Match Preview – Wimborne Town vs Larkhall Athletic

 

This fixture was originally scheduled for early October but had to be re-arranged because Ollie Price’s team were still involved in the FA Trophy. They won through three rounds of that competition: defeating Willand 2-0, Hamworthy 2-1, and Mousehole 2-0, before bowing out 2-1 at home to Isthmian Premier Horsham in the First Round Proper. The Larks also won three times in the FA Cup before losing 2-3 at home to neighbours National South Bath City on the same Saturday Wimborne hosted Torquay United.

 

 

Although Larkhall are behind with their league fixtures, they still sit a creditable twelfth with a W5 D3 L3 GF 23 GA 13 record – if they won their games in hand they’d be level on points with us. No team has conceded fewer league goals – an achievement jointly held with high-flying Cribbs and Frome. On their league travels, The Larks’ record is W1 D3 L1: they won 4-2 at Malvern, drew 2-2 at Manor Farm, 2-2 at Willand, and 0-0 at Evesham; and lost 0-2 at Frome. They are the only team in our division not to have lost more than once on their league travels.

 

And here’s some more impressive stats – The Larks have kept four consecutive league clean sheets: as well as that goal-less draw at Evesham, they had wins at their Plain Ham home over Melksham (1-0), Exmouth (5-0), and, on Saturday Paulton Rovers (4-0) when Dawid Regula scored a fifteen minute hat-trick either side of half-time.

 

Of course, Regula wasn’t the only player to score three on Saturday – our own Jack Lovell did the same against Willand at New Cuthbury. Manager Tim Sills has plenty of options as he contemplates his starting line-up. Will he stay with the eleven who played so well in taking a 3-0 lead by the hour mark; or will he freshen the team given there’s also a game at Paulton in four days time?

 

 

That win over Willand kept The Magpies at the top of the table with a W8 D3 L3 GF 29 GA 17 record; at New Cuthbury it’s W6 D1 L0. However, in the current form table we only sit seventh, W3 D1 L2, two places below Tuesday’s visitors, W3 D2 L1.

 

Last season The Magpies did the league double over The Larks – 2-0 at New Cuthbury, and 3-1 at Plain Ham. In the previous season in the second round proper of the FA Trophy, when we were in Southern Premier and Larkhall in Division One, The Larks won 2-1 on their first visit to New Cuthbury. Going further back, Larkhall visited (old) Cuthbury four times between 2014 and 2018, we won twice, Larkhall once, with one draw. In our Southern League days, including FA Trophy ties, there hasn’t been a goal-less draw between the teams.

 

 

Back to today’s game. This division is very competitive this season, and every point is likely to be vital come the end of the season. Tim and his team have frequently talked about the difference our support makes.

 

We’ve had Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. It’s now time for Floodlight Tuesday. We’ll have to be at our best for this tough Tuesday test, so be there to cheer on the boys.

 

Come on you Maggies!

Admission: Adults £12; concessions £8; U18 £5; U13 £2.

A printed programme will be on sale.

Weather forecast: light cloud; 3oC; <5%:chance of rain – it’s looking like an evening for layers and long johns – wrap up warm.