One of the many benefits of winning promotion back to the Southern Prem last season is that we get to play some really tasty local derbies at The Wyatt Homes Stadium, and the first of those is this Saturday against the other Dorset Magpies – Dorchester.

 

The last time the teams locked league horns was the first full season after the Covid years, and it wasn’t a great one for either side. Wimborne finished bottom of 22 and were the only team relegated; Dorchester finished 19th and were reprieved from relegation on a PPG calculation.

 

Both clubs are now under different management: Tim Sills took over at New Cuthbury in October 2022 leading the team to the play-offs in that season, then winning the division last season; just under a year after the change at Wimborne Tom Killick took the reins at The Avenue, leading his new charges to a ninth-placed finish, eight points short of a play-off spot. Encouragingly, both teams played before increasing attendances in 2023-24: Dorchester up 25% on the previous season; Wimborne up 35%.

 

Analysing this season’s results, there’s some interesting similarities, and some marked differences. Dorchester are currently 6th in the table with a W6 D8 L3 GF 27 GA 20 record.

Wimborne are currently 15th with a W6 D2 L8 GF 18 GA 27 record, that’s from one game fewer.

Dorchester’s away record is W1 D5 L2; Wimborne’s away record is W1 D1 L6.

Wimborne’s home record is W5 D1 L2; Dorchester’s home record is W5 D3 L1.

Both teams have hosted Taunton this month: Wimborne won 3-0; Dorchester drew 1-1.

Both teams have visited Bracknell since mid-October: Wimborne drew 0-0; Dorchester drew 1-1.

Wimborne have kept five clean sheets in their eight home league games; Dorchester have kept one in their eight away games.

Wimborne have scored in six of their home games; Dorchester have scored in five of their away ones.

Both teams have gathered seven points in their most recent six games: Wimborne W2 D1 L3 GF 10 GA 8; Dorchester W1 D4 L1 GF 7 GA 7.

Both Magpies have faced the top 3 teams in the division: Dorchester beat Gloucester 1-0, then beat Totton 3-2, before drawing with Merthyr 2-2 – all at home; Wimborne lost 1-0 at Gloucester, then 4-0 at Totton, before losing 6-0 at Merthyr.

 

Can history tells us anything? Since we first reached the Southern Prem for the 2018-19 season, Dorchester have come calling for five league and FA competition games: Wimborne have won one, Dorchester two, with two draws.

 

Back to this season – there are some familiar names among Killick’s squad: Gerard Benfield in goal, Tom Bragg and Will Spetch in central defence, Jack Dickson and Corby Moore in midfield, and Olaf Konzsela up front. Shaquille Gwengwe is another talented striker while Matt Buse bagged a brace against Merthyr two weeks ago.

 

Wimborne have a Matt in goal-scoring form too – Burrows has scored four in our last three games. And Will Fletcher will want to show his former club what they’re missing. Will manager Sills give his charges the opportunity to redeem themselves after that 3-2 loss at Marlow? Killick’s boys also scored twice on their visit to Marlow, but grabbed a point in a 2-2 draw.

 

It’s going to be a proper Dorset ding-dong, it’s going to be intriguing, it’s going to be exciting, it’s going to be a great game to watch. So wrap up warm, come on down, and enjoy a live match at our ground with its super facilities – after all, it’s what a November Saturday afternoon was 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. But be aware that it’s Christmas Lights switch-on afternoon in town so there may be alterations to the buses’ start and finish stops.

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

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

Average att: 584

A packed, printed programme will be on sale.

Weather forecast: cloudy; 14oC; 20% chance of rain.