MATCH REPORT: Uxbridge 3-3 Wimborne Town

A magnificent Magpies second half display saw a three-goal deficit turned around to take a point back home against Uxbridge, almost reminiscent of the famous turn-around result against Halesowen in 2011.

Wimborne’s recent results have, undoubtedly, been disappointing despite positive performances, and a point on the road was a welcome return as the Magpies showed the fight needed to turn the game around.

Tim Sills made four changes to the lineup that were defeated 3-0 by Chertsey, with Ben Rodwell, Tyler Edmondson and Max Bustamante selected, as well as a first start for Rafa Ramos after a promising display off the bench last weekend.

Sills also made a change to the formation, switching to the good old-fashioned 4-4-2 in order to accommodate both Will Fletcher and Ramos, who both went on to pop up with decisive goals.

Wimborne’s first ever trip to Honeycroft started almost reminiscent of the Chertsey game, with a solid start completely shattered with a goal against the run of play. Uxbridge’s Troy Perez-Duah found space from range and struck the ball sweetly on the bounce, catching Rodwell off guard and striking the underside of the crossbar before the back of the net.

Moments later Fletcher had a chance to equalise from Harry Thomas’ fizzed cross, but his header was glanced just wide.

Just as the Magpies were settling back into the game, things went from bad to worse when the Reds were awarded a penalty for a questionable handball against Jackson on the 40th minute. Perez-Duah made no mistake in grabbing his second of the afternoon after sending Rodwell the wrong way from the spot.

On the stroke of half time the Magpies were awarded a penalty of their own when Fletcher was brought down in the box, however Bustamante’s effort was saved to the keeper’s left.

A strong start to the second half was a necessity if the Magpies were to get anything from the game, but instead a nightmare became reality when just three minutes into the second half, the hosts grabbed their third. A mistake in the Wimborne defence was picked up by Reds’ winger Jack Lee, who capitalised on the chance by firing across goal into the net, to put the game, what seemed, beyond all doubt.

However, the half time oranges may have taken slightly longer to kick in, when just one minute later Wimborne grabbed a route back, with a crazy two minutes about to follow. Billy Walker was first to get his name on the scoresheet for the Magpies after Jackson’s flick on found the head of the fox-in-the-box who rifled his header past the Uxbridge stopper.

The Wimborne fans had barely finished celebrating when the deficit was reduced to one, with Bustamante’s cross finding Rafa Ramos, who pivoted and fired into the bottom corner to score his first Magpies goal.

The Magpies were on the front foot, with Ramos popping up with another chance, as well as a strong second half performance from Bustamante causing plenty of issues at the back for Uxbridge.

The Reds also had chances of their own to kill the game, notably putting the ball in the net but the referee had already blown for a foul on Rodwell, and then glancing a header just inches away from the far top corner.

The Magpies, however, were not willing to let their hard work go to waste, when in the 74th minute Walker’s headed flick from a well-directed Sills free kick reached the back post as far as Will Fletcher, who poked home to equalise.

The visitors had the chance right at the death to claim all three points, when Walker and Ramos both tried to bundle home from a perfect Sills corner, but neither could quite force the ball over the line.

Wimborne Town came back from adversity in what was a performance of real fight and spirit, gaining a vital point away from home; something that seemed highly improbable less than five minutes into the second half.

The Magpies next fixture comes against high-flying Farnham Town on Good Friday, before we face Dorset rivals Poole Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

MAGPIES XI: Rodwell; Jackson, Walker, Edmondson, Thomas; Carmichael (Eccott-Young 69’), Munn, Bustamante (Ryan 81’), Williams (Sills 46’); Fletcher, Ramos

Unused subs: Borges, Burchall

Match Report: Tom Whittick

Match Stats: