A goal on seven minutes by James Stokoe earned Wimborne victory in a closely fought game against Winchester City
Steve Gilbert had recovered from injury and took his place in a four man back row with James Wilson, Dan Haysom and Sam Lockyer. Kev James, Tommy McCormick, James Stokoe and Ben Thomson made up the midfield, with Lee Chudy returning to play alongside Gareth Barnes up front. Nick Hutching returned in goal. Tom Clarke, Steve Whitcher, Liam Green, John Wyatt and Al Walker-Harris started on the bench.
Wimborne made another good start and went ahead after only seven minutes when James Stokoe rose at the far post to head in Bet Thomson’s cross from the left, for what was to be the only goal of the game.
Just before the mid point of the half Wimborne might have gone further ahead but for two almost identical saves by the Winchester keeper, tipping the ball just over the corner of the goal from headers by Steve Gilbert and then Gareth Barnes. But by then Wimborne had gone off the boil, and the visitors were holding their own in a tight game.
Early in the second half Wimborne did get the ball into the net again when the keeper couldn’t hold a ball from Thomson on the goal line when under pressure from Barnes, but the ref rightly ruled the pressure to be illegal. Minutes later Barnsey was more hard done by when he was held back in the area, only for the ref to award the free kick against him. The replay shows that the ref’s view of the incident was obscured, so he couldn’t have given the penalty, but by the same token, he wasn’t in a position to give any decision.
Most of the second half was a stalemate, with Winchester having more of the play but not threatening Nick Hutchings goal all that much, though the danger of an equaliser was always there Poor passing often let Wimborne down when they came forward. Liam Green and Steve Whitcher replaced Ben Thomson and Dan Haysom midway through the half and Wimborne adopted a three man back row with five in midfield, which seemed more effective in containing the danger.
Tom Clarke added more fresh legs for the last ten minutes, and Wimborne regained the initiative and showed signs of getting the relative safety of another goal. Clarke came close with a good turn and shot form the left of the area which just cleared the bar. But in the end, Wimborne were happy to hang on to a single goal lead and take three more valuable points.
Another whole hearted performance by Tommy McCormick earned him Wimborne’s man-of-the-match award.
