Wimborne deservedly extended their unbeaten run to six games with a storming second-half performance which dented Totton’s title ambitions. Goals by Matty Burrows, Cam Munn and Toby Holmes sent the home support into raptures before Charlie Kennedy claimed a late, late consolation for the visitors.

Manager Tim Sills made one change: Josh Carmichael starting in place of the unfit Harry Morgan.

The first-half was more perspiration than inspiration with defences on top and neither keeper having to make saves of any note. The visitors tried to make their aerial strength count only to find Sam Roberts and Harvey Wright in unforgiving form. Totton’s Lee’s soft header on nine minutes was at a comfortable height for Cam Plain; visiting keeper Gosney dropped Owen Roundell-Prince’s long throw before his defenders scrambled the ball away; Cam Munn’s volley from inside the “D” from Josh Carmichael’s cleverly worked corner showed great technique but went well wide; and Matty Burrows’ speed caused concern down the left without really threatening Gosney’s goal.

The second-half was a completely different story as Wimborne took the game to the visitors. Roundell’s long throw ended with a deflected shot for a corner; Jez Bedford drove to the right by-line and forced another which was taken short to Bedford who pulled the back from the left by-line; and on 54 minutes Bedford found Drew Eccott-Young on the right, his weighted ball to Matty Burrows ended in yet another corner on the right. Given the large number of large bodies in the box, it was surprising that Carmichael’s delivery was allowed to bounce – but bounce it did onto Rendell’s arm in front of referee McRitchie. Burrows ignored Totton’s attempts to put him off and fired the penalty into the net.

On the hour mark Totton’s experienced shot-stopper had to make a brilliant reaction save on his line to prevent a second – Burrows 35 yard free-kick was headed across the goal area by Sam Jackson for Will Fletcher to shoot from close-range. Totton tried hard to get on terms: in a rapid counter-attack Rendell sent Taylor scampering down the left where Eccott-Young held him up until back-up arrived; Munn was on defensive duty in his own area to head clear; then Wright put in another towering header to end another attack. But the real threat was towards the goal at the housing estate end. And on 69 minutes, The Magpies gave their massed and vocal support something more to cheer. Bedford, who was at his energetic best, spotted Munn’s run into and across the penalty area, found him with precision, and Munn drove the ball across the keeper just inside the far post.

Totton were patient when allowed to pass the ball around in the middle of the pitch, then hit it high and long for their tall strikers, but were unable to get the better of Roberts and Wright. Tanner lofted two corners into the mass of bodies with Plain bravely punching one of them away under huge physical pressure. As the visitors threw more and more at Wimborne’s defence space opened up at the back, and the hosts took full advantage in the second of five additional minutes. Bedford played Toby Holmes through into acres of space on the left. The long-striding striker covered the distance from half-way to the penalty area far quicker than chasing defenders and coolly scored underneath Gosney. Hopes of a clean-sheet against Jimmy Ball’s team were dashed two minutes later when Kennedy scored after a charge by Carter down the right. It was too little too late, and three minutes later The Magpies, their management team, and their ecstatic supporters could celebrate.

Make no mistake, Wimborne’s second-half performance against a top side, is right up there with the best this season. Given that this was a third physical game in eight days, this was a great testament to the players’ fitness levels. Totton were on a 10-game unbeaten run, they’d only been beaten twice this season, and both by a single goal. To keep a strike-force that wouldn’t be out of place in the league above quiet, shows just how good our defensive unit was. A final word for both sets of supporters who helped to create such a great atmosphere. Totton’s guys never stopped encouraging their team even when three down – respect!

Wimborne: Plain, Eccott-Young, Roberts, Wright, Jackson, Roundell-Prince, Carmichael (Neale 70), Munn (Walker 80), Bedford (Richardson 90+2), Burrows (Biss 86), Fletcher (Holmes 82)

Attendance: 998

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