Although Will Fletcher pulled one back late on, a goal in each half by Seb Bowerman, and a well-organised defensive performance with keeper Michael Eacott in outstanding form, was enough to deny Wimborne the point their second-half performance deserved.

Manager Sills made four changes to his starting line-up: Charlie Philpott was in goal, and Jez Bedford, Harry Morgan, and Matt Neale returned to the starting line-up.

The game began at a fast and frantic pace with both sides pinging the ball around on the ground. The Robins’ Boorn had the first shot of the game from the edge of the area which the diving Philpott brilliantly tipped over the bar. Wimborne’s first attempt came on 15 minutes when Josh Carmichael’s 20-yarder was a comfortable height for the tall keeper to catch. Six minutes later, the visitors took the lead. Vaughan’s shot from inside the “D” was heading for the bottom corner before Philpott dived and pushed the ball away to his right only for it to fall to Bowerman who powered the ball into the net over the prostrate keeper.

Wimborne were allowed plenty of possession in the middle of the pitch, but when a pass was slightly off target or the ball miss-controlled, as happened a lot, The Robins pounced and counter-attacked at pace. In the last minute of the half, the hosts almost drew level. Bedford and Fletcher combined to set up Matty Burrows on the right. His speed gave him the opportunity to fire a low shot from an acute angle only for the ball to hit the inside of the far post; Matt Neale’s follow-up shot was cleared off the line by Dandy and away to safety. Things could only get better!

In a manner of speaking they did, as Wimborne dominated most of the second-half and the goal attempt statistics, but not the one stat that really matters. Ten minutes after the break Carmichael found Bedford in the inside-left channel, he managed to evade the long arms of the sprawled keeper before his goal-bound shot was cleared off the line. From the resulting corner, Burrows volleyed goalwards from near the penalty spot only for the diving Eacott to push the ball away with a strong hand. Burrows was having a major impact on the game. His speed led to him being blatantly pulled back by his full-back; then he cut inside to fire hard and low, Eacott’s save fell to Jack Lovell who was denied from close range by the big stopper.

Although most of the play was towards the housing estate end which The Magpies were attacking, The Robins’ rare forays into Wimborne’s half spelled danger. On seventy-nine minutes, after they’d forced their first corner of the half, an almighty scramble in the penalty area included two brave blocks but ended with Bowerman firing home his second from close-in on the right.

With nothing to lose, the home side threw everything at the visitors but were unable to create another clear-cut chance until the eighty-ninth minute. Burrows’ pace took him to the left by-line from where he bravely pulled the ball back for Fletcher to fire home from close range. Five minutes of additional time gave supporters hope, but The Robins, with centre-back Harrison outstanding, defended defiantly to secure all three points.

This disappointing defeat means The Magpies have picked up a meagre single point from their past three games. They’re working hard, are competitive, and are creating more chances than their opponents. But that little piece of quality, and that large slice of luck, are missing. That needs to change, and soon. On the positive side, Owen Roundell put in a class performance, Matty Burrows was electric at times, and Will Fletcher bagged another goal. Two tough away games await – but then again aren’t they all!

Wimborne: Philpott, Wright, Walker (Biss 82), Roundell-Prince (Roberts 88), Jackson, Carmichael, Neale (Holmes 76), Morgan (Munn 66), Bedford (Lovell 57), Burrows, Fletcher

Attendance: 551

Match stats: