Match Preview – Wimborne Town vs Willand Rovers
This game completes our set of playing against all the teams which have topped our division so far this season, and all in the month of November. We drew 0-0 at Bemerton, then defeated Mousehole 3-2 at home two weeks ago with second-half goals by Connor Cocklin, Harry Morgan, and Lewis Beale in front of a crowd of 636. Now we face Willand, the team which has spent the most time at the top of our table, and has not been out of the top four all season.
Neither of the top two were able to take all three points last Saturday: Willand had a goal-less draw at home to Melksham, while Wimborne fell to a 1-2 defeat at Cribbs, Harry Morgan scoring for the second game running. Combined with Cribbs’ 2-0 win over Bideford on Tuesday, it means that Willand have slipped back to fourth with a W7 D2 L5 GF 25 GA 22 record, on their travels their record is W2 D0 L4. Those two away victories were 3-2 against Westbury, and 2-0 at Bideford – Wimborne lost against both of those on their travels. For another comparison, at the end of September Willand beat Cribbs 2-1, and what a good result that was. The Magpies remain at the top of the tree for the time being with a W7 D3 L3 GF 25 GA 15 record, at New Cuthbury it’s W5 D1 L0. But both Willand and Wimborne would be overtaken by Frome and Tavistock if they won their games in hand.
After a cracking start to their league campaign, with new signing experienced Owen Howe banging in goals for fun, Willand’s results have not maintained that initial momentum and they now sit 16th in the current form table with a W1 D2 L3 record – a 2-0 win at Bideford, draws against Larkhall and Melksham, and defeats by top half Mousehole, Bemerton and Frome. Wimborne have fared better in their last six games – W3 D1 L2 – the wins were at home against Manor Farm, Yate and Mousehole; the draw at Bemerton, and defeats at Bideford and Cribbs. Not surprisingly, Tavistock, Frome and Cribbs top this particular table.
Looking at the FA competitions, Willand were how I like my tea bags – not in the cups for long. In the FA Cup they were knocked out in their first game at Western Premier Helston Athletic, and in the FA Trophy they again bowed out in their first game at Larkhall on that incredibly hot early September Saturday afternoon, when we fared no better losing on penalties at Exmouth.
This is Willand’s fourth season in this division after gaining promotion from Western Premier in 2018-19 as Champions. In their first season they were lying 14th after playing twenty-four games when the season was expunged; in 2021-22 they finished 15th with a W10 D7 L19 record; then last season Willand again finished 15th, 3 points above the inter-step relegation play-off spot.
Talking of last season, it was the first time the two teams have been in the same league. In Tim’s first game in charge, David Steele’s team won 1-0 at their Silver Street home. In March at New Cuthbury in front of 455 spectators, Wimborne gained a 2-1 revenge with Kaya Tshaka and Connor Cocklin netting.
Jez Bedford, Josh Carmichael, Ben Scorey and Ben Satterley were all unavailable for The Magpies last Saturday against Cribbs, while Jamie Johnston, Jack Lovell and Sam Roberts impressed off the bench. Tim has a squad full of “starters” so it will be interesting to see his starting line-up for this game.
Two top of the table teams going toe-to-toe on an autumn afternoon – it’s what Saturdays were made for. Come on you Maggies!
Admission: Adults £12; concessions £8; U18 £5; U13 £2.
Another professionally-presented printed programme will, of course, be on sale. This edition has special features on goalkeepers – you’ll want to save this one.
Weather forecast: sunny intervals; 6oC; <5% chance of rain – may I suggest layers, long johns, and a warming hot drink.
See you there.
