MATCH REPORT: Larkhall Athletic 3-1 Wimborne Town (Match abandoned)

Larkhall Athletic 3

Wimborne 1

Sat 14th January 2023

Goals: Baker

Att: 241

With Jez Bedford prostrate in the penalty area after a collision for a cross with the keeper, and the physios advised by medics not to move him, referee Peters abandoned the game in time added-on. By then Larkhall were leading 3-1, having scored twice in the first sixteen minutes, and restoring their two-goal lead late on direct from a corner after Harry Baker had given the visitors hope with a typical poacher’s goal on 70 minutes.

After last week’s excellent performance on a heavy pitch at Exmouth, it was not surprising that manager Tim Sills kept the same starting line-up.

Anticipation was high among the large band of travelling supporters. Wimborne were six games unbeaten and had scored eight in the last two; Larkhall hadn’t won for six, and had conceded eight in their last two games. But how differently things were to turn out.

It was clear from the first whistle that the boggy, heavy surface would not be conducive to Wimborne’s usual high tempo, slick passing game. Knowing their pitch, the hosts changed their tactics from what we’d seen in the reverse fixture. And they got their no-nonsense tactics right – if the ball is near your penalty area, hit it long and chase it hard; harry and hussle the opposition when they have the ball; and punish any mistakes or dithering. They weren’t pretty tactics, but they were pretty effective given the playing conditions.

With the bright sun shining into his eyes, Ross Flitney was forced to make a save at the near post in the first minute. The fired-up Larks dominated the early exchanges; the Magpies found it hard to get into the game. But they nearly took the lead against the run of play on six minutes. Oakley Hanger’s trade-mark free-kick delivery from wide on the left eluded everyone before rebounding off the far post. Five minutes later Larkhall took the lead. A fast counter-attack down the left saw Pritchard pass inside to Mortimer-Taylor who picked out Williams coming in from the right to score. In their next attack Pritchard found room to head a cross from the right over the bar. On sixteen minutes the shell-shocked Wimborne defence dithered in clearing the next ball in from the right. Mortimer-Taylor fired the loose ball into the net from close-range.

And it very nearly got worse before the half-hour mark. Firstly, at the far post Ferris headed a right-wing cross wide, then when Regula worked his magic to pull back from the left by-line, Ferris fired wide. With a third of the game played, Wimborne finally got to grips with the opposition. Jez Bedford came in from the boggy right to shoot high; Matt Neale delivered two left-wing corners into the box; and another Hanger free-kick was cleared. Just before the half-time whistle, Goodall typified Larkhall’s all-action no-nonsense play with a diving header in midfield to divert the ball for a throw-in.

Scott Arnold replaced the battered Ben Scorey at the start of the second-half. In the first minute Regula’s pace deceived the Wimborne defence on the left of the area, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot as he was taken down. The tall striker took the penalty himself only for Flitney to dive and get enough of a touch to divert the ball onto the post and away. In the visitors first attack of the half, the jinking Bedford set-up Jack Lovell for a shot which was turned for a corner. When the ball was played back in from the right, we found the net but it was ruled out for offside

Now Wimborne were more than matching Larkhall for skill, aggression and desire: Josh Carmichael’s free-kick hit the defensive wall; Bedford’s follow-up shot was saved by Nasta; a Hanger free-kick was saved by the young stopper at a comfortable height; and Matt Neale’s run into the area was stopped in a sea of flailing arms and legs. Then, on seventy minutes, Wimborne’s pressure paid off. Harry Morgan burst into the area, the ball fell loose, and Harry Baker bravely netted from close-range.

With Arnold pinging diagonals left and right, Wimborne continued to probe, but the uncompromising home defence stood firm. And it was Graham, one of the commanding centre-backs, who made a strong run through midfield to force the first of three corners. The third, an inswinger from the left by Williams on eighty-seven minutes, flew past Flitney and his challenger to nestle inside the far post.

Referee Peters indicated an additional six minutes. When a couple of those had passed, Jez Bedford jumped with keeper Nasta for a high ball from the left, landed awkwardly after the coming together and remained motionless. Physios from both teams rushed on to attend the stricken player. After a lengthy delay, and having consulted his colleagues and team managers, the official abandoned the game.

It was a sad end to what was not a good day at the office for Wimborne.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Jez.

Our thanks to the two physios – Wimborne’s Bill Coleman, and Larkhall’s Chelsie Hextall for their care of our Jez.

Match stats:

Wimborne: Flitney, Hanger, Walker, Jackson (Capt), Scorey (Arnold 46), Carmichael (Baker 61), Neale, Morgan, Griffin (Beale 80), Bedford, Lovell

Unused subs: Griffiths, Munn

Attendance: 241