It’s eight months since we gathered at The Wyatt Homes Stadium on a hot August afternoon to watch The Magpies enjoy a winning return to the Southern Prem at Step 3 with a 1-0 victory over Hanwell Town. That was the first of Tim’s team’s eleven three-pointers at the Wyatt Homes Stadium this season.
Our final visitors for this campaign are Paul Doswell’s Boatmen. 18 months ago, former Eastleigh and Sutton boss Doswell took over from legendary Sholing manager Dave Diaper who had been in charge for a remarkable 1200 games spanning 25 years. Last season Sholing finished 15th with 49 points. This season, with two games remaining, with a W13 D9 L18 GF 56 GA 66 record, they are 13th with 48 points. On their travels their record is W6 D4 L10.
Regular readers of our match previews won’t be surprised when I mention the “c” word – consistency. The Boatmen are another side who’ve struggled to find it in 2025. In January Sholing drew one and lost four; in February it was four wins and one loss; in March and April they’ve won two, drawn one, and lost five. Their most recent six results are: Basingstoke (h) 2-2, Poole (a) lost 0-2, Hanwell (h) lost 0-1, Taunton (h) won 2-0, Plymouth Parkway (a) lost 1-3, and, on Good Friday, Merthyr (h) lost 0-3. That leaves them 17th in the current form table.
One Sholing player who is consistent, at finding the net, is former Watford youth Michael Folivi, signed at the end of November. He announced his arrival with a foursome against Bracknell, and has been scoring regularly since then. In January and February he scored in six consecutive league games. There’s been a lot of changes to Sholing’s squad this season as the new boss makes his mark. Wimborne have been a beneficiary with the arrival of Owen Roundell-Prince after he’d made over 300 appearances for The Boatmen.
Wimborne are sitting seventh in the current form table. Their last six results are: Parkway (h) won 1-0, Frome (a) won 1-0, Gosport (a) drew 1-1, Walton & Hersham (a) lost 1-2, Basingstoke (h) won 1-0, and, on Good Friday, Hungerford (a) drew 1-1. The Magpies have won their last five home games. In the table that matters, Tim’s team are eighth with a W15 D11 L14 GF 48 GA 53 record; at home it’s W11 D4 L5.
Manager Sills will have Billy Walker available again. Ross Flitney will be in goal while the boss has options in midfield and up front. Matty Burrows (12 goals) and Will Fletcher (16) are the prime contenders for our “golden boot”. Do look on the Club’s website for Steve Harris’s fantastic action pic of Fletch heading the equaliser at Hungerford on Saturday – that has to be a contender for pic of the season.
This is likely to be the final appearance at the Wyatt Homes Stadium of goalkeeper Ross Flitney, whose experience and command of his box was such a vital factor in Wimborne winning the Division One title last season.
Wimborne will want to finish their home season well – can they make it six successive wins? Sholing will be seeking revenge for that 1-0 loss in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day when Billy Walker scored. The Boatmen need another point to be certain of staying in this division. It means that both teams have something to play for. So come on down to the Wyatt Homes Stadium for our final home fixture of the season, enjoy a cracking game of real footie, say farewell to Flits, and thank the players for what they’ve achieved this season. After all, it’s what Easter Bank Holiday Monday afternoons were made for.
There’s reasonable parking at the ground in Ainsley Road BH21 2FU, but if you do decide to travel by car and park on the nearby streets, please do so respectfully to our neighbours.
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: 741
A packed 80-page printed programme will be on sale.
Weather forecast: sunny intervals; 13oC; 50% chance of rain.
