t the first time Wimborne have encountered such tactics, and it won’t be the last. Tim’s team have to learn from this, and be more clinical in their finishing. A bright spot was the return of Jamie Johnston who brought energy and excitement for the last fifteen minutes.

After the final whistle there were disappointing and unsavoury scenes instigated, in your reporter’s opinion, by provocative and disrespectful behaviour towards the Wimborne dug-out. The referee flourished more cards towards the mob on the pitch than I’ll receive at Christmas.

Match stats:

Wimborne: Flitney, Hanger, Walker (Roberts 71), Cocklin, Jackson (Capt), Neale, Morgan, Griffin (Johnston 80), Beale, Munn, Baker (Lovell 63)

Unused subs: Arnold, Griffiths

Attendance: 170