Two goals in three minutes inside the first quarter of an hour were enough for the National League South side to ease past Wimborne in a cup tie which lacked real atmosphere.

Manager Tim Sills made two changes from his starting line-up at Totton on Tuesday: Harry Baker and Harry Morgan both made their first starts of the season.

The visitors started full of confidence as you’d expect from a team who’d won five and drawn one of their last six games. On nine minutes a corner on the left went over goalkeeper Charlie Philpot for someone in the melee of players to head against the bar. Three minutes later, a fierce drive from within the “D” by the elusive Coulson forced a brilliant diving save from Wimborne’s shot-stopper; unfortunately for Philpot, the ball bounced, then span behind him before he could grab it; the eagle-eyed linesman indicated that the ball had crossed the line. Weston’s second was more clear cut: McCootie muscled his way past two defenders to reach a long through ball before the on-rushing keeper, and slotted into the empty net.

And that quick-fire brace deflated The Magpies and their supporters. Weston were in control as they snuffed out any potential Wimborne moves, and quickly turned defence into attack. The impressive Kadji set-up Coulson whose shot was blocked; Kadji’s shot from twenty-five yards was tipped over by the flying Philpot; Sam Jackson stood strong against Morgan; and Josh Carmichael chased back to relieve Lewis of the ball with a superbly-timed tackle in the area. The hosts were restricted to occasional forays into the visitors’ territory, but were unable to conjure up an attempt on goal in the first-half.

Things could only get better! And they did to an extent after the interval as The Magpies had eight attempts on goal to The Seagulls’ three. And they almost pulled a goal back in the first minute at the housing estate end. Harvey Wright linked up with Carmichael down the right, and was played through one-on-one with keeper Harris who took the sting off his shot before the ball was hacked away. At the other end Reid turned outside and inside as he came off the right wing but was denied by another super save from Philpot low down by the post. Carmichael, Sam Roberts, Connor Cocklin, and Jez Bedford then took it in turns to stand strong or chase back to repel Weston attacks.

You couldn’t doubt Wimborne’s effort to get themselves into the game: Matty Burrows had a shot blocked from Carmichael’s pass; Jackson’s header from a Burrows corner was saved low down on the line; Wright crossed from the by-line; Carmichael twice fired over from twenty-five yards; Will Fletcher headed Jackson’s cross wide.

However, Weston were well-organised and difficult to break down. You always thought that they had another gear or two to go through if needed. But they didn’t, and they comfortably ran out deserved winners.

For Wimborne, it was a flat performance, with a flat atmosphere, on a beautifully flat surface. For the second season running we’ve been knocked out of the FA Cup at home at the same stage by a National South team. It would have been quite a shock if the result had been anything else, but the players will be disappointed with their collective performance, and not being able to give their supporters something to cheer.

Wimborne: Philpot, Scorey (Roberts 45+1), Wright, Cocklin, Jackson, Carmichael, Neale (Munn 54), Bedford (Beale 73), Morgan, Baker (Burrows 60), Fletcher

Unused sub: Arnold, Biss, Ryan 

Attendance: 461

Match stats: