Ouch! After their longest journey of the season, Wimborne were walloped in Wales. Three down at the interval, The Magpies’ hill became a mountain to climb when Matty Burrows was sent off just four minutes after the re-start. Three more goals followed, as The Martyrs took full advantage of having an extra man and showed why they’re top of the league.

With skipper Sam Jackson unavailable, the versatile Harvey Wright moved to left-back, with Billy Walker coming in to partner Sam Roberts in central defence. There were just four on the bench.

Wimborne gave a good account of themselves in the opening quarter of the game. Will Fletcher rose highest to flick on Ross Flitney’s accurate clearance; Matty Burrows’ cross from the right gave Lewis Beale the chance to test keeper Cogman; and on eighteen minutes the stopper smothered Fletcher’s effort from another Burrows’ cross before Beale hit the rebound against the bar. At the other end, as Merthyr settled into their pass and move game, Billy Walker’s interception, Josh Carmichael’s tackle, Harry Morgan’s interception, and Billy Walker’s tackle stopped fluent attacks. Flitney’s goal had an escape on thirteen minutes when Simpson headed a corner over from five yards. Three minutes later, the visiting defence was not so fortunate as they eschewed opportunities to clear a loose ball; Rees was more assertive and didn’t need a second invitation to fire past Flitney from the left-hand corner of the goal area to give Merthyr the lead.

One became two on twenty-six minutes. With three defenders trying to stop Simpson in the area, the ball squirted out to Twamley at the top of the “D” to rifle the ball between two defenders on the line. Chances came at both ends: Morgan headed Burrows’ free-kick over the bar; and Flitney made a good low save when Rees came off the left-wing. But Wimborne were undone again as the clock ticked over into additional time. This time it was the simplest move of the game: receiving the ball wide on the left, full-back Smeardon played it down the touch-line to Rees who cut inside and fired into the far corner past Flitney.

In the first attack after the interval, a simple ball played Twamley through the middle only to be denied by Flitney who stood strong. Then came the sending-off. A foul challenge in the centre-circle was being sorted by referee Pattison before Burrows literally put his head in and was sent for first dibs of the shower gel.

Merthyr’s fourth came just after the hour mark: Twamley’s ball into the box was juggled past two defenders by Rees to score from close range. Harry Baker’s two shots were all Wimborne had to offer in the second-half: the first from Beale’s pass brought an easy save from Coglan; the second, from Wright’s header, was blocked. In contrast at the other end, the hosts chalked up eighteen goal attempts as their rotation, movement, and crisp passing sliced Wimborne open at will. A fifth goal came on seventy-seven minutes when Simpson was played into the area through the inside-right channel and he smashed the ball into the net. Six minutes later, that man Rees bagged his fourth when he was quickest to react after Flitney had denied Thomas when he was played through. Wimborne’s experienced stopper bravely dived at the feet of Twamley to grab the ball, got a hand to a fierce cross-shot, and saved Handley’s point-blank shot to prevent a heavy defeat becoming a rout.

To Wimborne’s relief, there were a mere two minutes of additional time. If this had been a boxing contest, the referee would have stopped it long before then. Merthyr are clearly a very good side. It’s not unusual to see them play like this on their green, green astroturf of home.

After two clean sheets and excellent performances against Supermarine and Gosport, this was a disappointing display from The Magpies. A sixth league game out of ten without scoring was part of what made it a bad day at the office. The good news is that Jacko will be back for next Saturday’s visit to Gloucester in the FA Trophy. But there’s much for Tim and his management team to ponder before then.

Wimborne: Flitney, Biss (Ryan 79), Roberts, Walker, Wright, Carmichael, Morgan (Neale 46), Burrows, Beale (Cocklin 73), Munn, Fletcher (Baker 62)

Attendance: 853

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