An instant impact from substitutes Joe Smith and Joe Ryan secured the first points of the season for the Magpies as they overcame the Hawks on a hot evening of football at the Wyatt Homes Stadium.

The Magpies claimed their first victory of the season with a 3-1 win, getting their season up and running after Saturday’s loss to Basingstoke in the opening fixture of the 2025/26 campaign.

The last time these sides met was on the final day of the 2024/25 season where, despite the Hawks being eventual winners, Havant finished sixth after Dorchester found a late winner to claim the final play-off spot.

Wimborne from the outset looked intent on starting quickly and multiple chances were created within the opening minutes of the game. Cam Munn had the best of the early chances to break the deadlock, but was denied after Dudzinski got down low to tip round the post.

The opener came on 15 minutes after a floated free kick from Josh Carmichael was only half-cleared, with Billy Walker popping up at the back post to slot home in typical poachers’ fashion.

Wimborne maintained control over the game for the rest of the half, with a score of 1-0 at the break in favour of the hosts. However, the visitors came out of the blocks a lot stronger in the second half, and it didn’t take long to find an equaliser after Ryan Seager’s impressive half volley found the top of the net in the 56^th minute.

With the scores equal, the points were seemingly all to play for. Then came the first of Tim Sills impact subs when on 59 minutes, Will Fletcher, who appeared to have tweaked his groin, made way for Joe Smith.

The impact was instant from the substitute. The forward collected the ball from the channel, beat two defenders with a ball roll and fired past the Havant keeper in superb fashion. A fantastic first competitive goal for the new signing, restoring the Magpies lead once more.

One super sub turned into two as just two minutes after stepping onto the pitch Joe Ryan extended the lead to 3-1, and what a goal it was! Max Bustamente, who worked tirelessly all night, controlled the ball, turned and provided a pinpoint pass to the feet of Ryan, who delivered a powerful but accurate strike into the top corner of the net.

Max Bustamente was unlucky to not add a fourth as the game approached injury time, after his effort from outside the area brushed past the side netting.

The final whistle blew, and the score settled with the Magpies claiming a deserved three points in front of a fantastic home crowd of 653 on an August Tuesday night. It was a brilliant display from the Magpies and hopefully will provide the springboard to claim many more wins this campaign

Match report by Tom Whittick, a second-year Bournemouth University Sports Journalism student who will be assisting the club’s media department this season!

Wimborne: Plain, Eccott-Young, Walker, Scorey, Jackson, McQuoid, Carmichael (Seuny 78), Munn (Roundell-Prince 64), Bustamante (Borges 90), Williams (Ryan 73), Fletcher (Smith 59) 

Attendance: 653

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