MATCH REPORT: Wimborne Town 1-1 Bemerton HH

Wimborne 1

Bemerton Heath Harlequins 1

Sat 10th February 2024

Goals: Walker

Att: 690

Wimborne had keeper Ross Flitney to thank for restricting Bemerton’s blistering start to just one goal. After several near misses, the Magpies equalised in the last moments of the first-half through Billy Walker. Although most of the goalmouth action after the interval was in front of the visitors’ goal, the hosts created few clear cut chances and were unable to score a winner against a stubborn defence.

Manager Tim Sills made two changes: Ben Scorey coming in at left-back to replace Sam Jackson who moved to central defence; Jack Lovell returned to lead the front line. New loan signing Matty Burrows was on the bench and came on for the last half-hour.

For the first time in 2024, the boys were back in town, and another large crowd turned up to welcome them home. However, the game didn’t start in the way Magpies’ supporters anticipated. It was Bemerton who blasted out of the blocks, and should have had more to show after fifteen minutes than their solitary goal. That came on three minutes when a half-cleared corner fell to Higgins on the left of the box. He made space for himself before drilling a shot through a crowd of players into the far corner. Wimborne’s defence struggled with the movement of the experienced Green and the speed of Jatta as the visitors surged down the left, through the middle and down the right. Twice Flitney had to use all of his physical attributes to thwart Young and Britton, then breathed a sigh of relief when Green stole in unchallenged to head Britton’s free-kick wide.

Things could only get better for Tim’s team, and they did. On fifteen minutes Lewis Beale headed Josh Carmichael’s cross over the bar for the home side’s first attempt on goal; next Beale was inches wide of the right-hand post with a snap shot; Jack Lovell had a shot bravely blocked; former Magpie Henry Lander even more bravely put his head in the way of Matt Neale’s blaster; Harry Morgan’s turn saw him volley a loose ball just wide; Carmichael’s header from Neale’s corner was in turn headed off the line; Neale volleyed over after Sam Griffin leapt with keeper Creese.

Pressure was building, and as the clock ticked over into time added-on before the interval, Wimborne equalised. Oakley Hanger’s free-kick from wide on the right caused chaos in the box and led to pin-ball football: a shot was cleared off the line, a follow-up shot was blocked, before Billy Walker stabbed the ball into the net. There was still time for the hosts to force two more corners with Lovell’s header being well saved by the keeper. After that poor start, Wimborne had recovered well, and had had sixteen goal attempts to Bemerton’s five.

After the break, Wimborne showed their technical ability: the close control and passing of Hanger, Beale, Neale and Morgan down the right was a joy to behold; Morgan gave two master-classes – the first in how to shield the ball, the second in instant control. But it wasn’t until the introduction of Matty Burrows just before the hour mark, that Wimborne threatened the Bemmy goal again. Coming in off the left wing, Burrows picked up a loose ball from Lovell’s leap, powered past defenders, and shot just wide from the edge of the box. A trade-mark Hanger cross just eluded his forwards, and Burrows fired Munn’s low cross wide.

At the other end, Green got the better of his defenders in a chase for a long ball and lobbed just wide – it was the visitors’ only attempt on goal of the half. Ben Scorey stopped their next attack, beat his winger, then found his man with a perfect pass, and Flitney raced out of his area to head clear. Most of the action, though, was at the other end. Sam Jackson headed Burrows’ corner over; Burrows’ run ended in a shot; and in the final minute of the six added-on by referee Lamport, Morgan volleyed wide.

After fifteen minutes, when we could have been three or four behind, a draw would have seemed a good result. But at the final whistle, after all the chances we had, it felt like two points dropped. Positives were the performances of substitutes Matty Burrows and Cam Munn. The good news is that we’re still top of the table, but we can’t afford to drop many more points at fortress New Cuthbury. There’s no doubt that we’re in for an exciting final two months of the season!

Match stats:

Wimborne: Flitney, Hanger, Walker, Jackson (capt), Scorey, Carmichael, Neale (Munn 70), Beale, Morgan, Griffin (Burrows 59), Lovell (Baker 82)

Unused subs: Arnold, Hoey

Attendance: 690