Match Preview: Southern League Premier South
Wimborne Town vs Basingstoke Town
When: Saturday 12th April 2025 Kick-off 3pm
Where: Wyatt Homes Stadium, 16 Ainsley Road, Wimborne, Dorset. BH21 2FU
Wimborne Town (The Magpies), Avg 2024-25 Home Att 737
Despite lots of possession, one single Gosport goal, early in the second-half, was enough to see us drop all three points at home once again, and we head to Wimborne Town tomorrow afternoon, knowing we have a lot to achieve if we are to pull clear from the relegation mire.
We played Wimborne back in December last year, and fell behind to an early goal. A second-half we came out with more purpose and levelled through a Jack Ball header at the far post. Stoke continued to attack and the winner came via D’Andre Brown’s free-kick, assisted by a dismally set-up Wimborne wall.
Our Opponents
The Magpies (Wimborne’s version) are managed by former Basingstoke player Tim Sills. Sills who made nearly 700 appearances in his 20-year playing career, scoring 219 goals. He had two stints at Basingstoke, making xx appearances. His other clubs included Aldershot Town, Oxford Utd, Stevenage and Torquay Utd at National League and League Two levels. He was appointed manager of Hamworthy United in October 2019 and guided the Wessex League Premier club to promotion to the Southern League as league champions, and FA Vase semi-final in the 2021-22 season. He joined Wimborne in October 2022, and they went onto win the Southern League Division One title last season.
Wimborne following a decent run of form, from mid-February to the end of March, where they stacked up five wins and four draws, finally losing at Walton last weekend, they now sit in an impressive ninth place with their record standing at Pld 38 Won 14 Drawn 10 Lost 14 and 52pts. Their home form is quite impressive at 10 wins, 4 draws and five losses. Despite this form, only four teams have scored less goals than their 46 goals, but then again they concede few goals as well at just 52. Their leading goal-scorer is Will Fletcher with thirteen league goals. Having come through their youth and development teams, he spent time at local sides Poole and Hamworthy Utd, before hitting ten goals in twenty-six appearances for Dorchester Town last season. Matty Burrows, has twelve league goals, and signed this summer and became a fans’ favourite during his 6-game loan spell from Totton last season when he scored three times. He’d previously played for Weymouth before joining the Stags. They also have club legend Tobias Holmes, but he has added just two league goals since returning in December. Jack Lovell is another forward with two goals, and has had a number of stints with the Magpies, as well as time at Hamworthy & Bashley.
The midfield contains Cameron Munn, who has added six goals this season. Munn, signed in October 2023, after a being a regular at Hamworthy United and has rejoined Manager Tim Sills at Wimborne. Josh Carmichael has four goals, after signing a year ago, and has been capped by Scotland at U16/U19 levels, and made four appearances for the Cherries after coming through their academy. He has also played for Gosport, Poole, Salisbury, Torquay, Weymouth and Totton. With him will be Matty Neale who re-signed in 2023, having previously played for them whilst on loan in the 2016-17 season from AFC Bournemouth. He has also played for the same old local clubs such as Poole Town, Hamworthy Utd and Dorchester Town. Jez Bedford started at Portsmouth as a youth player, before joining Poole Town for whom he made over 100 appearances. He’s now a firm favourite at the Wyatt Homes Stadium. Harry Morgan, played for Ringwood and Christchurch before spending five years at Bashley, which he combined with playing for Bath University, as of the end of last season.
The defence contains their captain in Sam Jackson, who is in his second season at the club having spent time at Poole Town, Bashley and Dorchester, before being an ever present in our league campaign last season. Billy Walker signed in the summer of 2023, hard-working central defender having between captain for both Christchurch & Hamworthy United before joining the Magpies. Another summer 2023 signing was Sam Roberts, a central-defender who joined from Salisbury, having previously played for Gosport & Winchester City. Harvey Wright, joined from Poole Town, having played for Tim Sills whilst at Hamworthy. Before joining the Magpies, Owen Roundell, made 348 appearances for Sholing, scoring 30 goals, and won their supporters player of the season award in 2023/24. A versatile player, Owen can play centre back or holding midfield.
In recent weeks, Cameron Plain has been wearing the goalkeeper jersey, who came through the youth ranks at AFC Bournemouth, before making 36 appearances with the Magpies whilst on a work experience loan during the 2019/20 season. Cam spent most of this season at Poole town before making the switch to Wimborne in February 2025.
Our Basingstoke Town Side
Last week’s home loss, this time to Gosport Borough, has left us with a task of potentially finding two wins out our remaining four league games, to stave off relegation. Again we failed to create more than a couple of half-chances, throughout the game. To be honest Gosport were no better, as we pressed them for most of the game, but once again it took just one finish by the visitors, to secure all three points. This latest loss alongwith other teams around us, picking up points, means we now sit in sixteenth place, with one or two points separating us, and those battling relegation. Our record now sits at a worrying Pld 38 Won 9 Drawn 14 Lost 15 and 41pts, whilst our away record sitting at 4 wins, 9 draws and 6 losses, as we head for the final time down to Dorset this season.
It is assumed that Liam Ferdinand (15 goals) will be the lead striker once again, and will receive the support of wingers George Reid & Robbie Gallagher. Depending on how we set-up Jayden Brissett is the other potential striker with Ferdinand. Connor Barratt who is still to be given any significant gametime, could be an option, if we go with a different gameplan, as many fans have questioned.
The midfield will likely be led by James Dickson, with the likely support of the incoming youngsters Josh Green & Malachi Ogunleye, who have proved their worth since arriving late before the transfer deadline. It is assumed Sam Deadfield is still absent through injury, which means both Ben Cook & D’Andre Brown are also options to get significant gametime as well.
If ever there was a need for a clean-sheet, then tomorrow would be a most welcome time, and the question is, will we revert back to a back-five or keep with last weeks back four tomorrow afternoon. What is likely is that our captain Billy Upton will be joined with Jack Ball in the centre-back roles. Scott Armsworth, who has done little wrong since his return, is the other centre-back option. Markus Johnson-Schuster will patrol the right, whilst Lewis Colwell will do a similar role on the left. In goal will once again be Simon Grant, who had little chance with Gosport’s goal last Saturday, had very little else to do, but will expect more action this weekend.
As per our trip to Walton, the management and players know they have a big task on their hands against a very strong Wimborne, who are tough to beat on their own patch. But with the expected two tough home games against Totton & Merthyr still to come, then this is one of two games that we need to earn some valuable points.
Match Preview by Martin French..
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