Jimmy Ball’s Totton have had a terrific last three seasons. In 2022-23 they were champions of Division One South, finishing seven points clear of Sholing, losing a mere four games, were top scorers and had the meanest defence. In 2023-24, back in the Premier Division, they finished second to Chesham, were again top scorers, had the second meanest defence, but disappointingly lost the play-off final to Salisbury on penalties. This season, clearly intent on winning promotion to National South, they sit second in the table, six points behind Merthyr but with two games in hand; their record is W19 D10 L2 GF 67 GA 27; on their travels the record is W7 D5 L2.

Let’s dig a little deeper into those stats. The two defeats were at Dorchester, 3-2 in September, and at Walton & Hersham, 3-2 on 4th January. Since then The Stags are 10 games unbeaten, including 1-1 draws in both fixtures with The Martyrs. Their last six results are: Gloucester (a) 0-0, Gosport (a) 2-1, Marlow (h) 6-1, Havant & Waterlooville (h) 3-1, Swindon Supermarine (a) 1-1, and on Saturday Merthyr (h) 1-1.

Who should we look out for? Well, I could probably mention the whole squad, but let’s focus on the main goalscorers. Ethan Taylor has 12 in the league, Scott Rendell 13, and former Magpie Tony Lee 16. Oh, and there’s Charlie Austin and Tom Blair too. A veritable plethora of riches for Ball to choose from.

Wimborne are also on an unbeaten run: Merthyr (h) 1-1, Poole (h) 1-0, Dorchester (a) 1-1, Frome (h) 1-0, and, on Tuesday, Chertsey (a) 2-1. Those points have lifted Tim’s team to 11th in the table with a W11 D8 L13 GF 39 GA 48 record. At The Wyatt Homes Stadium the record is W8 D4 L5. Will Fletcher and Matty Burrows are our leading scorers, and both found the net on Tuesday.

Back in September we lost 4-0 on the pristine grass pitch at The Snows Stadium, so The Stags will be hot favourites to complete the double. It looks a daunting task for The Magpies, but are there reasons to be cheerful? Yes – one, two, three:

1. Totton have only kept two clean sheets in their last 14 games
2. Totton’s away record in 2025 is L D D W D
3. Totton drew at home with Merthyr, we did too; Totton drew at home with Poole, we beat them; Totton lost at Dorchester, we drew; Totton drew at home with Frome, we won.

Totton have 11 games left to overtake Merthyr for the automatic promotion spot, so won’t want to have any slip-ups. Wimborne’s players will want to prove themselves against one of the top teams in the division. With the weather forecast looking good, this has all the ingredients for being a mega March match. So come on down to the Wyatt Homes Stadium and cheer on Tim’s team – after all, it’s what Saturday afternoons were made for.

There’s reasonable parking at the ground in Ainsley Road BH21 2FU, but if you do decide to travel by car and park on the nearby streets, please do so respectfully to our neighbours.

The Morebus no.13 runs along Leigh Road from and to The Square in the town centre with stops at the bottom of Parmiter Road, a five-minute stroll from the ground.

There is a bike park to the left of the players’ entrance.

Admission: adults £14, concessions £8, U18s £5, U13s £2.

Average att: 718

A packed printed programme will be on sale.

Weather forecast: sunny intervals; 14oC; 10% chance of rain.