What a tough and exciting division this has been! As we go into the final round of fixtures, seven of the twenty-two teams are fighting to avoid the last two relegation spots. Last season 48 points weren’t enough to prevent Beaconsfield going down on the last day, this time 47 points is the target. At the other end of the table, two teams are fighting it out to bag the fourth play-off spot. Those two teams are Dorchester, whose final game is at Hungerford, and our opponents on Saturday – Havant & Waterlooville. As it stands, The Hawks, one point behind Dorch but with a superior goal difference by seven, need to better Dorch’s result to overtake them. So there’ll be massive pressure on Shaun North’s team to deliver in front of their home supporters.
For Wimborne this will be a first visit to Havant & Waterlooville’s Westleigh Park and its 3G pitch. After seven years in National South and the National League, The Hawks were relegated to the Southern Prem a year ago. Under manager North they’re making a great effort to return at the first attempt. With just this game left, The Hawks are sitting sixth with a W20 D11 L10 GF 82 GA 49 record; at Westleigh Park it’s W13 D4 L3.
Since the reverse fixture on a Tuesday evening in mid-February at The Wyatt Homes Stadium, when The Hawks had a man sent off but then scored twice before Harry Morgan grabbed a consolation in time added-on, North’s men have won seven, drawn four and lost two. Their last six results: Gloucester (h) 4-0, Marlow (a) 3-1, Supermarine (h) 3-2, Taunton (a) 1-1, Bracknell (h) 3-0, and, on Monday, Gosport (a) 2-1 places them top of the current form table. The experienced Ryan Seager has scored a remarkable 11 goals in those six games which leaves him on 30 for the season just two behind the division’s leading scorer Ricardo Rees of Merthyr. In their last four home games, The Hawks have netted 14 times.
Wimborne have also had a good run since that reverse fixture at the Wyatt Homes Stadium: winning seven, drawing six, and losing just once to leave them sitting eighth with a W15 D12 L14 GF 49 GA 54 record; on their travels it’s W4 D7 L9. Their last six results: Frome (a) won 1-0, Gosport (a) 1-1, Walton & Hersham (a) lost 1-2, Basingstoke (h) won 1-0, Hungerford (a) 1-1, and, on Monday, Sholing (h) 1-1. Will Fletcher scored in both of The Magpies’ games over Easter and is in pole position for our “golden boot” award. Ross Flitney ended his outstanding goalkeeping career against Sholing, so, with Cam Plain injured, Ben Rodwell will make his third start of the season. Manager Tim Sills built a squad of “starters” which gives him options in defence, midfield and attack. It will be interesting to see how he decides to use them for this final fixture of 2024-25.
Looking at the league table, the current form table, and given that North’s team won the reverse fixture, and need to get a result to have any chance of overtaking Dorch, The Hawks will be hot favourites to win this and do the double over Tim’s team. But pressure can get to players and their supporters. On the other hand, or rather foot, Wimborne have already achieved the targets of staying in the division, recording the Club’s highest points total at Step 3, and now the Club’s highest-ever finishing position in the non-league pyramid, not forgetting the Club’s highest-ever league attendance average of 765. That means that The Magpies have no pressure except that which they put on themselves. This has the makings of being a cracking final game. And as it’s the last chance to have your footie fix until pre-season in July, you won’t want to miss this one. After all, it’s what Saturday afternoons were made for.
The Supporters Club is running a coach to the game. See you there. Come on you Maggies!
Havant & Waterlooville’s ground: Westleigh Park, Martin Rd., Havant, Hants PO9 5TH – c. 50 miles
Weather forecast: sunny intervals; 15oC; 10% chance of rain.
Average attendance: 792
Admission:
- Online: adults £13, concessions £9, accompanied U16s free
- Gate: adults £15, concessions £10, accompanied U16s free.
