MATCH REPORT: Wimborne Town 1-1 Gloucester City

For the third consecutive season, the league fixture between The Magpies and The Tigers at the Wyatt Homes Stadium saw an equaliser in time added-on. After Wimborne had fallen behind to a ‘soft’ penalty for the second game running, a goalmouth scramble ended with Charlie Wooding poking the ball home with virtually the last kick of the match to bag a first goal and a first point of the season for Tim’s team – and it was no more than they deserved!

Manager Sills made four changes to his starting XI from Tuesday’s home loss to Chichester: Harry Whitworth in goal, Josh McQuoid and Cam Sullivan in midfield, and Will Fletcher up front.

With both sides wanting to avoid a third defeat in the opening week of the new campaign, it was a cagey first-half in the searing heat. There were few clear-cut chances with big central defenders – Sam Roberts and Tyler Edmondson for Wimborne, and Ben Nugent and Michael O’Reagan for Gloucester – dominant. The nearest we came to a goal was on 32 minutes when Max Bustamante’s goal-bound volley was deflected by Nugent for a corner; and seven minutes later at the Housing Estate end when Wimborne’s debutant goalkeeper, Harry Whitworth, denied Ashley Hemmings with a point-blank save as the striker made room for himself at the far post. There had been other attempts on goal: Gloucester’s keeper’s clearance hit Lewis Williams before rolling wide, Owen Roundell-Prince and Gloucester’s Morgan Lewis hurled a plethora of long throws into the danger area, and Lewis Williams forced Jared Thompson into a good save with his legs.

Although Wimborne had the better of the first-half stats, it was Gloucester who started the second on the front foot. Ethan Dunbar, from the left wing, reached the by-line before crossing low and hard for Whitworth to grasp; the winger then teased his defender before stroking the ball inches wide of the far post. Wimborne had a great opportunity 10 minutes into the half: a quick Gloucester free-kick was deflected into the path of Williams who drove forward, passed inside to Cam Munn whose shot was bravely blocked before the ball became stuck under Will Fletcher’s feet and hacked away.

Just after the hour mark, a Tigers’ corner from the right was headed goalwards, Josh McQuoid cleared off the line, and as the ball lofted above a melee of players, our young keeper was knocked to the floor injuring his shoulder, and Nugent fell to the ground. Given that he’d ignored the wrestling and shoving in midfield all game, it was surprising to see Referee Salt point to the spot. It was double trouble for the hosts, as the young keeper had to leave the field. Centre-half substitute Billy Walker took the gloves, guessed the right way for Hemmings’ penalty, but was beaten low in the corner.

Although the visitors tried running down the clock, there’s no such thing as a lost cause for this group of Magpies, and they threw everything at the title favourites. And just when it seemed that The Tigers would protect that precious lead, in the final minute of the nine added on, Bustamante hurled one last long throw into the box. Goalkeeper Walker had been sent up-field; he challenged the dominant centre-halves, the ball looped into the air, Walker reacted quickest to nod down for Charlie Wooding to poke the ball past Thompson. In his post-match interview on Tuesday, Tim had called for his team to score scrappy goals – and they won’t come much scrappier than this.

The relief and sheer joy at bagging a first goal and a first point was palpable. For now, Charlie’s effort is winning our “goal of the season”, and it has kick-started the campaign. You can’t fault our boys for effort and determination. A point against Gloucester is a good result, and will have done wonders for their confidence. Onwards and upwards!

STARTING XI: Whitworth (Walker 67'), Roundell-Prince (Wright 46'), Roberts (Toghill 79'), Edmondson, Bustamante, Sullivan (Smith 73'), McQuoid, Carmichael, Munn (Wooding 58') , Williams, Fletcher

Att: 597

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