After a blistering start to the game, and with both teams hitting the woodwork in the first-half, the points were decided by Matty Burrows‘ penalty on 78 minutes.

Manager Tim Sills made two changes, Drew Eccott-Young returning at right back, and Harry Baker starting up front.

The game burst into life from the first whistle with Wimborne’s Matty Burrows, twice, and Josh Carmichael peppering Simon Grant’s goal in the first four minutes. Then, when home stopper Cameron Plain dribbled the ball out of his area, he was dispossessed for Basingstoke’s Reid to curl goalwards from 25 yards only to see his effort come back off the inside of the post. Spurred on by this, Basingstoke, a point above the relegation zone, poured forwards and earned two corners. The hosts survived, just, although their seeming reluctance to clear first time made it a nervy time for watching supporters.

Then it was The Magpies turn to very nearly take the lead on 19 minutes, when Sam Roberts’ header from Matt Neale’s corner, won by Burrows, was brilliantly finger-tipped onto the underside of the bar by visiting keeper Grant. Burrows was a constant problem for the visitors, first on the right from Eccott-Young’s pass, then on the left when Neale threaded the ball through to him.

There was no such thing as a lost cause for the visitors midfield and strikers, and their speedy harrying and hustling allowed Wimborne’s defenders no respite. But Plain hardly had to make a save as clear cut chances remained elusive at both ends. Centre-backs Ball and Upton for the visitors, and Roberts and Harvey Wright for the hosts were in commanding form.

At the start of the second-half, Harry Baker’s energy and enthusiasm won a corner, while at the other end Colwell’s drilled cross from the left just needed a touch. For a while the visitors were creating the chances: pressure from Adam Biss was enough to force Gallagher to fire wide; Ferdinand headed wide at the far post from a right-wing cross; and Gallagher’s low shot was an easy save for Plain.

Then, on 78 minutes, came the deciding goal. Cameron Munn’s charge through the centre was illegally ended. Carmichael’s free-kick from the top of the “D” was blocked by a jumping defender’s hand, and referee Whiting pointed to the spot. Burrows thumped the penalty past Grant to the delight of supporters at the housing estate end. A scintillating run by the flying Burrows ended with Munn’s shot being bravely blocked, and it took two defenders to get the better of Will Fletcher as he raced onto a through ball.

But, roared on by their travelling support, and with a feeling of desperation, Stoke threw everything at the home defence and won a series of free-kicks in shooting range. Brown’s first from 25 yards evaded the defensive wall but was brilliantly saved low down just inside the post by the diving Plain; and a longer-distance effort by Thompson-Brissett was awkward for the shot-stopper as it bounced in front of him. Finally, in the seventh minute of added-on time, at the other end Fletcher did everything right as he rounded the keeper only to be denied by a block on the line. The surface was hard and bobbly, and made it difficult to play flowing football. But both must be congratulated on the effort they gave. The result lifts Wimborne to eighth, but plunges Basingstoke into the bottom four.

With this battling performance, Tim’s team answered the question of what they had left to play for this season now they were safe from relegation. Want some stats? A 14th clean-sheet, an 11th home league win, the highest points score for WTFC in the Southern Prem – ever. Now to have the highest-ever finish in the non-league pyramid. These boys are a determined group, and doing us supporters proud. One home game left – on Easter Monday. You won’t want to miss that one.

Wimborne: Plain, Eccott-Young (Biss 58), Wright, Roberts, Jackson, Roundell-Prince (Munn 73), Carmichael, Neale (Morgan 64), Bedford, Burrows (Lovell 90+4), Baker (Fletcher 59)

Attendance: 965

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