Saturday marks the start of a hectic fixture schedule for Wimborne. The Magpies will play seven matches in twenty-two days: five league games and two cup ties; three at the Wyatt Homes Stadium and four on the road.
First up is a visit to Hungerford. The Crusaders were relegated from National South to Southern League Premier South at the end of the 2022-23 season. And Danny Robinson’s boys have been trying to get back to Step 2 since then. In 2023-24 The Crusaders finished 8th, and last season 7th. Hopes were high of at least reaching the play-offs in this campaign.
The league fixture computer gave Hungerford a tough start: Farnham away (lost 1-0), and Gloucester at home (lost 2-1). The Crusaders then won their next four to lift themselves to sixth in the embryonic table. However, just three draws from their following eight games have seen them plummet down the form table to twentieth, and drift down the table that matters to sixteenth with a W4 D3 L7 GF 19 GA 26 record; at their grass pitch Bulpit Lane home it’s W2 D3 L2. Two of those home draws were goal-less against visitors from Dorset – Poole (20/9) and Weymouth (25/10). Last Saturday Hungerford lost 5-3 at Sholing.
In the FA Cup, The Crusaders knocked out AFC Stoneham and Swindon Supermarine both 3-0 at home, before losing at Whitstable (2-0). In the FA Trophy they lost 6-3 at Bracknell.
October was a milestone month for manager Robinson. On 16th he managed his 1,000th game (the first was at Cuthbury against Wimborne Reserves), and on 30th he celebrated his 2,000th day in charge of Hungerford – not bad for someone who won’t be 40 until January.
Hungerford’s squad includes some familiar names: goalkeeper Luke Cairney, defender Jordan Rose and strikers Brad Hooper, Conor McDonagh and Kyle Tooze, but no longer James Ollis who has recently returned to Frome. Harry Williams is leading scorer with five, while Louis McGrory is a goal-scoring midfielder to keep an eye on.
Tim Sills’ Wimborne have had a very good run since the beginning of October. They’ve won three in the league, twice 4-1 at home – Yate and Chertsey; and 2-0 at Dorchester, with just that 1-0 defeat at leaders Walton & Hersham; and two wins in the FA Trophy at home – Weymouth 2-0, and Portchester 1-0. In the league table they’re 5th with a W7 D3 L3 GF 26 GA 13 record; on their travels it’s W2 D1 L3. And they’re 3rd in the current form table W4 D1 L1 GF 14 GA 6. Nine of Sills’ squad have scored at least twice this season, with Will Fletcher and Lewis Williams on seven, Joe Smith six, and Max Bustamante four. Joe Ryan’s welcome return on Saturday gives the boss another attacking option. Tim often tells us that it’s a whole squad game, not just a starting XI – well, just over a third of the team’s goals have been scored by players coming off the bench.
Since joining the Southern League in 2010, this will be Wimborne’s fifth visit to Bulpit lane. In the first three seasons, in Division One, we drew twice and lost once. Last season, in Premier South in April we drew 1-1, Fletcher equalising ten minutes from time, after winning 2-1 at the Wyatt Homes Stadium in September, thanks to goals by Fletcher and Cam Munn.
After two close matches last season, will this be a close encounter of the third kind?
Match Info:
- Hungerford’s Ground: Bulpit Lane, Hungerford, Berkshire RG17 0AY
- Average Attendance: 384
- Tickets: Adults £14; concessions £10; students £10; 11-17 yrs £5; accompanied U11s free.
- Weather Forecast: Sunny intervals; 13oC; 10% chance of rain.
