Match Preview – Wimborne Town vs Melksham Town
This is the re-arranged game postponed on 9th December after the New Cuthbury pitch had passed the morning inspection, and will be the first time we’ve played Melksham this season.
2022-23 was the first season when these two Towns had been together in the same division. In early October at Oakfield Stadium, the Wiltshire side ran out 3-1 winners with Jez Bedford scoring a late consolation for the visitors. This game was notable as the last one The Magpies played under the management of James Stokoe (it was really good to see him and his family at the game last Saturday) and Mark Gamble. A month later, both teams had new managers: Tim Sills at Wimborne, Mark Collier at Melksham. The return league game in February ended in a 1-1 draw: Albie Hopkins giving Melksham an early lead, Lewis Beale replying at the start of the second-half in front of a crowd of 516 at New Cuthbury. That game was notable too – it had forty-five goal attempts, twenty-four by Wimborne, twenty-one by Melksham!
The two clubs had met twice before in the FA Cup, with Wimborne being successful on both occasions. In 1987 we won 3-1 away, and in October 2020 at (old) Cuthbury the tie was decided on penalties after finishing goalless. Young AFCB loanee Billy Terrell pulling off a couple of remarkable saves as we won the shoot-out 5-4.
Earlier this season, Melksham showed all that is good about non-league football clubs when they hosted neighbours Westbury United while their enforced changing room enlargement building works were being carried out in August and September. Although that goodwill didn’t continue on the pitch when Collier’s men beat the White Horse Men 4-1 in their first game at their temporary home.
That victory was one of three for Melksham in their five game unbeaten start to the season which left them sitting third in the embryonic league table behind Willand and Bemerton. Disappointingly that good form didn’t continue and they’re now fifteenth with a W6 D8 L9 GF 32 GA 41 record; on their travels it’s W3 D3 L4. Their most recent win was at Bashley (2-1) seven weeks ago. Since then they’ve had a poor run of four defeats and a draw: Bishops Cleeve away (1-6), Larkhall home (1-5), Yate away (1-4), Tavistock home (0-1), and on Saturday a goal-less home draw with Willand. That leaves them ten points above the relegation spot, and twelve points below the final play-off position.
But as we’ve seen, on their day any team is capable of beating any other. At the end of October, Melksham were only the second team to inflict defeat on early front-runners Mousehole (3-2), scored twice against Cribbs in November, and drew 2-2 at Frome in December.
Collier has been busy recruiting players over the past couple of months. Ben Bament is an experienced striker from Manor Farm; Marcel and Otis Lewis are on dual registration from Chippenham; and more recently James Bremner and Oscar Bridgman.
That extraordinary, but ultimately disappointing, 2-2 draw against Cribbs on Saturday, when the visitors had three men sent off in the second-half, saw Wimborne knocked off top spot. The Magpies now have a W15 D6 L4 GF 52 GA 28 record; at New Cuthbury we’re unbeaten – W9 D3. Tim Sills will again be without Jez Bedford, Connor Cocklin, and Sam Roberts. But there’s real competition in midfield and up-front for places in the starting XI. After two consecutive home draws, Tim’s team will be looking to bag all three points to keep our promotion hopes on track.
There’s always a special atmosphere at games under the floodlights. So put an extra layer on, grab a hot drink, and come on down to New Cuthbury to support the boys.
If you are travelling by car and park on the nearby streets, please do so respectfully to our neighbours.
The changed Morebus no.13 route is now operational and runs along Leigh Road from and to The Square.
Admission: adults £12, concessions £8, U16s £5, U13s £2.
A printed programme will be on sale.
Weather forecast: cloudy; 8oC; 10% chance of rain. There’s been plenty of rain since Saturday, so do check the Club’s social media in case of a pitch inspection.
