For the second time this season The Magpies and Marine fought out a goal-less draw; and for the second time this season it was Tim’s team which dominated the goal attempts stats. After last Saturday’s enthralling and dominating win over Totton, this was a dour affair which won’t linger long in the memory. However, a point on the road is always a good result and extends Wimborne’s unbeaten run to seven.

Not surprisingly, Manager Tim Sills kept the same starting XI who had played so well last Saturday.

On a well-grassed pitch, on a sunny but bitterly cold afternoon, Wimborne made a promising start with Matty Burrows at the heart of attacks. In the first minute he made room for a shot with an athletic spin, it was blocked before Jez Bedford hammered the rebound over the bar; next Burrows fired Josh Carmichael’s cross from the right over Pagel’s bar; then Will Fletcher combined with Burrows for another effort. On 14 minutes, Cam Plain saved Marine’s Mehew’s close-range shot at the near post – it would turn out to be the only save Wimborne’s shot-stopper had to make all afternoon. Marine did play the ball around in midfield at times, but the visitors’ backline, with Owen Roundell-Prince, patrolling in front of them, were, once again, in dominant form: Harvey Wright headed away a cross from the by-line, Sam Jackson’s towering header cleared a free-kick, Sam Roberts was a tower of strength, and Drew Eccott-Young raced back to stop a rapid counter-attack.

However, most of the action was at the other end. Burrows 25-yard free-kick went past the wall but was grabbed by the keeper; Carmichael’s central free-kick was blocked by the defensive wall; and Roundell’s long throw – what a great attacking option that is – led to an ‘up and under’ scramble. But the half ended goal-less with defences dominant.

Five minutes after the re-start, Roberts header from a free-kick won a corner; Carmichael’s delivery picked out Jackson who controlled the ball on his chest before volleying over. Carmichael fired high and wide from 25 yards, Burrows went on a twinkling run, Jackson headed Carmichael’s free-kick back across the danger area for Cam Munn to fire wide, and the skipper’s header from Matt Neale’s free-kick also went wide.

Marine’s sole goal attempt of the half came on 76 minutes, from their sole corner of the game – central defender Peare’s header at the back post going over the bar. As in the first-half, it was Wimborne who looked the most likely to break the deadlock. From the second of Roundell’s quick succession long throws, Toby Holmes showed great technique to volley from the edge of the box only for Pagel to make a super save at the foot of the post; Neale’s free-kick from the edge of the area on the right was bravely punched away by the flying keeper; Holmes fired wide of the far post from Munn’s pass; and Munn’s shot was blocked deep into the five minutes referee Wootton added on at the end of the game.

Seven games unbeaten, four games on the road unbeaten – stats which just over a month ago would have seemed unlikely. Although there was some disappointment that we didn’t bag all three points, a point away from home is always a good result. The point keeps Tim’s team in tenth place.

Wimborne: Plain, Eccott-Young (Biss 79), Roberts, Wright, Jackson, Roundell-Prince (Walker 87), Carmichael (Neale 66), Munn, Bedford (Lovell 77), Burrows (Holmes 69), Fletcher 

Attendance: 321

Match stats: