When Wimborne’s 2025 finally got underway, it was a happy new year for Tim’s team as they took their time to overcome bottom side Marlow. Goals by Josh Carmichael, Matty Burrows, and skipper Sam Jackson overturned an early deficit.

Manager Sills made one change to his starting line-up from the last-gasp draw against Gloucester with Will Fletcher returning to lead the attack.

In the reverse fixture in November, the Magpies struggled to deal with prodigious long throws from right-back Oladunjoye, from both sides of the pitch, and the speed of winger Nawaf, and it was no different this time. After a bright opening with Will Fletcher firing over from Jack Lovell’s pass, Wimborne were caught on thirteen minutes by a rapid counter-attack when Carmichael’s second corner was cleared. Those left on defensive duties failed to deal with the loose ball in the centre of the pitch, and the fleet-footed Nawaf raced down the inside-right channel to score past Ross Flitney just inside the far post. It would be Marlow’s only on-target goal attempt of the afternoon.

For a while the hosts struggled to impose themselves on the game. But on 20 minutes they created a golden chance. It came from the dancing feet of Jez Bedford on the right, his low cross was dummied by Fletcher for Lovell five yards out. Somehow his first time shot hit the underside of the bar, bounced near the goal-line, hit the bar again and was scrambled clear, but where’s a Russian linesman when you need one! It’s definitely one to watch on TBTV’s highlights, but not if you’re Jack Lovell.

Harry Morgan had a shot blocked, and Lovell fired wide, but it was the visitors who looked the more likely to score again. However, the manager and Flitney had their tactics just right as the big stopper was quick to spot potential danger as he played sweeper-keeper. When he grabbed hold of a weak back-header in time added-on, Flitney launched the ball downfield. The willing Fletcher’s leap and flick-on caused chaos and confusion as his marker lofted the ball sideways towards Watkins, his keeper. Seemingly unsure of what to do with the bouncing ball, Marlow’s skipper caught it in his goal area. Referee Wilson deemed it a back pass, and gave an indirect free-kick. The Blues’ lined up on the goal-line. After a couple of false starts, Lovell touched the ball to Carmichael who cleverly drilled the ball just inside the near post to bring the scores level.

After a rather lethargic first-half performance, Tim’s team talk did the trick. Bedford’s twinkling toes took him to the by-line from where Morgan’s flick went narrowly wide; Carmichael and Morgan combined to set up Lovell who ballooned his shot over the bar; Morgan’s snap-shot was saved by Watkins after another Bedford run; Ben Scorey’s brave cross from the right was headed against the bar, for Matt Neale to fire the rebound against the inside of the post and away to safety. Pressure was building on the visitors’ goal at the housing estate end.

With just over 10 minutes left, Wimborne made the breakthrough. Toby Holmes played Matty Burrows to the left by-line, his pull-back came to Scorey at the top of the “D”, and as he was about to shoot he was unceremoniously flattened. A clever set-up routine for the free-kick ended with Burrows shot taking a wicked deflection which looped into the far corner. The Magpies sensed more. On 88 minutes Holmes turn and close-range shot was brilliantly saved by Watkins for a corner on the left. Neale delivered, and Sam Jackson thumped his header into the net. The hosts went looking for yet more: Neale was illegally upended on a mesmeric run, Burrows fired the free-kick over; then Burrows ended the game with a twinkling run to the by-line forcing Watkins into another super save. Owen Roundell came on for the last 15 minutes, and looked a very good acquisition.

A first win of 2025; a first run of three unbeaten games this season; a first win over Marlow. Tougher battles await, but you can only beat the team in front of you, and today, in the end, Tim’s team did just that. As a result, Wimborne move up to 15th, the 4th of five teams on 28 points.

Wimborne: Flitney, Wright, Walker, Roberts, Jackson, Scorey, Carmichael (Neale 63), Bedford (Munn 87), Lovell (Burrows 66), Morgan (Roundell 81), Fletcher (Holmes 74)

Attendance: 586

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