MATCH PREVIEW: Malvern Town vs Wimborne Town

Wimborne Town FC | 19 August 2026 | Copy link
Our fifth match preview of 2026-27 features the fourth fixture of this league campaign against a third team new to Premier South for this season, on our second-ever visit to Malvern, as The Magpies seek a first win of this term.

 

Wimborne’s start to Step 3 season number three under Tim Sills’ leadership has been full of ‘nearlys’, ‘might-have-beens’ and ‘soft’ penalties. The points return from a 2-0 loss at Frome, a 1-0 loss at home to Chichester, and Saturday’s last-gasp 1-1 draw with Gloucester has belied the number of chances created. However, Charlie Wooding’s 90+10th minute goal on Saturday (they probably heard the roar in Poole!) will have given everyone a boost, and may be just what was needed to give the campaign lift-off.

 

Up in Worcestershire, this is Malvern’s first-ever season at Step 3. They started with a 2-2 draw at home with Hanwell, when Joe Tumelty and Sam Clark scored near the end of each half as the Hillsiders twice came from behind. Their two follow-on away games have seen a 5-2 loss at Taunton, with Harry Clark bagging a brace, and a goal-less draw at Bracknell on Saturday.

 

Last season in Division One South, Malvern finished third on goal difference (W30 D5 L7 GF 103 GA 61) but were given home advantage in the play-offs when runners-up Portishead were demoted on ground grading issues. The Hillsiders’ exciting, goals-galore season continued in those play-offs with a 2-1 win over Bishops Cleeve in the semi, and a 3-2 win over Shaftesbury in the final before a remarkable 2,100 crowd.

 

Manager Lee Hooper is Malvern through-and-through. As a player he rose through the ranks to captain the side, before taking charge in May 2018. He has overseen three promotions during his time in the hot seat. A couple of his team to watch out for are young goalkeeper Adam Harrison, on a month’s loan from Wolves, defender Lewis Platt who has made over 350 appearances for the Hillsiders, and skipper Tumelty in midfield who is a familiar name to non-league aficionados.

 

After having seven different ‘keepers in 2025-26, it’s hardly believable that manager Tim has already had to use three different guys between the sticks in 2026-27. But a ‘keeper who earned a goal-assist for Saturday’s equaliser was an inspired substitution – and it could only have been fans’ favourite Billy Walker!

 

We thought that this was going to be a really competitive division this season. And just three games in, no team has a 100% record, no team has kept three clean sheets, every team has scored, and every team has at least one point. Surprisingly, three teams expected to be battling for at least a play-off spot - Gloucester, Gosport and Havant & Waterlooville - occupy three of the bottom five places in the embryonic league table. The other two? Malvern and Wimborne.

 

Wimborne and Malvern have been in the same division for just one other season when we won the Division One South title in 2023-24. Then The Magpies did the double over The Hillsiders winning 2-0 at New Cuthbury (Beale and Baker scoring), and 2-1 on the 3G in Worcestershire (Lovell and Baker).

 

I really enjoyed my visit in March of that season. Malvern is a proper, well-run non-league club with friendly staff and supporters, great facilities, and a back-drop to make anyone smile. I’m looking forward to visiting them again for what is set up to be a cracker of a game. COYM!

 

Match Info:

  • Malvern’s ground: HDAnywhere Community Stadium, Langland Avenue, Malvern, WR14 2EQ approx 125 miles
  • There are spaces on the team coach – contact Paula if you’re interested.
  • Printed programmes available.
  • Average 2025/26 league attendance: 493
  • Admission: Adults £13, Concessions £8, 10-16s £5, U10s FREE.
  • Weather Forecast: Light cloud; 18oC; 20% chance of rain.