MATCH REPORT: Gloucester City 5-0 Wimborne Town
Wimborne Town found themselves on the wrong side of a 5-0 loss away to Gloucester City on Saturday at the KMM Energy Stadium.
Three goals in five first-half minutes set up a further two goals in the second half, as the Magpies had no response to the Tigers’ unrelenting pressure.
Manager, Tim Sills, made two changes to the 3-0 win at home to Hanwell Town, with Drew Eccott-Young coming into defence for Billy Walker and Max Bustamante replacing Joe Smith.
In the early stages, Wimborne started the better and put pressure on the Gloucester defence, particularly down the right-hand-side through Cam Munn and Joe Ryan.
The first half-chance for the visitors came through a corner delivery that found the head of Sam Roberts, but his effort was blocked and cleared away as the Magpies retained possession in the midfield.
Moments later, Ben Rodwell was called into action up the other end of the pitch, after a ball was dinked over the top by Gloucester and pounced onto by the attacker, the Wimborne keeper did well to make the save from the resulting shot on goal.
In the 22nd minute, Josh Carmichael floated a tempting ball towards the back post from a free-kick and was just missed by Ryan who tried to tap in past Jared Thompson for the lead.
Despite the chances, fortunes shifted against the run of play in the 27th minute when Morgan Lewis delivered a cross into the Wimborne box towards Joe Hanks. He caught the ball on the volley and struck into the bottom right corner to put the hosts one up.
Three minutes later, Gloucester launched a counter attack down the right flank, with Rylie Siddall whipping a ball centrally to the feet of Kane Simpson, who swept the ball home and doubled the advantage.
Things went from bad to worse for the Magpies after Roberts’ misjudged header fell into the path of Simpson, who kept calm to slot past Rodwell for his second of the match and the Tigers third.
Five clinical minutes for the hosts gave them a commanding lead going into the back end of the half, with Rodwell forced into a further save to keep out Siddall and limit the damage.
That dominance continued into the second half as, within only a minute, Simpson had found his hattrick and dampened any Wimborne hopes for an unlikely comeback. A ball was played down the right to Siddall, he got past Rodwell and pulled it back into the box to set up the fourth goal of the day.
The visitors responded through a shot by substitute Lewis Williams, whose long-range effort hit the top of Thompson’s net. Sills then made a change to the Magpies backline, bringing on Walker for Roberts.
In the 58th minute, amid a barrage of Gloucester attacks, Eccott-Young made a brave last-ditch block to prevent a fifth goal from Siddall.
However, just two minutes later, Elis Watts received the ball outside the box and cut in on his left foot before curling a shot past Rodwell into the far corner of the net to make it 5-0.
With half an hour to play, captain Sam Jackson made way for Josh McQuoid for his first appearance since injury.
In the 67th minute, Thompson was tested by Fletcher with a shot from outside the box that was well saved and out for a corner, with the resulting delivery headed just wide by McQuoid.
There were two further changes for Wimborne as Ajani Burchall and Joe Smith both came on looking for a consolation goal.
Seven minutes from time saw a threatening Bustamante strike saved, before Smith fired over late on with the result sealed.
The final whistle at the KMM Energy Stadium confirmed a frustrating afternoon for Wimborne against a strong Gloucester side. Next up for the Magpies is a Wednesday night trip to Taunton Town and a great opportunity to bounce back from defeat.
Ben Rodwell; Drew Eccott-Young, Sam Jackson (C) (Josh McQuoid, 65’), Sam Roberts (Billy Walker, 52’), Tyler Edmondson; Owen Roundell, Josh Carmichael, Cam Munn (Ajani Burchall, 75’); Joe Ryan (Lewis Williams, 46’), Will Fletcher (Joe Smith, 81’), Max Bustamante
Match Report: Euan Thomas
