League leaders Merthyr extended their unbeaten run to 26 games – but only just! After Cawley Cox had given the visitors the lead with the last kick of the first-half, Wimborne came storming back to equalise through Harry Morgan on 62 minutes, have a second debatably ruled out for offside, and look the most likely to grab a winner.

Manager Tim Sills made two changes to his starting XI: Sam Roberts came into central defence with Toby Holmes up front.

The Martyrs unbeaten league run goes back to August, so it was no surprise to see the table-toppers pass the ball around confidently as they dominated possession in the early stages. Wimborne had to be patient, but when a Merthyr attack broke down or was disrupted they tried to use the pace of Toby Holmes to get behind the visitors’ back line.

The first chance of the game came on 11 minutes. Ross Flitney’s clearance from the edge of his area was picked off by Martyrs’ skipper, right-back Handley, who looked up and sent a 40-yard volley inches wide of the vacant net. Cam Munn stopped a left-wing overlap with a well-timed sliding tackle, and Sam Roberts put his body on the line with a brave diving block to keep the visitors at bay. It was a difficult first quarter for The Magpies.

But gradually they gained a foothold in the game. Sam Jackson volleyed wide from Wimborne’s first corner; Matty Burrows jinking run to the right by-line earned a second which Jackson headed down for Jack Lovell to lift over the bar from close range; on 29 minutes Lovell broke quickly down the left before Cogman saved his cross-shot; and the keeper made another low save when Burrows came inside from the right wing to shoot. At the housing estate end, Drew Eccott-Young had to be strong to clear the ball; Thomas fired wildly over the bar, Flitney made catching a Rees’ header look easy; Ben Scorey stopped another attack with a great tackle; and Flitney raced out of his area to clear a through ball for Simpson. It was exciting end-to-end fare as half-time beckoned. Then, in the fourth of five minutes added-on, Merthyr struck. Wide on the right, Thomas sent an outswinging low cross into the danger area for the onrushing Cox to nudge the ball over the line from close range.

A trade-mark Tim team-talk sent his team back out on the front foot. After Jackson had raced back to dispossess the dangerous Simpson, a lofted pass from a drop ball was flicked goalwards by Holmes only for the keeper to make a sprawling save; Burrows chased Owen Roundell’s through pass to the by-line; Eccott-Young drove forward but his shot lacked pace; Lovell, who was having a storming game, charged down a clearance for Burrows to lift the ball over a defender before shooting over the bar.

If Merthyr had scored from the cross of the game, then, on 62 minutes, Wimborne equalised from the move of the game. The Magpies strung together a dozen passes as they moved the ball from defence on the left through midfield to attack on the right. Eccott-Young found Holmes inside the penalty area, he reached the by-line before cutting the ball back for Harry Morgan who slammed the ball into the far corner past the helpless keeper. Look out for this one on TBTV’s highlights, it’s a contender for team goal of the season.

Wimborne sensed a second. Munn went on a mazey run; Burrows did likewise; Roberts headed wide; and a charge by Burrows ended with the flying winger pulling his shot wide of the far post. On 70 minutes, Wimborne did have the ball in the net again. From Burrows’ free-kick wide on the left, Cogman saved Jackson’s shot and Will Fletcher netted the loose ball but, debatably, it was ruled out for offside. Although Wimborne finished the game in the ascendancy, they were unable to force a winner. Merthyr held on to keep that remarkable run going.

There’s no doubt that Merthyr are a very good footballing side so to take a point was a great result. Wimborne defended really well and kept the division’s leading scorer, Rees, quiet. In fact, the visitors weren’t allowed a single effort on goal in the second-half. And The Magpies looked dangerous going forward. Tuesday’s derby against The Dolphins is a massive game, but if the boys can play like this again we have nothing to fear.

Wimborne: Flitney, Eccott-Young, Roberts, Wright, Jackson, Scorey (Roundell 48), Morgan, Munn, Lovell, Burrows (Bedford 81), Holmes (Fletcher 64)    Unused subs: Carmichael, Walker

Attendance: 594

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