Match Preview – Exmouth vs Wimborne
Our first game of 2024 is in south Devon against the same opponents as in our first home game of the season. In August Wimborne began 2023-24 with a win and a draw; Exmouth began with two draws. But since then the league fortunes of the two teams couldn’t be more different. Wimborne sit proudly at the top of the tree; Exmouth disappointingly at the bottom. Wimborne without a league defeat at New Cuthbury; Exmouth without a league win at their ground. Wimborne have scored the joint most goals in the division; Exmouth have conceded the most. Wimborne have a W11 D4 L3 GF 38 GA 20 record; Exmouth’s is W2 D4 L12 GF 22 GA 41.
League positions indicate that The Magpies will be favourites to take the points on Saturday. But dig a little deeper and you’ll see that it could be a tough afternoon. Exmouth’s two victories have both been impressive results: 4-1 at Bishops Cleeve; 4-2 at Evesham on the Saturday before Christmas. Exmouth have scored first in seven of their last eight games, including a 2-3 loss at home to 2nd-placed Cribbs, and a 1-2 loss at 4th-placed Frome. They lost at home to 3rd-placed Bideford by the odd goal too. On Boxing Day at home they took a 2-0 half-time lead over Mousehole, before the Cornish side came back to equalise. Exmouth have recently recruited Tom Bath and Louis Morrison, who have both played at Southern Premier level with Tiverton. Bath, and Aaron Denny are strikers in form having both scored twice in the last three games, and we know from the game in August what a good player Ace High is. In late November manager Keith Hill’s backroom staff were strengthened by the arrival of Dave Pearse, previously long-standing manager of Bridgwater.
What about our previous visits to Exmouth? There’s only been three, and we’ve yet to win there. Our two league visits both ended in 0-1 defeats: in 1981-82 in the Western League (thanks to Club Historian Ken Fergus for telling us that), and in 2022-23, under James Stokoe, our first away game of that season. Then, on an excruciatingly hot early September afternoon four months ago, we were knocked out of the FA Trophy on penalties after taking a 3-1 lead but playing for an hour with ten men. But we shouldn’t take too much notice of past results because Tim’s team are in the habit of breaking old records (Wimborne had only ever lost at Frome before December) and setting new ones (e.g. six consecutive away wins last season).
Manager Tim Sills is likely to be without the injured Connor Cocklin, Jack Hoey, and Sam Roberts, and long-term injured Dan Bartlett but has frequently talked about his squad of starters, and we’ve seen the versatility of players like Josh Carmichael, Sam Jackson, Ben Satterley and Ben Scorey. We can be assured that whoever Tim sends out, they’ll be doing their best to keep the shirt.
It’s a new year, and Wimborne are ready for a 2024 lift-off at Exmouth. The countdown has begun:
Five – we’re on a five game unbeaten run – Willand (4-2), Larkhall (2-1), Frome (2-2), Bishops Cleeve (1-0), Bashley (4-0);
Four – there were four different scorers against Bashley in our last game on Saturday – Sam Jackson, Billy Walker, Ben Scorey, and Sam Griffin;
Three – Tim has recruited three quality players since we last played Exmouth – Josh Carmichael, Sam Griffin, and Cam Munn;
Two – Ross Flitney and his defenders have kept two consecutive clean sheets;
One – Tim’s team have been number one in the league since early November.
Lift-off – for the second-half of the season – eighteen games played, eighteen to go.
Let’s get behind the boys. See you there.
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There are places available on the team coach – contact Paula if you’re interested.
Exmouth’s ground: King George V Playing Fields, Southern Rd, Exmouth EX8 3EE – approx 80m.Admission: Adults £9, Concessions £7, Over 16s £5, Under 16s £2
Weather forecast: sunny intervals; 7oC; <5% chance of rain.
