Match Preview – Wimborne Town vs Evesham United
Last season, when a mouth-watering play-off semi-final against Hamworthy seemed likely for Wimborne, Evesham’s late charge saw them pip us for fourth, and consign the Magpies to a semi-final at Sholing. So it was surprising that, this season after the goal-less draw in this reverse fixture at the end of September, Mike Ford’s team found themselves at the bottom of the pile in twentieth place after six games.
Fast forward to mid-January, and the Robins have risen fifteen league places in fifteen games to sit fifth in the table. That run has consisted of eight wins, four draws and just three defeats. Their recent away form is even more impressive – five wins and two draws in their seven ventures since we played them, including a 5-0 win at Bemerton, and 5-1 at Yate. As a result their record now stands at W8 D7 L6 GF 33 GA 25. They’ve lost just once in their last eleven games – a surprising 4-2 loss at home to bottom club Exmouth on the Saturday before Christmas. Evesham have only conceded once in their last three games – 1-0 wins at home against Cleeve and away at Westbury, and last Saturday a 1-1 draw at home with Cribbs, the second time they’ve taken a point off them.
Manager Ford, with nearly 500 league appearances for Cardiff and Oxford United, and five years as manager at Oxford City and another five at Banbury, is clearly very experienced. His assistant is Alex Sykes, who has managed Bishops Cleeve, Shortwood, and Cinderford. A couple of their players to keep an eye on are striker Levi Steele, who has been prolific wherever he has played and has bagged fourteen in twenty-three league and cup games this term; and summer signing Amer Awadh who is an experienced midfielder having notched up 84 appearances for Banbury and 70 for North Leigh.
Assuming that the Southern League decide that the score when Saturday’s game at Larkhall was abandoned is the result, then it was Wimborne’s first defeat in seven league games. At New Cuthbury the boys have a brilliant W9 D1 L0 record, defeating Bashley 4-0 in the last home game, with goals from Sam Jackson, Billy Walker, Ben Scorey and Sam Griffin. But manager Tim Sills’ selection options are diminishing. Jamie Johnston and Ben Satterley have departed; Dan Bartlett, Jez Bedford and Sam Roberts are long-term absentees; Ben Scorey is an injury doubt after taking a heavy first-half thump on Saturday; while Connor Cocklin and Jack Hoey have yet to return after injury. The good news is that club captain Scott Arnold played the second-half at Larkhall and looked in fine form.
How have we fared against Evesham at home in the Southern League? Well, the Robins had the upper hand at (old) Cuthbury winning four and drawing one of the six encounters. Last season, the first visit of Evesham to New Cuthbury, the game ended goal-less in front of 564 spectators.
This is going to be a tough game for Tim’s team. However, we are joint leading scorers in the division, have the second best defensive record, and have the division’s best home record. And then there’s the tremendous support the boys receive at New Cuthbury, without doubt the best in the division. So come on down to New Cuthbury for a proper game of live footie – after all, it’s what Saturday afternoons were made for!
There’s likely to be a large crowd for our first home game of 2024, so please be respectful of our neighbours if you have to park on the nearby streets.
Admission: Adults £12; concessions £8; U18 £5; U13 £2.
A packed, printed programme will be on sale.
Weather forecast: cloudy; 7oC; 10% chance of rain.
