The first of a run of three games at the Wyatt Homes Stadium is a first-ever fixture against Chertsey Town. Like The Magpies, The Curfews were promoted at the end of last season: Tim Sills’ Wimborne won SL Division One South while Mark Harper’s Chertsey ran away with the Isthmian South Central title with just one defeat, bagging 100 points and scoring 103 goals.

The Curfews had a perfect start to this season with a first minute goal on the way to an opening day 4-1 win over Hungerford. They are currently sitting in mid-table in 13th spot with a W4 D3 L4 GF 25 GA 19 record – only three teams in this division have scored more; on their travels their record is W2 D1 L3 – the wins were at Tiverton (3-2) and Marlow (5-0). The victory over bottom-of-the-table Marlow was also Chertsey’s first league clean sheet of the campaign. They followed that up with a second two weeks later in their most recent league fixture with a 4-0 home win over Sholing. In between, they were beaten 2-1 at home by Plymouth Parkway.

Chertsey’s leading league scorer is – Jack Mazzone with seven to his credit. His will be a familiar name to regular supporters from his days at Metropolitan Police. Another couple of players to keep an eye on are William Montague, who has netted five, and Conor Lee with four including a come-back hat-trick against Winchester after being 3-0 down.

Chertsey have played two league games fewer than Wimborne, mostly because of their run to the FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying: victories over Raynes Park Vale (3-2), Hanwell Town (2-0), and Ashford United (3-2) led to a 1-3 home loss to Sutton United in front of a crowd of 2000+. They’ve had success in the FA Trophy too, beating Billericay 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The Curfews seem to do well in cup competitions, having won the FA Vase in 2019.

As well as both teams having won the Vase, Wimborne in 1992, and both teams earning promotion last season, there are similarities in results in this campaign. Both Chertsey and Wimborne have beaten Hungerford and Tiverton, drawn at Bracknell, and lost to Parkway.

For Wimborne, that loss to Parkway was their most recent game, on Tuesday. That result leaves The Magpies in 11th with a W5 D2 L6 GF 12 GA 21 record; at New Cuthbury it’s W4 D1 L1. Cam Munn has scored five of those goals, Will Fletcher three. Drew Eccott-Young, Ross Flitney and Jack Lovell remain on the injured list, Connor Cocklin has departed to Bemerton, while Matty Burrows made a welcome return off the bench in Devon. Saturday’s game will also be a first opportunity for supporters to see recent signing Alex Rutter in goal, after a clean sheet at Bracknell and a star performance on Tuesday.

Both teams will want to get something from this fixture and consolidate their position in the table. It has the makings of being a competitive game between two good sides. So wrap up warm, come on down, and enjoy a live match at our ground with its super facilities – after all, it’s what Saturday afternoons were made for!

There’s plenty of parking at the ground in Ainsley Road BH21 2FU, but if you do decide to park on the nearby streets, please do so respectfully to our neighbours.

The Morebus no.13 runs along Leigh Road from and to The Square in the town centre with stops at the bottom of Parmiter Road.

There is a bike park to the left of the players’ entrance.

Admission: adults £14, concessions £8, U18s £5, U13s £2.

A packed, printed programme will be on sale.

Weather forecast: cloudy; 12oC; 10% chance of rain.