This Dorset derby didn’t disappoint. Will Fletcher’s early goal in the first-half was cancelled out by Wes Fogden’s equaliser on the hour mark. Although Dorchester had two men sent for early showers, Wimborne were unable to take advantage of their superiority in numbers as they found visiting keeper Gerard Benfield in commanding form.

Not surprisingly, manager Tim Sills made three changes from his starting line-up who underwhelmed at Marlow: Charlie Philpott in goal, Lewis Beale wide on the left, and Cam Munn behind the lone striker.

It was a fast and furious opening before Wimborne won a corner on the right after six minutes. Will Fletcher peeled away from his marker on the edge of the goal area to powerfully head home Matt Neale’s perfect delivery. Four minutes later, Dorchester won a corner on the left. Wimborne’s goal area was as packed as The Square on Christmas lights switch-on afternoon. Another perfect delivery, this time from Moore, was scrambled away by the home defence. On eleven minutes Billy Walker spread the ball to Matty Burrows wide on the right. The flying winger beat his marker for pace only to be taken down as he raced into the area. Referee Harrison immediately pointed to the spot. Full of confidence following his goal, Fletcher grabbed the ball. However, Benfield guessed right, and diverted his venomous drive for a corner.

Play then settled down as both sets of Magpies focussed on their natural games. Moore delivered five more corners into the danger area, only for Wimborne’s resolute defence, with Fletcher at the forefront, to protect their keeper with headers, blocks, and important touches. In fact they did their job so effectively that the young stopper didn’t have to make a save in the first half at the housing estate end. Sam Jackson was producing a master-class in full-back play as he won tackles, intercepted, headed clear, and found time to hit forward passes. Billy Walker was another having a terrific game as little got past him. For a while Dorchester were dominant, but with Josh Carmichael prowling in front of them, Wimborne’s back-line were in determined mood and reached the interval with their slender lead in tact.

If we thought that the first-half had started in fast and furious fashion, then it was almost pedestrian compared to the first five minutes after the interval with both sides having four attempts on goal. Firstly it was Dorchester on the charge: Daws scintillating run ended with a shot over the bar; Fogden’s cross-shot went wide; then Philpott made a defying double save from Fogden. Play switched to the other end: Jackson headed a free-kick goalwards, then headed Neale’s corner downwards only for Benfield to somehow scoop the ball off the line; Fletcher’s follow-up header was saved on the line before Beale’s shot hit the bar.

Harvey Wright and Jackson made crucial interceptions before, on fifty-five minutes, Walker hit a great ball over the top of the visitors’ defence for Fletcher. As the striker raced onto the ball just outside the penalty area he was hauled down from behind by last man Bragg who was shown a straight red card. Carmichael’s resulting free-kick from the top of the “D” went wide. Four minutes later, Dorchester equalised: a low cross from the right found Fogden centrally-placed and ten yards out – his drive was too hot for Philpott to hold and the ball bobbled into the net.

Apart from Konzsela’s 80th minute free-kick which Philpott caught as it eluded the defensive wall and bounced wickedly in front of him, it was Wimborne who made the better chances. Jack Lovell bravely headed a wayward back-header over the bar; Joe Ryan fired across the face of the goal before being denied by a sprawling Benfield save. With four minutes of normal time remaining, Spetch held Lovell back just outside the “D” to receive his second yellow card. Burrows free-kick was brilliantly punched away by the flying keeper. Despite an additional five minutes, it was to be Wimborne’s last chance as Dorchester pulled everyone back to hang on to their point.

Before the game, a point taken from the team lying one place outside the play-off spots would have been a good result. But now it feels like two points lost. Tim’s team matched their higher-placed opponents, and will have taken plenty of positives from the game.

Wimborne: Philpott, Biss (Scorey 85), Walker, Wright, Jackson, Carmichael, Neale, Burrows, Beale (Ryan 72), Munn (Morgan 72), Fletcher (Lovell 69)

Unused sub: Roberts 

Attendance: 1001

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