MATCH PREVIEW: Wimborne Town vs Berkhamsted
The fixture scheduler has given Wimborne a really tough end-of-season run-in against teams battling for a play-off spot. After losing 1-0 to third-placed Farnham on Good Friday, then winning the “El Stourco” derby with fourth-placed Poole 2-1 on Easter Monday, the mighty Magpies now face fifth-placed Berkhamsted on Saturday.
The Hertfordshire side finished bottom in Southern League Central Premier in the 2023/24 season. Then The Comrades bounced back last season to finish runners-up in the Southern League Central Division One, winning the play-off final to earn promotion back to Step 3.
And, boy, are they having a great league season back at this level! They’ve won their last five fixtures: Gloucester (h) 1-0, Havant & Waterlooville (a) 1-0, Gosport (h) 2-1, Dorchester (a) 3-2, and on Monday, Hungerford (h) 4-1. Those results have lifted Chris Devane’s team into the final play-off spot. Their season record is: W19 D9 L11 GF 59 GA 49; on their travels it’s an impressive W8 D5 L6. Ever-present JJ Lacey has scored 18 league goals, while strike-partner Michael Harding has bagged nine. In the current form table, The Comrades now sit top of the tree.
Although Devane’s lads didn’t last long in the FA competitions this season - losing to Billericay in the FA Cup 2Q, and losing their only match in the FA Trophy.
Wimborne put an end to their seven-game winless run in the best possible way on Monday – defeating The Dolphins at Tatnam with goals from Sam Roberts and Ethan Sills. That result leaves The Magpies sitting 13th in the table that matters with a W11 D13 L14 GF 52 GA 56 record; at The Wyatt Homes Stadium it’s W8 D7 L4.
Billy Walker, who was side-lined on Monday, and Joe Smith, who was substituted, are injury doubts for The Magpies. Max Bustamante, who top-scored for The Comrades in 2023-24, will be keen to show what his former team are missing.
Back in early September Tim’s team recorded their first away win in the league in the reverse fixture at Broadwater, with a Will Fletcher brace, and ‘two-yard Billy’ turning on a sixpence, well, more like a half-crown, to net the other in a 3-0 victory. Can The Magpies record a first double of the season, or will The Comrades take revenge?
With a better goal difference than the teams below them, Wimborne probably need another point or three from their remaining four games (Berkhamsted (h), Tiverton (a), Sholing (a), and Bracknell (h)) to stay clear of the drop-zone. Having moved into the play-off spots, Saturday’s first-time visitors want to stay there, and keep their winning run going.
Our penultimate home game of the season has all the ingredients of being a belter. You won’t want to miss this one. 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, of course, be on sale.
- Admission: Adults £14, concessions £8, U18s £5, U13s £2.
- Average Attendance: 781
- Weather Forecast: Sunny intervals; 12oC; 30% chance of rain.
