MATCH REPORT: Tiverton Town 0-6 Wimborne Town

Wimborne Town took a big step towards securing their Southern Premier status with a 6-0 win at already-relegated Tiverton Town.

First half goals from Sam Roberts, Will Fletcher and a Joe Smith double put the Magpies in a commanding position at the break, before Sam Jackson and Fletcher both headed home in the second half to round off the scoring.

Manager Tim Sills made one change to the side which lost at home to Berkhamsted on Saturday, with Joe Smith replacing Rafa Ramos.

After a goalless draw at home to Tiverton a month ago, it was important that Wimborne scored early, and that’s exactly what they did with just three minutes on the clock.

Wimborne started fast with Smith having the first opportunity of the night down the right which was smothered out of play, before a throw was won high up the pitch. The long throw was darted in and flicked on by Roberts, whose looping header beat keeper Ross into the far corner.

Five minutes later a Sills corner caused havoc in the Tivvy goalmouth before the ball was scrambled away, but just two minutes later the second goal did come. The pressure was constant on the home sides’ goal, and Fletcher got his first of the evening with a powerful header from six-yards out which nestled into the far corner of the net.

With the momentum firmly behind Wimborne, a third seemed inevitable with three chances in quick succession, starting with Fletcher heading a brilliant Sills delivery narrowly wide. Smith then turned his man on the edge of the box and forced Ross into a smart stop, before Fletcher was denied at close range by a sprawling dive.

The third did come in the 19th minute when Smith found room in the box, shrugged off his marker, and fired powerfully into the net from six-yards out.

Wimborne pushed for another with Munn, Fletcher and Bustamante all having efforts from the edge of the box go narrowly wide.

On the 35th minute Wimborne thought that they should have been awarded a penalty when Sills was clipped in the box when preparing to shoot, but a fourth goal did arrive just four minutes later.

A fast flowing move found skipper Jackson, who had an excellent game, high up the pitch on the left before cutting in and playing a perfectly weighted throughball for Smith to latch on to and smash home.

A dominant first half, in which pretty much all of the football was played in the home sides half, was brought to a close just minutes later, with the Magpies in a commanding position.

The home side responded straight from kick off, forcing a corner on the right. The corner was whipped in and a free header was flicked narrowly wide. However, this proved to be the hosts best chance of the game as Wimborne reasserted control.

Jackson had a header saved and Fletcher headed wide in a quieter start to the second period, as Williams, Eccott-Young and Burchall all entered the action from the bench.

In the 71st minute Bustamante’s last involvement of the game was a lung-busting run down the right, leaving players in his wake, before being chopped down on the edge of the box. Ryan entered the action as the free kick was floated in for Jackson to head home a well-deserved goal, and Wimborne’s fifth of the night.

Five minutes later another fast flowing move saw Munn intercept on the halfway line and feed a sprinting Jackson on the left. The flying full back quickly played the ball to Williams near the penalty spot, but at full stretch the winger couldn’t quite get enough on it to poke home.

With the game starting to wind down, Fletcher challenged Ross for a high-ball on the edge of the box and won the header, the ball trickling and bobbling along the floor, almost in slow motion, before clipping the outside of the post for a goal kick.

The big striker was not to be denied though and got his rewards two minutes from time. After Burchall was brought down near the area, Williams stood over the free kick. His effort hit the wall and ballooned up in the air, and Fletcher couldn’t believe his luck as he found himself unmarked in the middle of the box to head home and bring a perfect night to a close.

It was a professional performance from the Magpies, who emphatically wrapped up an important three points and lift themselves up to 13th, five points clear of the relegation zone with two games left to play.

MAGPIES XI: Abbotson; Thomas (Eccott-Young 64’), Roberts, Edmondson, Jackson; Bustamante (Ryan 72’), Carmichael, Sills (Burchall 66’), Munn (Yang 79’); Fletcher, Smith (Williams 55’)

Attendance: 152

Match Report: Kyran Rickman