Match Preview – Bemerton Heath Harlequins vs Wimborne Town
For the first time since being promoted to the Southern League for the 2010-11 season, the mighty Magpies are flying highest to sit on top of their division. Of course there’s a long way to go with just a quarter of the thirty-eight games played, but, boy, did it feel good to write that!
Three other teams have themselves topped the table this term, and we go head-to-head with one of them on Saturday. Bemerton are in their first ever season at Step 4 after gaining promotion by finishing second in Wessex Premier last season, with two former Magpies in their squad – James Henry and Henry Lander. Manager Shaun Hale has carried his team’s late momentum into this season as the Harlequins currently lie second with a W6 D1 L3 GF 20 GA 13 record. On their own grass pitch they have a W2 D1 L2 record, but a better W4 D0 L1 record on their travels.
Bemerton’s last two league games encapsulate their all-action season: on Saturday they had a terrific 4-2 win at then table-toppers Willand, with goals by the vastly experienced Stuart Green, leading scorer Muhammed Jatta, who arrived in the summer from AFC Portchester, remarkably, keeper Paddy Creese, and Eder Batista. The previous Saturday they’d been humbled at home by struggling Evesham, who scored five without reply. Other eye-catching results for Harlequins at home include wins over Frome (3-1), and Yate(4-0); while on their travels they had another 4-0 victory at Exmouth. As well as Evesham, they lost at home to Bishops Cleeve (1-2), and drew with Paulton (0-0).
Bemerton have been knocked out at home in both FA competitions. In the FA Cup they brushed aside Poppies 3-0 before losing 2-3 to Petersfield. In the FA Trophy they knocked out Westbury 5-2 at Melksham on that incredibly hot afternoon, before Frome took 3-0 revenge for that league defeat.
Wimborne’s W2 D1 L2 away record mirrors Bemerton’s home record. Victories at Bishops Cleeve (5-2), and Bashley (2-1) were followed by a 2-3 reverse against Westbury, a goal-less draw at Evesham, and the 1-3 loss at Bideford. However, strong performances at New Cuthbury have resulted in our W6 D2 L2 GF 21 GA 11 overall record. Harry Baker is the division’s leading marksman with ten from our ten league games. A clean sheet in difficult conditions at New Cuthbury against free-scoring Yate will have boosted defensive confidence.
A couple of months ago, Tim’s team had two victories on the road in the FA Cup: 2-0 at Paulton, and 1-0 at Southern Premier Tiverton. We too went out of the FA Trophy on that hot early September afternoon on penalties at Exmouth after letting a 3-1 lead slip in the final minutes after playing for an hour with ten men. Overall, that’s a W4 D2 L2 record away from New Cuthbury.
We asked Club Historian Ken Fergus when the Magpies last played the Harlequins:
“The game was in the Wessex League on October 10th 2009 at Bemerton and it ended 2-2 with goals from Nathan Walker & Tom Clarke for the Magpies, and Graham Mankin & Jack Slade for Bemerton. Earlier that season, Wimborne had beaten Bemerton 2-0 in the league at Cuthbury.
That season ended with Wimborne Town & Bemerton level on 91 points behind Champions Poole Town. Wimborne took the runners-up spot on goal difference and, because Poole’s ground wasn’t up to scratch, gained promotion to the Southern League for the first time, leaving the Wessex League behind after 23 very successful seasons.”
Back to this week’s game. For the second successive Saturday, the Harlequins will attempt to beat the team on top of the table. And the Magpies will want to consolidate their position on top of the tree.
First against second on a November afternoon. This is a game you won’t want to miss. See you there.
Bemerton’s ground: Western Way: Bemerton, Salisbury SP2 9DR – circa 30 miles.
Our Supporters Club are running the mini-bus to the game. You can book a place via their website: https://wimbornetownfcsupportersclub.co.uk/
Admission: Adults £10; concessions £7.
From their website, it appears that Bemerton post a downloadable programme the day before the fixture. I don’t think they produce a printed version, which may be because their average home attendance in the league this season is 135, the lowest in the division. As it’s only 30 miles away, let’s boost that number as we did at Bashley.
Weather forecast: sunny intervals and heavy showers; 12oC; 50% chance of rain – but given all the recent and expected rainfall, check our website in case of postponement.
