- Own Goal (88')
This is the re-arranged “Stourco” derby originally scheduled for New Year’s Day. At that time Wimborne were 16th with a W7 D4 L10 record; Poole’s W6 D7 L9 record had them on the same 25 points but one place lower on goal difference.
Since then both teams have had 21 points on offer. It’s been anything but a super seven set of fixtures for either team: The Magpies have gathered six points, The Dolphins a meagre four which has seen both teams slip further down the league table. So don’t be surprised if Cher’s 1989 hit “If I could turn back time” is on the play-list of those involved in this game.
Poole’s results in 2025 have been: at home – a 0-0 draw with Bracknell, a 1-0 win over Basingstoke, a 1-0 loss to Frome, and on Saturday another 1-0 loss to Tiverton; on their travels – a 2-1 loss at Chertsey (a first game for new joint managers Joe Lea & Pat Suraci), a 2-1 loss at Havant & Waterlooville, and a 1-0 loss at Gosport. The Dolphins haven’t found the net in their last three games, and are the division’s lowest scorers. However, there hasn’t been more than one goal between the teams in each of Poole’s seven matches this year.
In the same period Wimborne’s results have been: at home – a 3-1 win over Marlow, 2-1 losses to Bracknell, then Havant & Waterlooville, and on Saturday a 1-1 draw with table-toppers Merthyr; on their travels Tim’s team drew 2-2 at Taunton, lost 1-0 at Tiverton, and drew 2-2 at Hanwell. Harry Morgan has scored in both games during the past eight days, and Matty Burrows and Will Fletcher are in goal-scoring form this year too.
As of Saturday, Wimborne are sitting 18th with a W8 D7 L13 GF 34 GA 46 record; at The Wyatt Homes Stadium it’s W6 D4 L5. Poole are 19th W7 D8 L14 GF 26 GA 44; on their travels it’s W3 D4 L7. You won’t be surprised to learn that both teams are in the lower reaches of the current form table (last six games) – Wimborne 19th and Poole 20th, with only Basingstoke and Chertsey below.
The reverse fixture, on a hot August Bank Holiday Monday, was decided by a 45th minute goal by Poole’s Charlie Davis in front of a crowd of 1,615. That result left The Dolphins’ previous manager Steve Tully’s team sitting a heady 5th, while Tim Sills’ team were 14th.
What of previous encounters at Cuthbury and New Cuthbury since we’ve been in the Southern League from 2010 onwards? There’s just been five. There were two in Division One – Poole winning both: 1-0 in 2011-12, and 2-0 the following season. Our first season in Premier South in 2018-19 saw another Poole win, this time 4-0. The following season was our only victory, Curtis Young scoring in time added-on for a 2-1 win – however, that was in the first of the non-completed Covid seasons. The last home encounter was in April 2022 when Poole came from behind to win 4-2 with a certain Tony Lee bagging not only a brace of goals but also a brace of yellow cards.
There’s always been movement of players between the two clubs. In recent times these include Will Fletcher, Oakley Hanger, Toby Holmes and Harvey Wright.
Apart from battling for local bragging rights, both teams are involved in a relegation fight and will be determined to get something from this game. We can be sure that players on both sides will give their all in this one. It has the makings of being a cracker which you won’t want to miss. After all, it’s what a Tuesday evening under the floodlights was made for!
As a large crowd is expected, and the clubhouse couldn’t accommodate everyone, segregation of fans is necessary for safety reasons, as it was for the Torquay and Frome fixtures last season. Additional toilet and catering facilities will be available for ‘away’ supporters. All you need to know about arrangements can be found on the Club’s website:
There’s limited parking at the ground in Ainsley Road BH21 2FU, so if you do decide to travel by car and park on the nearby streets, please do so respectfully to our neighbours. However, if you can use alternative methods of transport or share lifts that would be helpful.
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, a five-minute stroll from the ground.
There is a bike park to the left of the players’ entrance.
Admission: adults £14, concessions £8, U18s £5, U13s £2.
Average att: 626
A packed printed programme will be on sale.
Weather forecast: light cloud; 5oC; <5% chance of rain.
Please note that it is a 7:30 kick-off.
