MATCH REPORT: Willand Rovers 0-1 Wimborne Town

Willand Rovers 0

Wimborne Town 1

Sat 13th April 2024

Goals: Walker

Att: 197

A clean sheet and Billy Wallker’s first-half header from Matt Neale’s corner gave Wimborne the deserved three points as they kept their push for promotion on track.

Manager Tim Sills made three changes – Lewis Beale, Jack Lovell and Ben Scorey all starting.

It was soon clear that the hard, bobbly surface, and the strong wind blowing down the pitch behind the visitors would not be conducive to Wimborne’s passing game, as players frequently needed two touches to control the lively ball. Rovers only attempt on goal in the first-half was a fortuitous one in the second minute: Ross Flitney’s clearance was charged down for the ball to loop towards the open net only for the big keeper to race back to catch the ball as it bounced beyond the far post.

Wimborne would dominate the rest of the half. On thirteen minutes Oakley Hanger’s central free-kick was headed goalwards by Harry Morgan for keeper Burton to dive and divert his effort for a corner. On eighteen minutes Jonny Stuttle raced on to Connor Cocklin’s ball over the top of Willand’s back-line only for his lob over the advancing Burton to clear the cross-bar by inches. Pressure was building, particularly from the frequent set-piece deliveries of Hanger and Neale. And on twenty-six minutes the Magpies took the lead they had been threatening. Billy Walker found himself in space five yards out in the centre of the goal to head home Neale’s corner from the right.

Flitney had to punch away Willand’s only corner of the half, and made a high catch from a cross look easy, but these were rare forays from the hosts. At the other end Jack Lovell’s header from Sam Jackson’s cross was at a comfortable height for the well-positioned keeper, and the striker’s effort from a Neale free-kick went wide in time added-on.

The visitors dominated the early exchanges after the interval too. Morgan’s shot from Lovell’s pass was blocked, and Hanger’s free-kick from the left caused a scramble in the area with the ball cleared off the line. Just after the mid-point of the half, Sam Griffin came inside from the left wing to feed Morgan who dragged his low shot wide of the far post. Next, Lovell appeared to be grounded in the box but referee Cornelius saw no infringement. Then, on seventy-five minutes, the official had to make a big call at the other end. A jinking run down the inside-right channel into the box was illegally ended – to relief among away supporters, the free-kick was given inches outside the box. Howe’s blast was blocked by the defensive wall and Cocklin headed the loose ball away.

With the wind giving keeper Burton’s prodigious kicks additional momentum, Cocklin and Walker had to be at their best to prevent them developing into chances for Rovers, particularly the lively Camilo. But chances did develop at the other end. Stuttle robbed Ford and fired across the face of the goal; Ben Scorey, who had his usual under-stated but very effective game in midfield, found Bedford whose shot was blocked; Jackson headed Neale’s corner wide of the post; and Griffin headed Hanger’s cross wide.

With seven minutes of additional time, there were a few nervous moments, but Tim’s team saw the game out, and fully deserved all three points. It wasn’t a game that will linger long in the memory, and your reporter won’t be pre-ordering the highlights DVD!

But at this stage of the season, it’s the result that matters. A sixth successive win on the road, a seventh consecutive victory, a twelfth game undefeated – just the stats you want heading into the climax of the season. Four tough games left, four “cup finals” to play – supporting Wimborne doesn’t get much more exciting than this!

Wimborne: Flitney, Hanger, Walker, Cocklin, Jackson (capt), Scorey, Morgan, Neale, Beale (Griffin 65), Lovell (Baker 89), Stuttle (Bedford 78)

Unused subs: Carmichael, Munn

Attendance: 197