Wimborne’s first-ever visit to Berkhamsted’s delightful Broadwater ground resulted in a third consecutive three-goal victory (after Weymouth 3-0 and Bishops Cleeve 5-2). A Will Fletcher brace, and Billy Walker’s second of the season secured the points, but in a team performance to be proud of, Cam Plain and his back-line were outstanding – simply outstanding!

Once more manager Tim Sills rotated his small squad giving starts to Josh Carmichael, Will Fletcher, and Ben Scorey. And once more he used all five substitutes to bring fresh energy and enthusiasm to tiring legs in the final quarter of the game.

From the early exchanges it was clear that Berko were a direct side intent on imposing their physicality on their opponents, with keeper Cam Plain having to make a low 8^th-minute save from Lacey. Wimborne’s first threat came on 18 minutes when Sam Jackson’s diagonal was controlled wide on the right by Max Bustamante, playing against his former club, to cut inside but his weak effort was an easy save for Burch. Twice Josh Carmichael’s challenges in midfield won the ball to set Will Fletcher and Bustamante on the attack. Neither of those ended with an attempt on goal, but Wimborne’s next attack, on 24 minutes did. This time it was Bustamante’s pass from the centre-circle which sent Fletcher clear between the central defenders, and from the edge of the box his composed finish found the corner of the net.

For the remainder of the half, The Comrades built pressure as they sought an equaliser: Billy Walker had to be strong to head behind ahead of his forward with Plain catching a header from the subsequent corner; Jackson raced across to clear a through ball; Ben Scorey cleared in the air and on the ground; Drew Eccott-Young battled against his pacey winger; and Plain was positioned to catch Johnson’s volley from a lofted free-kick knock-down. But the hosts were unable to score against a very determined defence. However, on 42 minutes, the visitors found the net again. After Lewis Williams had whipped in a dangerous cross and Fletcher had given a master-class in hold-up play, it was Walker who scored. A free-kick from the left bounced off the back of a defender, Walker turned on a sixpence, well, more like a half-crown, to slam the ball into the net from close range – two-yard Billy strikes again! In the second minute of added-on time, Cam Munn found Bustamante on the right and his snap-shot was inches away from making it three.

A couple of times this season The Magpies have had an early second-half wobble when 2-0 up, but not today. After Scorey and Walker had dealt with long diagonal balls, and Plain’s safe hands had caught Rosner’s volley, the visitors’ passing game caused the hosts problems. Munn and Bustamante combined for Eccott-Young to cross into the danger area; Williams and Bustamante played a one-two for Williams to shoot; before, on 53 minutes, Wimborne scored again. Eccott-Young went on an overlapping run on the right, his low cross took a slight deflection before finding Fletcher whose first shot was saved by Burch only for the striker to net the rebound.

Referee Berry awarded the hosts a plethora of free-kicks, all of which were launched into the box. But it was “hit-and-hope” followed by goalmouth scrambles, with Bill and Ben in the thick of the action, and few clear-cut chances being made. Ahead of the back-line, Josh’s McQuoid and Carmichael and Munn disrupted, then turned defence into attack as Wimborne carved their way through the Berko defence. Joe Smith fired wide after good work by Bustamante; Seuny made space for his shot; Alex Borges set-up Munn which brought a brilliant reaction save from the shot-stopper; and Borges set-up Seuny for another shot. In time added-on there were two pieces of action which epitomised Wimborne’s performance: Munn’s diving head cleared a free-kick, and Borges’ athleticism cleared a final Berko attack.

This was a terrific performance by Tim’s team. To put it in context, at 3pm Berkhamsted had been sixth in the embryonic league table, just a point behind early pace-setters Farnham and Sholing, hadn’t conceded a goal at their Broadwater home all season, and had scored in all six of their games in this campaign. Ninety-six playing minutes later, Wimborne had taken away Berko’s 10-month unbeaten home record, extended their own unbeaten run to six games, and leap-frogged The Comrades into seventh place. Wimborne haven’t always travelled well, but this team’s battling draw at Farnham, and this impressive victory has changed that perception. This was a team performance to be proud of.

Wimborne: Plain, Eccott-Young, Walker, Scorey, Jackson, Carmichael (Roundell-Prince 66), McQuoid (Seuny 72), Bustamante (Borges 82), Munn, Williams (Ryan 66), Fletcher (Smith 72)

Attendance: 505

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