MATCH REPORT: Wimborne Town 1-4 Walton & Hersham

Wimborne Town were defeated 4-1 against Walton and Hersham, The Magpies fourth successive defeat to The Swans in the Southern Premier South.

Tim Sills made five changes to the starting eleven that drew to relegation zone drift-aways Tiverton Town on Saturday, with Drew Eccott-Young, Sam Roberts, Lewis Williams and Joe Ryan returning to the side, with a first start also given to Ethan Sills.

Looking at the scoreline alone it may appear to be a very one-sided game, but the stats say otherwise with The Magpies controlling large spells of the game, with 27 shots on goal. However, The Swans showed why they're top of the league and were clinical, scoring four of their seven chances.

The Magpies started quickly, putting a lot of pressure on the Walton and Hersham defence, with Josh Carmichael getting the first shot away from the edge of the box in just the opening minute.

Moments later, the Magpies could have and maybe should have, been awarded a penalty when Eccott-Young was tripped in the box, however the referee waved away any appeals.

Will Fletcher was next to have a go, nearly grabbing the lead when his looping header was tipped just over by Jos Barker in the visitors' net.

On the half hour mark, the Swans really started to show the class which has seen them as the rightful league leaders since September.

Oscar Abbotson was forced into a double-save from close range after Walton and Hersham broke fast past the defence, before the visitors found their advantage in the 33rd minute.

It was another counter attack down the right which caught the Magpies off guard, the ball was squared perfectly to the league's third top goalscorer, Dawid Rogalski, who scored the first goal of the night.

The lead wouldn’t last long, as four minutes later Roberts rose highest to Josh Carmichael's cross, with his looping header catching Barker flat-footed and unable to stop the net from bulging.

Roberts had a huge chance to double his tally and give Wimborne the lead, when a carbon-copy header of the goal he had just scored flew just wide of the post.

Then, on the stroke of half time, the Swans took the advantage once again. A solo run from Mason Obeng down the left-hand side saw him glide past the Wimborne defence and making no mistake with a fine finish into the far corner.

The Magpies came back out from the break searching for the equaliser, with Williams having three chances in quick succession which were all well saved by Barker.

Cam Munn had a fantastic low-driven strike from range, which was well set up by Sills, and also well saved by Barker, again. Jos Barker may have been Walton and Hersham’s saviour this evening, with the Magpies 27 attempts resulting in only one goal; a fantastic display from the stopper.

The Swans grabbed a third on the 78th minute, when substitute Jack Wood converted from close range with his first touch, just minutes after entering the pitch.

Soon after it was game, set and match, when a switch off at the back lead to a second goal in two minutes, this time Rogalski grabbing his second of the night, as he finished low to Abbotson's right from close range.

The Magpies searched for a consolation in the dying embers, with Cam Munn’s bicycle kick fired just wide of the mark and, on another night, we would be talking about a Roberts hat trick, after his volley soared just over.

At the final whistle, the scoreline didn’t seem to reflect how the game truly went, with the Magpies putting in a much-improve performance from Saturday's stalemate with Tiverton, but were undone by a very good and clinical Swans side.

Walton and Hersham’s victory at the Wyatt Homes Stadium is only the third time this season that the Magpies have been defeated on home turf in the league, and none by a bigger margin, a testament to the Swans quality and position firmly at the top of the table.

Wimborne will next travel to in-form Chertsey Town, in what will certainly be a rollercoaster of a game, hoping to turn results back around to our early season form.

Magpies XI: Abbotson; Eccott-Young, Thomas, Roberts (Walker 85'), Jackson; Carmichael, Munn, Sills; Ryan (Bustamante 64'), Williams (Burchall 80'), Fletcher

Unused Subs: Edmondson, Borges

Match Report: Tom Whittick

Match Stats: