MATCH REPORT: Wimborne Town 4-1 Chertsey Town
Wimborne Town came from behind to beat Chertsey Town 4-1 in emphatic fashion at the Wyatt Homes Stadium in front of an impressive crowd of 723.
Despite Chertsey taking an early lead through Jack Mazzone, four second-half goals from Josh McQuoid, Sam Roberts, Cam Munn and Joe Smith ensured all three points for the Magpies. Owen Roundell also put in a stellar performance in midfield to earn the man of the match award.
Making four changes to the 1-0 win against AFC Portchester in the FA Trophy, Tim Sills brought Will Fletcher, Max Bustamante, Billy Walker and Josh McQuoid back into the side.
The hosts started much the better team, with Lewis Williams putting a cross into Will Fletcher that was headed straight at Luke Wynne-Roberts with only 20 seconds gone.
Bustamante was a key figure in the opening moments, with a Cam Plain kick flicked towards him by Fletcher, but he was just unable to reach it. The Chilean winger then put in a dangerous ball towards Billy Walker two minutes later, with Wynne-Roberts called into action again to claim the cross.
However, despite the home threat, on ten minutes a counter from the Curfews amounted to Mazzone having a clear shot at goal in the box from a good ball in; the prolific striker making no mistake and giving the visitors the lead.
Wimborne reacted well to the setback, with a long throw in the 25th minute from Roundell finding the head of Sam Roberts, but his effort was saved comfortably by the Chertsey stopper.
Five minutes later, Williams got past a Chertsey defender, combining well with Fletcher, and getting a chance to shoot. His shot was blocked well and put out for a throw in on the right-hand side.
Late in the half, Fletcher’s good touch helped him to turn and run at the defence, putting a cross-turned-shot into the box that looked as though it was looping in, only for Wynne-Roberts to tip over in the nick of time.
With the Magpies continuing their push for an equaliser into the second-half, Walker saw his looping header find the back of the net, only for the linesman to flag for offside.
However, just a minute later, Wimborne would get their equaliser. With the ball dropping to Bustamante, after Fletcher headed back into the box, Max played across to McQuoid who swept home from the edge of the area.
Things then went from bad to worse for the visitors in the 66th minute after Louis Birch was shown a second yellow for a late challenge on Josh Carmichael, sending him for an early shower.
Wimborne looked determined to make their man-advantage count, and Roundell was denied spectacularly by Wynne-Roberts, his close-range header saved by a sprawling reaction stop for a corner. Undeterred, Wimborne would get their lead from the resulting corner; Carmichael’s delivery finding Sam Roberts who rose highest and powered in a header – the centre backs first goal since promotion day at Melksham in 2023/24.
Three minutes later, in the 75th minute, Joe Ryan made his long-awaited return to action following a spell out injured, replacing Bustamante. Alex Borges and Ben Scorey were also introduced.
The lead was extended to 3-1 in the 85th minute after Fletcher made a strong run from his own half, before laying it off to Munn who cut in on his right foot and slotted into the bottom left.
Sills made his last substitution late on, bringing on Smith for Fletcher, who had worked tirelessly all afternoon. Smith’s impact was immediate by adding a fourth goal in additional time, the Magpies number 18 ran at the Chertsey defence and fired into the bottom corner from an angle to finish the job.
It was an emphatic turnaround by the Magpies, who also have the tightest defence in the league, with the victory keeping Wimborne in 5th place, on 24 points from 13 games, and with a game in hand on those around them. The Magpies will be full of confidence when they travel to Hungerford Town next Saturday.
Plain; Eccott-Young, Walker, Roberts (Scorey 82’), Jackson; Roundell, McQuoid (Munn 66’), Carmichael; Bustamante (Ryan 75’), Williams (Borges 82’), Fletcher (89’)
Attendance: 723
Match Report: Euan Thomas
