MATCH REPORT: Wimborne Town 1-1 Sholing

Super-sub Joe Smith secured a point for Wimborne Town as the Magpies drew 1-1 with Sholing at the Wyatt Homes Stadium on Saturday.

The Boatmen had taken the lead in the second half through Joe Rabbetts, before Smith netted just minutes later to keep Wimborne’s home league unbeaten run intact.

With a raft of injuries, Tim Sills made three changes to the starting 11 that drew 2-2 with Gloucester City, including a debut for 16-year-old Southampton loanee Oscar Abbotson in goal. Cam Plain (shoulder), Kai Crampton (Concussion), Billy Walker (hamstring), Sam Roberts (hamstring), Alex Borges (knock) and Ben Scorey (Suspension) all missed out, with academy players Jack Copperwaite, Beau Jenkins and Fin Richardson included on the bench.

The match started fairly even, with both sides having early chances. For Sholing, theirs came in the fourth minute when a ball was flashed across goal, but no-one was able to get a decisive touch on the end of it. Wimborne’s first opportunity came two minutes later through a Lewis Williams free kick just outside the box that hit the top of the net.

Two minutes later, Williams was involved again as he won the ball high on the right-hand-side, before driving down the wing and attempting to pick out Will Fletcher in the box, but a Sholing defender was able to get there in the nick of time and clear the danger.

Abbotson had his first notable call to action in the 21st minute when he reacted sharply to tip Jake McCarthy’s free kick over the bar. The visitors then went close once more following a fast counter, but the effort was lifted over the bar from inside the box.

Max Bustamante saw two of his attempts at goal from outside the box fly wide, as Wimborne were unable to test Declan McCarthy in the Sholing goal for the remainder of the half.

In the opening minutes of the second 45, Abbotson was forced into a double save, one from close-range on his left and then a comfortable catch after a strike from distance after the ball had been half-cleared.

The Magpies first substitution of the match saw Ajani Burchall on for Cam Munn as they looked to find a way to break the deadlock. However, only three minutes later, Sholing took the lead after Abbotson made saves from Vinnie Tume and Brad Targett in the box before the ball bounced into the path of Rabbetts who fired in the opener from close range.

Smith entered the fray immediately after the goal, replacing Joe Ryan to sit up top with Fletcher. His introduction proved to be just what Wimborne needed as, in just four minutes, he found the back of the net. The ever-electric Lewis Williams hit a dipping shot from range which McCarthy could only parry, Smith reacting quickest to hammer home the rebound.

With momentum on their side, the hosts began to pile on the pressure. Fletcher managed to dribble into the box and find time to release a shot on the angle, but McCarthy made a comfortable save to keep the scores level.

Fletcher had two more attempts at goal which included a fine close-range stop from McCarthy deep into time added-on. Jake McCarthy also headed wide from inside the box at the other end of the pitch, as both sides searched for a winner.

In the last few moments of the match, Sholing defender Sam Magri was given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card for a challenge on Burchall only 11 minutes after his first.

The resulting free kick was hit wide by Carmichael, and the referee blew his whistle to signal full time. Despite an injury-hit side, fielding multiple academy players, Wimborne Town picked up a deserved point at home against a fellow play-off contender. Next up is a visit to Weymouth on Tuesday night in the Dorset Senior Cup.

Oscar Abbotson; Joe Ryan (Joe Smith 62’), Drew Eccott-Young, Owen Roundell, Sam Jackson (C); Josh Carmichael, Josh McQuoid, Cam Munn (Ajani Burchall 58’); Lewis Williams (Fin Richardson 90+3), Max Bustamante, Will Fletcher

Unused subs: Jack Copperwaite, Beau Jenkins

Att: 579

Match Report: Euan Thomas