Post by Admin on Nov 7, 2024 10:55:03 GMT
Graham's Match Preview -
Wimborne Town vs Taunton Town
Southern League Premier South - Sat 9th November 2024 3pm
For Wimborne's first twelve seasons in the Southern League, eight in Division One then four in the Premier Division, the only team we played every season (apart from the curtailed 2020-21 one) was Saturday's visitors Taunton. At Cuthbury, then New Cuthbury, we won twice, drew five, and lost four. At the end of the 2021-22 season the two clubs parted company in a big way: The Peacocks won promotion to Step 2 National South while The Magpies were relegated back to Step 4 S.L. Division One South, that's a two leagues difference. Then two seasons later the opposite happened: Taunton finished 22nd of 24 and were relegated with 46 points and an average home attendance of 941, while Wimborne were crowned champions and promoted with 79 points and an average attendance of 761.
The Somerset club changed manager over the summer, bringing in Richard Luffman who had taken Cribbs to a play-off spot in their first season at Step 4. He had to recruit a new squad and cherry-picked players he knew and had played against. These included David Duru, Harris Feltham and Jacob Hodgson from Cribbs, Archie Ferris from Larkhall, Jay Malshanskyj from Bishops Cleeve, and Owen Brain from Bristol Manor Farm. He also brought in plenty of experience at this level and above including defender Eddie Jones from Chippenham, and, as captain, midfielder Tom Smith with his distinctive flowing hair style who has been a great success since arriving from Bath City, banging in six league goals so far. As the season has evolved, so has Luffman's team. Duru and Ferris have left, while two recently joined from Totton: goalkeeper Josh Gould, and midfielder Josh Owers.
The season started in spectacular style for the new Peacocks team with Ferris scoring in the first minute of the opening game as his team raced into a 3-0 lead after half-an-hour at home to Gloucester City. The Tigers came back in the second-half to grab a draw. Taunton are unbeaten at home in eleven league and cup games. After Tuesday's impressive 1-0 win at Walton & Hersham, thanks to a great strike from Alfie Moulden on 52 minutes and a man-of-the-match performance from keeper Gould, the Peacocks have a W3 D1 L3 league away record. The other victories were at Frome and Basingstoke, the draw at Parkway, and defeats at Poole, Hungerford, and Totton. All of which leaves Taunton 8th in the table with a W5 D5 L3 GF 24 GA 20 record. In the current form table (last 6 league games), they sit 4th behind Merthyr, Totton, and Gloucester.
In F.A. competitions Taunton have had a successful season. They reached Round Four Qualifying in the FA Cup, including winning 3-2 at Tatnam, before bowing out in a replay to National League Maidenhead Utd. In the Trophy they knocked out Basingstoke before, surprisingly, losing 5-1 at Gosport.
Despite losing their last two games after taking a first-half lead against Plymouth and Chertsey, Tim Sills' Wimborne sit 12th in the current form table. In the one that really matters, the actual league table, the Magpies are 14th with a W5 D2 L7 GF 13 GA 24 record; at the Wyatt Homes Stadium their record is W4 D1 L2: with wins over Hanwell, Hungerford, Gosport and Tiverton, a draw with Supermarine, and losses to Walton & Hersham, and, last Saturday, Chertsey.
Sills will be looking for a reaction from his team after those two recent defeats; Luffman will want to see his team continue their climb up the table. It's going to be a battle, it's going to be intriguing, it's going to be a great game to watch. So wrap up warm, come on down, and enjoy a live match at our ground with its super facilities - after all, it's what autumnal Saturday afternoons were made for!
There's plenty of parking at the ground in Ainsley Road BH21 2FU, but if you do decide to park on the nearby streets, please do so respectfully to our neighbours.
The Morebus no.13 runs along Leigh Road from and to The Square in the town centre with stops at the bottom of Parmiter Road.
There is a bike park to the left of the players' entrance.
Admission: adults £14, concessions £8, U18s £5, U13s £2.
A packed, printed programme will be on sale.
Weather forecast: cloudy; 13oC; 10% chance of rain.
Wimborne Town vs Taunton Town
Southern League Premier South - Sat 9th November 2024 3pm
For Wimborne's first twelve seasons in the Southern League, eight in Division One then four in the Premier Division, the only team we played every season (apart from the curtailed 2020-21 one) was Saturday's visitors Taunton. At Cuthbury, then New Cuthbury, we won twice, drew five, and lost four. At the end of the 2021-22 season the two clubs parted company in a big way: The Peacocks won promotion to Step 2 National South while The Magpies were relegated back to Step 4 S.L. Division One South, that's a two leagues difference. Then two seasons later the opposite happened: Taunton finished 22nd of 24 and were relegated with 46 points and an average home attendance of 941, while Wimborne were crowned champions and promoted with 79 points and an average attendance of 761.
The Somerset club changed manager over the summer, bringing in Richard Luffman who had taken Cribbs to a play-off spot in their first season at Step 4. He had to recruit a new squad and cherry-picked players he knew and had played against. These included David Duru, Harris Feltham and Jacob Hodgson from Cribbs, Archie Ferris from Larkhall, Jay Malshanskyj from Bishops Cleeve, and Owen Brain from Bristol Manor Farm. He also brought in plenty of experience at this level and above including defender Eddie Jones from Chippenham, and, as captain, midfielder Tom Smith with his distinctive flowing hair style who has been a great success since arriving from Bath City, banging in six league goals so far. As the season has evolved, so has Luffman's team. Duru and Ferris have left, while two recently joined from Totton: goalkeeper Josh Gould, and midfielder Josh Owers.
The season started in spectacular style for the new Peacocks team with Ferris scoring in the first minute of the opening game as his team raced into a 3-0 lead after half-an-hour at home to Gloucester City. The Tigers came back in the second-half to grab a draw. Taunton are unbeaten at home in eleven league and cup games. After Tuesday's impressive 1-0 win at Walton & Hersham, thanks to a great strike from Alfie Moulden on 52 minutes and a man-of-the-match performance from keeper Gould, the Peacocks have a W3 D1 L3 league away record. The other victories were at Frome and Basingstoke, the draw at Parkway, and defeats at Poole, Hungerford, and Totton. All of which leaves Taunton 8th in the table with a W5 D5 L3 GF 24 GA 20 record. In the current form table (last 6 league games), they sit 4th behind Merthyr, Totton, and Gloucester.
In F.A. competitions Taunton have had a successful season. They reached Round Four Qualifying in the FA Cup, including winning 3-2 at Tatnam, before bowing out in a replay to National League Maidenhead Utd. In the Trophy they knocked out Basingstoke before, surprisingly, losing 5-1 at Gosport.
Despite losing their last two games after taking a first-half lead against Plymouth and Chertsey, Tim Sills' Wimborne sit 12th in the current form table. In the one that really matters, the actual league table, the Magpies are 14th with a W5 D2 L7 GF 13 GA 24 record; at the Wyatt Homes Stadium their record is W4 D1 L2: with wins over Hanwell, Hungerford, Gosport and Tiverton, a draw with Supermarine, and losses to Walton & Hersham, and, last Saturday, Chertsey.
Sills will be looking for a reaction from his team after those two recent defeats; Luffman will want to see his team continue their climb up the table. It's going to be a battle, it's going to be intriguing, it's going to be a great game to watch. So wrap up warm, come on down, and enjoy a live match at our ground with its super facilities - after all, it's what autumnal Saturday afternoons were made for!
There's plenty of parking at the ground in Ainsley Road BH21 2FU, but if you do decide to park on the nearby streets, please do so respectfully to our neighbours.
The Morebus no.13 runs along Leigh Road from and to The Square in the town centre with stops at the bottom of Parmiter Road.
There is a bike park to the left of the players' entrance.
Admission: adults £14, concessions £8, U18s £5, U13s £2.
A packed, printed programme will be on sale.
Weather forecast: cloudy; 13oC; 10% chance of rain.
