The Christmas and New Year fixtures continue at pace as we cross The Stour to visit The New Cuthbury and take on some familiar faces now wearing the black and white colours of Wimborne Town. A large crowd is expected to witness this eagerly anticipated fixture as both teams strive to earn the points that will take them to a more comfortable mid-table position.
Wimborne come into the match on the back of two draws and four loses in their last six matches, and most recently the 1-1 home draw on Saturday with Gloucester City thanks to a 95th Sam Jackson equaliser.
The Magpies have settled well into this league after their promotion from the Southern League South last season. They are currently in 16th place (P21 W7 D4 L10 25 points) and have lost just three times at home this season against Walton & Hersham, Winchester City and Chertsey. They have won five home fixtures and drawn three in front of an average crowd of 657.
We took the bragging rights at The Black Gold on Bank Holiday Monday with the only goal of the game scored by Charlie Davis. The match reporter on the day was Connor Hannon who summed up the match by saying ” Despite Wimborne’s domination in the second half, the full-time whistle went with Poole taking all three points in a closely fought encounter at the Black Gold Stadium”
Since joining the Magpies from Hamworthy United the popular manager Tim Sills has done a great deal to turn the club around and he has enjoyed much success. The ex-Poole High school teacher enjoyed a very successful playing career himself which started at Millwall and included spells at many other league and non-league clubs. He guided Wimborne to their first league title in 24 years last season.
The Magpies have appointed the ex-Carlisle keeper Jimmy Glass as their General Manager. He found fame when scoring the goal that kept his club in the football league in the 1998/99 season. He was on loan from Swindon Town at the time.
The Dolphins find themselves in 17th place in the table (P22 W6 D7 L9 25 points) joining four other clubs on 25 points. We have won three games away from the Black Gold and gave one of our best performances of the season on Saturday at AFC Totton and came away with a well-earned point and with a little luck it could have been more.
Its clear that the team is beginning to settle again after a steady start to the season and then running into a run of games where little seemed to go to plan. We can have every confidence that we have enough ability in the squad to keep clear of the lower end of the table.
Tickets are selling fast at The New Cuthbury and both clubs have announced details of the segregation that will be in place for the game. So come along and get behind the team as we look to kick start our season and make 2025 a year to remember.
Enjoy the game
Neil Wellington
