Match Preview – Wimborne Town Res vs Blandford Utd – Semi-Final
Christer Warren’s young team have won three away ties to reach the semi-final stage of this County competition for a second successive season: Poole Borough (3-1), Portland Utd Reserves (2-1), and Allendale (7-2). Their opponents in the semi-final in 2022-23 were also this Saturday’s opponents – Blandford United. Last season the young Magpies won 3-2 at New Cuthbury before going on to lift the Trophy by beating Sturminster Newton 2-1 in the final.
Blandford are having a great season and lead the Dorset Premier League with an impressive unbeaten W18 D3 L0 GD 54 record. The young Magpies are in third place, nine points adrift of the leaders, but have a game in hand, with a W15 D3 L2 GD 63 record. Those two defeats were away games, so Christer’s Boys are unbeaten at New Cuthbury.
Matches between the two teams are typically close and competitive. In the league fixture back in October, Wimborne came from behind to score twice in the second-half to bag a point in a 2-2 draw at Blandford. Looking back at last season, as well as that DST semi-final, the teams drew both the league games – 1-1 at Blandford, 3-3 at New Cuthbury.
Wimborne have only played twice this calendar year, the last time being a 3-0 win over Swanage on the 3G on 7th February. Blandford have won all five games they’ve played in 2024, the last three being away wins in February.
Addwell Chipangura is still leading marksman in the DPL with 29 goals, Blandford’s Mark Ford, a former Magpie, is next best with 27. Other goalscorers to keep an eye on are Wimborne’s Albie Turner (11 goals) and George Griffiths (9), and Blandford’s Steve Smith (10), another experienced striker who has also worn the black & white.
The scene is set for a cracking cup-tie. If you aren’t travelling to Cornwall for the first team’s match at Mousehole, come on down to New Cuthbury for your Saturday footie fix. Blandford have a large following, so let’s give our young lads the support they deserve.
If the scores are level at the end of normal time, then it’s straight to penalties – no extra-time. The winners of this tie will play either Holt or Sturminster Newton in the final.
Admission: Adults £4; concessions £2. The game is scheduled to be played on the main grass pitch.
The new Morebus 13 route from The Square runs along Leigh Road, with a stop at the end of Parmiter Road. There’s two an hour each way.
Weather forecast: sunny intervals; 7oC; 10% chance of rain.
