Tiverton 0 Magpies 3, FAC1Q 31/08/24 Match Report Added

Graham's Match Report -

Tiverton Town 0 Wimborne Town 3 - FA Cup 1st round qualifying - 31 Aug 2024
winners £2250, losers £750

A first-half brace by Will Fletcher put Wimborne in control before Matt Neale's cleverly-worked goal shortly after the interval sealed The Magpies' place in the next round.

Manager Tim Sills stayed with the same starting line-up from Monday's league derby at Poole; his bench was packed with attacking intent.

Ah - the magic of the FA Cup! But, to be honest, the opening quarter of this repeat cup-tie from last season (same round, same opponents, same venue) wasn't very magical. Both sets of players struggled to cope with the uneven bounce on the "lively" pitch, and a number lost their footing on the bobbly surface. However, both teams did create early openings. For the visitors, Cam Munn's trickery made space for a shot which was blocked; Sam Jackson's cross from wide on the left was headed past the post by Will Fletcher; and Matty Burrows tricked his way to the by-line before his cross was cleared. For the hosts, Simons crossed from the by-line for Ben Scorey to head clear; and the speedy Parker got behind the back-line to initiate a goalmouth scramble which the imposing Harvey Wright resolved.

Then, just before the half-hour mark, came the move which changed the game. Ross Flitney passed the ball down the left; Jez Bedford, who would go on to have his best game of the season, sent the ball beyond Tivvy's central defenders for Fletcher to nick in a jump with keeper Pagel then maintain his balance and momentum to gleefully hammer the ball into the empty net.

At this point Wimborne assumed control of the game. Bedford's cross led to twenty seconds of pin-ball in the Tivvy penalty area; Munn's shot was at a comfortable height for the keeper; Josh Carmichael went on a charge leaving three players in his wake, outrageously back-heeled, then threw a dummy for Bedford to cross. Then, on thirty-nine minutes, came the second. Burrows went on a typical run down the left, crossed low and hard from the by-line for Fletcher to beat the keeper at the near post. There was still time for Burrows to be played through only to be thwarted by the keeper; and for Bedford, on defensive duties, to stand strong and stop a rapid Tivvy counter-attack from the resulting corner.

Tivvy manager Robinson made a triple substitution at the start of the second period. Sam Roberts intercepted their first attack; Jackson headed their second clear before, on fifty-one minutes Wimborne increased their lead. It was a trade-mark, slick, rapid passing attack on the left involving Burrows, Bedford and Neale which saw Neale played through in the inside-left channel to beat the keeper at the near post. Now that was magical!

Play ebbed and flowed until the final whistle. Neale's driving run through mid-field ended with Jackson's shot being saved; Britton's volley was bravely blocked by the Magpies' skipper; at the end of a fast break Burrows' shot was saved; Carmichael headed a Tivvy free-kick clear; substitute Joe Ryan's pass bisected the defence for Fletcher to shoot; Connor Cocklin stopped a Tivvy attack with a crucial tackle in the penalty area; Ryan started an attack down the left, shifted the ball to wide on the right then netted at the far post only for his effort to be ruled out for off-side; the flying Ross Flitney tipped a thirty yard free-kick onto the bar; and Fletcher ended the game with an audacious lob from distance which just cleared the home goal.

A clean sheet, your centre-forward bagging a brace, towering performances through the spine of the team, all players registering a 7 or more out of 10, Bakes, Morgs and Scorey returning from injuries, Joe Ryan impressing, prize-money banked, and into the draw for the next round of the Cup - this was a good day at the office - no, make that a very good day at the office!

Wimborne: Flitney, Scorey (Biss 82), Wright, Roberts (Cocklin 63), Jackson, Carmichael, Neale (Morgan 73), Bedford, Burrows (Ryan 63), Munn (Baker 71), Fletcher
Unused sub: Mdlalose

Attendance: 254

Match stats:

Magpies/Tivvy

Goal attempts on target 7/3
Goal attempts off target 4/4
Goal attempts blocked 3/0
Corners 4/5
Fouls conceded 12/10
Offside 2/2
Cards 0/0