MATCH REPORT: Wimborne Town 2-1 Paulton Rovers

Wimborne Town 2

Paulton Rovers 1

Sat 6th April 2024

Goals: Stuttle, Cocklin

Att: 865

Wimborne made hard work of completing a league double over bottom-placed Paulton. The visitors took an early lead before Jonny Stuttle equalised. Sam Griffin’s red card just before the interval meant the home team had to play the second half a man short. However, they dominated the rest of the game and finally got their reward when Connor Cocklin scored with ten minutes remaining.

Manager Tim Sills kept the same starting XI as for the last game, the 3-2 victory over Westbury at New Cuthbury two weeks ago. The bench was packed with attacking intent.

In front of another large crowd, and in a blustery wind, Wimborne started as though they hadn’t played for two weeks. Rovers shocked the crowd by taking the lead after five minutes. The impressive Thomas found space on the right wing to pass inside for Eglin to slot home from twelve yards. The Magpies looked out of sorts for the first quarter of the game with misplaced passes and over-hit through balls. Connor Cocklin was in the right place to twice clear dangerous crosses as Paulton threatened a second.

As we approached the half-hour mark, Wimborne, attacking the housing estate end, took control. Josh Carmichael’s cross-field ball sent Sam Jackson charging down the left; in the next attack it was Matt Neale charging down the same wing before his low cross was turned into the net only to be ruled out for offside. Then, on twenty-nine minutes came the equaliser. The willing Jonny Stuttle chased down a ball heading for keeper Phillips, poked it through his legs, and slid it into the empty net.

Keeper Ross Flitney punched a corner away under pressure, and grabbed a dangerous looking cross on a rare Paulton counter-attack. But most of the action was at the other end as Harry Baker fired into the side-netting from an acute angle, Neale shot wide, and Phillips made a super sprawling save when Stuttle was played through by Neale.

Rovers’ spoiling tactics and regular interventions by their busy physio, frustrated players and supporters alike, so it wasn’t a surprise when referee McFarlane added on seven minutes at the end of the half. Five minutes into that time, he viewed Sam Griffin’s challenge as reckless, flourished his red card, and sent him for first dibs of the shower gel. It had been a poor half – things could only get better – and they did!

Whatever Manager Tim said to his team during the interval worked. Lewis Beale came on as an immediate substitute, and made an immediate impact. In the first attack, his cross was headed down by Baker for Stuttle to shoot wide. The ten men dominated and had fourteen attempts on goal, forcing the visitors back. At last we were seeing the passing game we love to watch: Baker to Stuttle to Morgan to Beale who shot over; Sam Jackson to Neale to Jackson who crossed; Jackson to Morgan to Baker who shot wide. And winning the ball from defenders high in the Paulton half was creating more chances: Morgan dispossessed a defender and crossed for Cocklin whose fierce drive was brilliantly deflected onto the bar by keeper Phillips. The chances kept coming: Morgan headed over; substitute Jack Lovell had a shot cleared off the line; Stuttle chased a lost cause down the left wing, won the ball, charged inside and fired wide. Then on eighty minutes came the winner. Neal’s nutmeg led to a corner on the right which he took. The ball fell loose to Cocklin to the left of the penalty spot; he showed great technique and rifled the ball through a mass of legs into the net.

Paulton did have the ball in Flitney’s net in their next attack, but a hand-ball was spotted, and a yellow card shown. Flitney caught a long throw, and made a great diving catch from Butcher’s cross as the visitors tried to grab a point. But it was the home side who deservedly took all three points to keep the push for promotion on track.

A sixth consecutive win, eleven games unbeaten, a thirteenth victory at New Cuthbury – impressive statistics, but the boys had to dig deep to get this one over the line. We’ve got a team with ability, determination, and a will to win; we’ve got a management team who can change a game; and we’ve got enthusiastic supporters who can lift the team. We’re all in this together as the season heads for a tumultuous climax.

Wimborne: Flitney, Hanger, Walker, Cocklin, Jackson (capt), Carmichael (Beale 46), Griffin, Neale (Scorey 81), Morgan, Baker (Lovell 70), Stuttle

Unused subs: Bedford, Munn

Attendance: 865