MATCH PREVIEW: Wimborne Town vs Bracknell Town
The season started way back in those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, 260 days ago. Since then, The Magpies have played 49 league and cup games, travelled the equivalent of Lands End to John O’Groats and back twice, used 38 players including seven goalkeepers, and been watched by 19,108 spectators at The Wyatt Homes Stadium. This Saturday will be our final first team footie fix of 2025/26 with Bracknell making their second-ever visit to Wimborne.
It’s been a season of ups and downs for Wimborne supporters, but it’s been plain flying compared to what the visiting Bracknell followers have had to contend with. By late October, with just one win from their first thirteen league games, The Robins’ followers were sobbing as their team were bobbing along at the bottom of the table. Three months later, and with their fourth manager of the season Carl Davies bringing in some heavyweight recruits, The Robins had soared past The Magpies into the division’s top ten with a seven-match unbeaten run – a terrific transformation. And they’ve stayed in the top half of the table ever since.
Bracknell’s last six results are: Dorchester (a) won 4-2, Poole (a) drew 0-0, Weymouth (h) lost 2-3, Farnham (a) won 3-1 to complete a very impressive double, Tiverton (h) won 8-0, Taunton (a) lost 0-2. Consequently, they are 11th with a W15 D9 L17 GF 67 GA 68 record; on their travels it’s W6 D5 L9. They’re undefeated in Dorset this season, having drawn 1-1 at Weymouth on August Bank Holiday weekend.
Our reverse fixture at Bottom Meadow was back in mid-December with Bracknell gaining momentum from a four-game unbeaten run with recent recruit Jack Mazzone banging in the goals. Wimborne were 2-0 up after 20 minutes with goals from Will Fletcher and Joe Smith. But three second-half strikes from the hosts, including a 96th minute winner took the points. Last season after a goal-less draw on Bracknell’s 3G, a Seb Bowerman brace put the visitors in control at New Cuthbury before Will Fletcher bagged a late consolation.
Surprisingly over the past month, Wimborne’s away form has bettered that at The Wyatt Homes Stadium with a comeback 3-3 draw at Uxbridge, a 2-1 win at Poole, a 6-0 thumping of poor Tiverton, and Saturday’s 2-2 draw at play-off seeking Sholing when Max Bustamante and Fletch scored. It’s been four matches at home since Magpies supporters saw victory: Tiverton (0-0), Walton & Hersham (1-4), Farnham (0-1), and Berkhamsted (0-1). As a result, Wimborne sit 14th in the table with a W12 D14 L15 GF 60 GA 59 record; at New Cuthbury it’s W8 D7 L5.
Whatever Saturday’s result, The Robins will finish above The Magpies. Both teams have ensured their Step 3 survival, both will want to end the season on a high, and both sets of players will want to remind their boss just how indispensable they are. So come on down to The Wyatt Homes Stadium, enjoy a cracking game of footie with your friends, and give our boys a rousing send-off. After all, it’s what the last Saturday afternoon of the season was 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, accompanied U13s FREE.
- Average Attendance: 771.
- Weather Forecast: Sunny; 18oC; 10% chance of rain.
