MATCH PREVIEW: Wimborne Town vs Dorchester Town
After being mauled by The Tigers on Saturday, and pecked by The Peacocks on Wednesday, The Magpies will be pleased to return to their home habitat for this massive match. However, they face an in-form tiding (I asked Google) of different Magpies in Dorset derby number six on Saturday. Derbies are always special occasions, but with both teams keen to move away from the impending relegation battle, three points from this fixture will mean more than bragging rights.
After Dorchester bagged the final 2024-25 play-off spot in the 94th minute of the last game in April, hopes were high that another campaign battling it out near the top of the table would follow. Disappointingly that hasn’t happened, and instead the team has been involved in a battle at the wrong end of the table, culminating with manager Tom Killick moving upstairs earlier this month following a 4-1 home humbling by Hanwell.
However, with Wes Fogden as interim manager, the county town Magpies and their supporters are enjoying a ‘new manager bounce’ to be unbeaten in four: Joe Parker scoring the only goals of the game at Yate and home to Evesham, before Dorch came back late from 2-0 down at sixth-placed Gosport to grab a crucial point in a 2-2 draw on Saturday, then a Marcus Daws goal was enough to take all three points on a difficult pitch at Tiverton on Tuesday. That’s three clean sheets in four games for the new boss. Those results have lifted Dorch out of the drop-zone with a W8 D9 L13 GF 37 GA 53 record; on their travels it’s W3 D5 L6. In the current form (last six games) table they are third from top behind Hanwell and Poole.
In that same table, Wimborne are third from bottom above Basingstoke and Tiverton after that 2-1 midweek loss at Taunton when Max Bustamante opened the scoring in the first minute. But in the table that matters, Tim’s team sit 12thwith a W9 D10 L9 GF 41 GA 38 record; at the Wyatt Homes Stadium it’s W7 D6 L1. In their last home game, our boys hammered Hanwell 3-0 with goals by Josh Carmichael, Will Fletcher and skipper Sam Jackson.
Back in October, Wimborne convincingly won the reverse fixture at The Avenue 2-0 with goals from Fletch and Max. Last season both Magpies league derbies ended 1-1; the fixture at New Cuthbury was eventful with Fletcher and Fogden finding the net, while the visitors finished two short of a full team.
Dorchester have been busy bolstering their squad, with the two most recent additions being utility man Tommy Whitehead, dual-signed from Eastleigh, and goalkeeper Monty Marriott on loan from Oxford Utd. They join some familiar names including captain Corby Moore, central defender Harvey Wright, and goalkeeper Gerard Benfield, although the latter two weren’t in the starting line-up at Tivvy.
With the scene set for a cracking competitive game with both teams fighting for points in front of a large crowd, come on down to The Wyatt Homes Stadium and cheer the boys on. After all, it’s what Saturday afternoons were made for.
Match Info:
- As there's limited parking at the ground in Ainsley Road BH21 2FU, if you can travel by bus, bike, or on foot it would be really helpful. 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 near the players' entrance.
- A packed printed programme will be on sale.
- Admission: Adults £14, concessions £8, U18s £5, U13s £2.
- Weather Forecast: Sunny intervals; 10oC; 10% chance of rain.
