MATCH REPORT: Wimborne Town 1-1 Frome Town

Wimborne Town 1

Frome Town 1

Sat 20th April 2024

Goals: Morgan

Att: 2,307

Second-half headers from set-piece corners decided the result of this much anticipated top-of-the-table contest: James Ollis for the visitors, and Harry Morgan for the hosts. It leaves The Magpies needing two points from their remaining two games to bag the championship and the one automatic promotion spot.

Manager Tim Sills made two changes from the team who beat Evesham in mid-week: Sam Roberts joined Billy Walker in central defence, and Matt Neale returned to midfield.

On a beautiful Spring afternoon, with both teams hustling in midfield, clear cut chances were a rarity in a cagey opening half. Oakley Hanger’s fifth minute free-kick from the right of the area was headed clear from under the bar, and Jonny Stuttle was quickly closed down when he made space for himself. It was Frome who had the first shot on target on fifteen minutes, but Smith’s effort had no real power behind it and was an easy save for Ross Flitney. Matt Neale was at the centre of Wimborne’s next attacks: first his shot was blocked after taking Sam Griffin’s pass; when the resulting corner was played back to Neale, his low cross caused momentary pin-ball before being cleared; then a characteristic charge ended with a weak pass for Stuttle which was cut out.

A strong tackle by Ben Scorey, a determined challenge from Billy Walker, an interception by Sam Jackson, a sliding tackle by Neale, a towering header by Sam Roberts, and a sprint out of his area by Flitney all disrupted attacks by the Robins. With Frome’s mean defence in uncompromising form too, set-pieces seemed the most likely source of a goal. Under pressure, Flitney punched a corner away; Harry Morgan’s free-kick on thirty-six minutes cleared the defensive wall, but also Phillips’ cross-bar; Jackson cleared a Frome free-kick; and Flitney punched Smith’s header from a corner away.

Attacking the massed ranks of supporters at the housing estate end, Wimborne made an energetic start after the interval. Morgan’s shot from a loose ball was easily saved by Phillips; Stuttle’s pass invited Hanger to race forwards, the full-back’s goal-bound shot brought a diving save from the Frome shot-stopper; and Griffin shot agonisingly wide after Neale’s run had been ended. However, the pressure the hosts were building on the visitors’ goal was released on fifty-eight minutes, when the Robins took the lead. Rigg’s right-wing corner was headed home by Ollis. Now it was Frome who were first to the second balls, and playing with confidence.

But Tim’s team are a resilient bunch, and you can’t keep them down for long. On seventy-two minutes, a trade-mark Hanger free-kick forty yards out on the left was headed past Phillips by Morgan, only for the eagle-eyed linesman to spot an offside. Ten minutes later, with the same duo involved, this time a corner on the right, and this one counted! Hanger’s corner was headed into the net at the near post by Morgan. The crowd noise must have been heard in Wimborne Square!

Wimborne went looking for a winner. Hanger’s free-kick from wide on the left was caught by Phillips, Lewis Beale’s shot was blocked after a twinkling run by Jez Bedford, and Morgan shot wide from twenty yards. But after six additional minutes, referee Ouchene, who had a good game, brought proceedings to a halt with honours even – and a draw was a fair result.

Wimborne’s Tim Sills will be the happier manager, but the shiny happy people will be Wimborne’s Board of Directors as they think upon a record league and record New Cuthbury attendance of 2307.

Both teams continue their long unbeaten runs, and for Wimborne it’s an unbeaten home season. Two away games remain with Tim’s team needing two points to clinch the title – Tavistock on Tuesday, and Melksham on Saturday. Surely …

For now, however, the wait for Wimborne’s first league title for twenty-four years continues!