MATCH REPORT: Wimborne Town 2-2 Cribbs

Wimborne Town 2

Cribbs 2

Sat 24th February 2024

Goals: Hanger, Munn

Att: 808

The points were shared when first met third in front of over 800 spectators. Referee Harrison flourished his red card three times in the second-half, but the visitors eight men grabbed a late equaliser to grab an unlikely looking point.

After that excellent performance at Yate last Saturday, it was not surprising that Manager Tim Sills stayed with the same starting line-up. Connor Cocklin made a welcome return to the subs bench.

Given that they have the best defensive record in the division, Cribbs’ defence looked decidedly on edge in the opening minutes. Harrying by Jack Lovell, and panicky clearances gave Wimborne the opportunity to send four corners and two free-kicks into the danger area in the opening fifteen minutes. Sam Jackson headed over, Billy Walker headed over, and Jackson headed wide. It was a frantic start, but by the time we’d reached twenty minutes, Cribbs began to come more into the game.

Six times Bennett hurled throw-ins prodigious distances into the penalty box from both left and right, with the home defence clearing the danger. At the other end Matty Burrows flashed a cross from the left by-line, Lovell had a shot from an acute angle saved by Boyd, and Matt Neale poked a pass inches wide of the far post. Then on thirty-five minutes Cribbs took the lead. Feltham’s low free-kick from wide on the right resulted in a scramble before Bennett stretched a leg to send the ball into the corner.

Six minutes later the scores were level, and it came from another free-kick, this time for Wimborne on the left of the centre-circle. Oakley Hanger sent it soaring towards the mass charging into the box, one bounce and it flew past Boyd.

Three minutes after the break, Lewis Beale went on an electric run down the left wing, only to be stopped crudely by substitute McErlain for his second yellow card. Shortly after the visitors had a shot cleared off the line following a corner, while Beale shot wide at the housing estate end. Then, just after the hour mark, the Magpies took the lead. Hanger’s free-kick fell to Beale whose shot was well saved, the ball came out of the box to Cam Munn to the left of the “D” who hit a sumptuous volley into the far corner. A contender for “goal of the season”.

After Walker had stood strongly to stop the dangerous Duru, Cribbs Captain Crouch defended brilliantly to deny an opportunity from Harry Morgan’s clever flick. On sixty-seven minutes, Hanger played a ball inside the left back for Burrows to chase before the flying winger was body-checked by Harnett-Balkwill for a second yellow. A penalty, and Cribbs reduced to nine men. After a long delay, Morgan’s penalty was brilliantly saved by the young keeper just inside the post.

Cribbs’ nine became eight two minutes later. Corrick dived in recklessly to up-end Munn on the touch line, and referee Harrison showed his red card for the third time. Eighteen minutes left, two-one ahead, playing against eight men – surely it was just a matter of time before we scored again? Wimborne decided to play “keep ball”. They passed the ball from left to right, from right to left, sometimes forwards, sometimes backwards as the seven outfield players in red and black somehow found the energy to keep running. As long as Wimborne had the ball, Cribbs couldn’t create anything. But there was always the nagging thought that the visitors would get one last opportunity. And it came on eighty-six minutes from a rare corner. Keeper Boyd raced upfield to lend his height to the throng. The ball was only half-cleared to Duru to the right of the penalty spot, he swivelled and fired the ball into the corner.

In the remaining minutes, and the six added-on, Wimborne forced four more corners. Shots were blocked, and shots were saved as the Cribbs defenders threw themselves in the way, and heroically kept the ball out of the net. You can imagine their celebrations at the final whistle.

As a Magpies supporter, it’s difficult to understand how we didn’t win, although there may be a little consolation in the fact that we didn’t lose. Credit to the Cribbs players, well the eight who stayed on the pitch, who gave their all for the cause, and deserved to celebrate at the end.

Match stats:

Wimborne: Flitney, Hanger (Griffin 81), Walker, Jackson (capt), Scorey, Neale (Hoey 90+4), Morgan, Munn (Hoey 90+1), Beale, Burrows, Lovell (Baker 73)

Unused subs: Carmichael, Cocklin

Attendance: 808