MATCH REPORT: Wimborne Town 0-2 Poole Town

A record crowd at New Cuthbury filled the Wyatt Homes Stadium to capacity, but it was The Dolphins who sent their boisterous fans home happy as goal-machine Shaquille Gwengwe scored a goal in each half to take the points.

Manager Tim Sills made three changes from the team which started at Havant a week ago: Max Bustamante and Cam Munn came into midfield with Will Fletcher up front. The bench was loaded with attacking intent.

As you’d expect in a local derby, it was a cagey first-half as the teams struggled to assert themselves. With both defences dominant, clear-cut chances were a rarity. Wimborne’s six corners and two long throws into the box were dealt with by the excellent Olumuyiwa, Dore and co.; Poole’s five corners were cleared by the excellent Walker, Jackson and co. On 12 minutes Lewis Williams’ free-kick from the top of the “D” was blocked by Poole’s jumping wall; on 18 minutes the increasingly influential Lowes set-up Kris Campbell for Poole’s first shot which went wide. On 24 minutes, Gwengwe had his first sight of goal, but his shot from a loose clearance was high, wide, and not very handsome.

After Williams had gone on an exhilarating run down the right flank, Poole’s counter-attack led to Lowes playing his front-man through in the inside-left channel, only for ‘keeper Smith to bring him down, and referee Trout to point to the spot. Gwengwe coolly dispatched the penalty.

And that was the visitors’ final goal attempt of the half, as the hosts at last got their game going. Williams’ free-kick from the left of the “D” was deflected for a corner; coming off his wing, Bustamante blasted over from 30 yards; Williams headed Bustamante’s cross down only for keeper Parkes to grab the high bouncing ball; Williams twinkling dribble ended with a shot which was bravely blocked; and Cam Munn volleyed over the bar following a corner.

Poole started the second-half the better: a slick move down the left ended with Slade’s shot blocked; Lowes’ instant shot was also blocked; and twice Diaz tricked his way along the right by-line before his crosses were cleared. On the hour mark, last man Walker brilliantly dispossessed Gwengwe and set-up an attack which ended with a corner which skipper Sam Jackson volleyed wide. Parkes’ resulting goal-kick was helped on to Hill on the left, the substitute twisted this way and that before passing inside to Lowes whose shot was well-saved by Smith. However, that man Gwengwe was in the right place to lash the rebound into the net from five yards in front of the massed Poole supporters.

And the game opened up as The Magpies went all out for an opener, and Poole sought to counter on the break and finish the game off. Ajani Burchall burst through tackles to shoot goalwards – blocked; Joe Smith battled for the ball in the area and shot – blocked; Drew Eccott-Young’s cross from the right was caught by Parkes under pressure; Ryan Campbell pinched the ball off Burchall as he was lining up his shot; two more brave blocks denied Joe Smith. The Dolphins’ rapid counter-attacks twice led to corners, with Lowes’ shot being deflected. In the final of the eight additional minutes, Joe Smith headed a long cross back across goal but Will Fletcher was unable to get enough power on his header to test the admirable Parkes. And referee Trout gave one last blast on his whistle, and Poole deservedly bagged all three points in the first “El Stourco” of the season.

For the second game running, Wimborne were unable to turn any of their opportunities (23 goal attempts today) into a goal. Credit to Poole’s defence who denied Wimborne’s attacking threat, and to the whole team for taking our unbeaten home record. With Josh Carmichael unavailable today, and four absent through injury, The Magpies squad looked thin. Three league defeats in a row is a disappointing way to end 2025 after such a promising start. We need to turn some of those opportunities we’re creating into goals to get our season back on track.

Wimborne: B.Smith, Eccott-Young, Walker, Edmondson, Jackson, Roundell-Prince (J.Smith 63), McQuoid, Williams (Ryan 59), Bustamante (Burchall 71), Munn (Richardson 90+3), Fletcher

Unused sub: Borges

Attendance: 2,500