Despite dominating the goal attempt stats (17 to one), Wimborne were denied by Marine’s man-of-the-match keeper Luke Purnell and his resilient defenders.

Manager Tim Sills made four changes: Ross Flitney was back between the posts; Adam Biss made a first league start; Sam Roberts joined Harvey Wright in central defence; and Cam Munn returned.

In bright sunshine to match the visitors’ kit, there was end-to-end action from the opening whistle. Harvey Wright had the first goal attempt when a half-cleared free-kick was played back in to the area for Purnell to make an easy save; Jez Bedford won the ball in midfield and played Will Fletcher through, the striker rounded the keeper but could only find the side-netting; Cam Munn’s clever feet found space to pass to Fletcher who forced a brilliant point-blank save from the keeper; and Sam Jackson had a shot blocked from a corner. Defending the housing-estate end, Biss blocked Marine’s first attack, stuck out a long leg to foil the next, then stopped his winger with a strong tackle. Wimborne were defending as a team with Harrys Baker and Morgan harassing in midfield, Josh Carmichael bravely putting his right leg in, Jackson putting his left leg in, and Sam Roberts and Wright putting their whole selves in to disrupt their skilful opponents.

Wimborne continued making half-chances: Bedford crossed from the right; Jackson from the left; Fletcher headed Bedford’s cross straight to the keeper; Carmichael’s first low free-kick was hacked away; his second, much higher, flew well over; and Purnell punched another free-kick away from danger. On forty minutes, Swindon had their first, and only, attempt on goal. Winning the ball in midfield, their crisp passing created a chance down the inside-left channel which Flitney could calmly watch as the weak shot went wide. Referee Harrison didn’t hold back in flourishing his yellow card in the half: three times to the men with matching kit, including Elias-Fernandes for simulation, and once to the hosts’ skipper Jackson.

With spectators still returning to their seats after the interval, we had the curious incident of the stuttering run-up. Swindon’s attack from the re-start led to some pin-ball in the area with shouts for hand-ball. The official acquiesced, and Elias-Fernandes placed the ball on the spot. His stuttering run-up led to Flitney diving to his left for the striker to roll the ball into the other corner. Referee Harrison took umbrage: he disallowed the goal; awarded Wimborne a free-kick; and booked the offending Marine – a second yellow, so he was sent for first dibs of the shower gel. Google probably went into melt-down as spectators searched the rules book.

Having been reprieved, The Magpies went looking for a goal: Bedford’s twinkling run into the box was stopped by a sea of legs; Purnell saved Baker’s header from Biss’s cross; Fletcher headed Jackson’s cross goalwards; Fletcher’s quick turn made space for a shot which the diving keeper turned for a corner; Biss overlapped Bedford on the right and crossed into the danger area; Matty Burrows’ volley was saved by the shot-stopper; Carmichael’s 25-yard drive was brilliantly turned round the post; Matt Neale’s free-kick landed at the feet of the unsighted Connor Cocklin who couldn’t get enough power to trouble the defiant keeper.

With Wimborne attacking at every opportunity it was inevitable that Marine would fashion a chance on the break. It came on eighty-four minutes when Sims-Burgess was played through only for Wright to stand strong and clear the danger. Five minutes later Referee Harrison evened up the numbers by showing a second yellow to Jackson. Still The Magpies kept going forward and forced a series of corners in the five minutes of added-on time which extended to eight. But there was no way past Purnell and his defence, and the game ended as it began – all square.

The stats show how dominant Wimborne were. But for the sixth time this season we were unable to find the back of the net. Tim’s team are creating the chances – all the boys have to do is convert a couple – simples!

Wimborne: Flitney, Biss (Walker 90), Roberts, Wright, Jackson, Carmichael, Morgan (Neale 63), Bedford (Beale 68), Munn (Cocklin 83), Fletcher, Baker (Burrows 60 

Attendance: 522

Match stats: