Tim Sills ’new-look young team fell to a disappointing season-opening defeat on Basingstoke’s 3G. An early first-half ricochet and a late second-half penalty did the damage on a “nearly” afternoon for The Magpies.

With the late withdrawal of Sam Roberts, manager Sills paired Billy Walker and Ben Scorey in central defence, with Joe Ryan and Lewis Williams playing out wide up top.

Scorey cleared The Dragons’ first attack with a leg-stretching overhead, before Ryan’s twinkling feet nearly set-up a promising attack. On six minutes, Ryan tricked his way to the ‘Stoke by-line on the left, pulled the ball back to Will Fletcher whose first-time shot nearly opened the scoring as it came back off the bar. In the next minute, at the other end, The Magpies’ defence had opportunities to get the ball away from the danger area before Scorey’s clearance from inside the goal area ricocheted off Reid’s knee. Time stood still as the spinning ball looped into the air and over ‘keeper Cameron Plain into the far corner.

Although there were glimpses of the visitor’s attacking prowess, it was the home side who looked the more threatening. Wilson cut-in from the left to test Plain with a low grubber shot; Cam Munn cleared a free-kick; Walker made an essential disrupting tackle; Scorey blocked a shot for a corner; Brown’s shot from the “D” was a comfortable save for Plain; and Wimborne’s defensive wall blocked a free-kick. For The Magpies, Josh McQuoid fired wide of the far post; Munn set-up the galloping Drew Eccott-Young for a low cross; Williams low shot from distance was an easy save; and the flying winger opened his legs and showed his class with an exhilarating run down the left wing out-pacing midfield and defence. On 25 minutes Wimborne had nearly equalised. Walker’s long clearance was allowed to bounce, Fletcher jumped with ‘keeper Grant and headed the ball goalwards only for Ball, who had an excellent game, to race back and clear the ball off the line.

There was action at both ends at the start of the second-half. Walker, under pressure, cleverly headed back to his keeper; Williams cut inside only for his shot to be bravely blocked; Scorey cleaned up when Reid was played through. Just after the hour mark, the visitors nearly equalised (again!). Fletcher headed Sam Jackson’s cross to Munn whose stunning first-time volley from the edge of the box brought an equally stunning save from Grant to tip the dipping ball over the bar.

‘Stoke needed three men to stop substitute Max Bustamante’s charging run; but just one, ‘keeper Grant, to thwart Williams when he was played through one-on-one. For Basingstoke, Reid’s low shot was saved by Plain; and then the same player dribbled this way and that before firing wide of the far post. On 80 minutes, Reid was involved in the second goal. He ran onto an under-hit back pass down the inside-left channel to be brought down by Plain. Referee Ryan instantly pointed to the spot, and Charlie Austin, on his debut, slammed the ball into the net. Full of confidence, the hosts sought a third but Eccott-Young stopped a rapid counter-attack, and Walker cut out a dangerous low cross. For the visitors, Williams nearly scored a deserved consolation deep into time added-on. A flowing move gave him the space and time to curl an effort bound for the top corner, only for keeper Grant to dive acrobatically and somehow turn the ball over the bar.

It was a disappointing season-opener for Wimborne. They matched Basingstoke in most of the stats apart from the one that matters – goals – both of which were avoidable. Tim’s young team had four “nearlys” without playing particularly well. They’ll learn from this. Things can only get better!

Wimborne: Plain, Eccott-Young, Walker, Scorey (Smith 80), Jackson, McQuoid (Roundell-Prince 52), Carmichael, Munn (Seuny 74), Ryan (Bustamante 60), Williams, Fletcher (Borges 90)

Attendance: 816

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