MATCH REPORT: Uxbridge 0-0 Wimborne Town

Wimborne Town gained another well-earned point on the road against early table-toppers Uxbridge.

Magpies boss Tim Sills made five changes to his side that drew on home turf against Hanworth Villa on Saturday, utilising his squad during this Summer Bank Holiday double-header.

Billy Walker returned to the lineup for the absent Harvey Wright, a midfield mix-up saw Josh Carmichael, Cam Munn and Owen Roundell start in the middle of the park, with Lewis Williams also starting as a secondary striker in place of Joe Smith.

The Reds have started the season in flying fashion, remaining on top of the table even after Monday’s spoils being shared, with the London club sat on 14 points from six games.

The hosts, as most expected, started the better of the two sides, controlling a lot of the possession in the opening minutes without much end product. A pop-shot on the eighth minute was the closest the Reds came to grabbing a lead early on, but Kai Crampton held on comfortably.

The Magpies could, and possibly should, have been awarded a penalty just minutes later when Williams was brought down in the box after a give-and-go with Carmichael, however the referee waved away appeals much to the disapproval of the travelling fans.

Wimborne began to work themselves into the game, with a flurry of attacks from both set pieces and searching crosses testing the Uxbridge backline. Finley Toghill’s cross came closest to causing an issue, with Will Fletcher looming at the back stick, but the keeper managed to tip it away.

The Reds showed signs of the quality that sees them perched on top of the table, with a quick break down the right-hand side resulting in a flick at the back post which ended up a whisker away from the bottom corner, zipping past the post.

Uxbridge seemed the likelier to score up until the break, but a resolute Magpies defence held firm, not allowing any space or time for the tricky Francis Amartey or the Reds’ talisman George Moore in front of the Wimborne net. 

After the break the Magpies came the closest they would get to a breakthrough when Billy Walker latched onto a Williams free kick after losing his man at the back post, but his effort on the volley eclipsed the crossbar.

Sills turned to his bench to make an impact, with tiring legs in midfield after a quick turnaround from Saturdays game, with Wooding and Seung-Woo Yang introduced to make a difference.

Toghill was next up to try his luck, and try his luck he did, letting fly from around 30 yards out, forcing a relatively comfortable save from Sam Morris.

The attacking on display from both sides ended up being counteracted by tireless defending and eventually the need to avoid conceding took over the drive to score goals.

As the final whistle drew closer and closer, the game opened up more and more, with plenty of space for either side to break quickly. However, due to two matches in three days it seemed both sides, understandably, lacked the energy to press on for a winner.

Wimborne Town will be pleased with a point on the road against tough opposition, as well as a third consecutive clean sheet. The bank holiday fixtures have seen the Magpies pick up two draws and two points against first and third in the league, a huge positive to take forward.

Just a final word on the fantastic support on the road, as the Magpies again travelled in good numbers - thank you! Next up we face Portishead Town in the First Round Qualifying of the Emirates FA Cup back at the Wyatt Homes Stadium.

STARTING XI: Crampton; Walker, Roberts, Edmondson; Toghill (Smith 75’), Carmichael (Yang 63’), Roundell, Munn (Wooding 63’), Sullivan; Williams (McQuoid 84’), Fletcher

UNUSED SUB: Jenkins

Att: 429

Match Report: Tom Whittick

Match Stats: