Three goals in a 10 minute spell in the second half saw Wimborne through with to an important victory over bottom placed Stourport Swifts, David Briggs reports.
This victory not only opened up a gap of 12 points between the two clubs but also took Wimborne to within a point of the club immediately above, Abingdon United.
Wimborne made a great start and were ahead after only 2 minutes. A left wing corner from Mickey Hubbard went deep to Tom Jeffes, who were lashed in a fierce shot which deflected off a defender into the net. But the lead only lasted for 4 minutes when Rory Curtis equalised with a header at the far post from a corner.
After that the game descended into a scrappy affair worthy of the two bottom clubs. Stourport generally had the better of things and came close to taking the lead with a header that came back off the crossbar. In the last few minutes of the half Wimborne came into the game a bit more, but other than the first few minutes it had been an poor half.
The early part of the second half was even worse, with both teams looking nervous and prone to mistakes. At this stage Stourport definitely looked the better team, but their finishing was way off target.
On the hour Wimborne came to life and started to threaten the visitors’ goal with some good passing football. They took the lead on 68 minutes when Mickey Hubbard collected a Stourport clearance and from 25 yards hit a superb shot into the top corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance.
Four minutes later the Stourport keeper made a good save at the near post from Tom Hill; from the resulting corner the ball eventually reached Matt Kemble who squared the ball across the face of the goal. With Peprah-Annan a waiting for a tap in at the far post a defender managed to get there first but could only put the ball into his own net.
Wimborne had surrendered a two goal lead in their last home game, but this time they made it safe when, on 78 minutes, a defender failed to clear Jamie Davidson’s cross and Jeffes nipped in to put the ball into the corner of the net. It was a well-deserved goal for Jeffes who had put in a tremendous amount of work during the game.
Wimborne pressed on to try to increase their lead and Peprah-Annan had the ball in the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside, but Wimborne had already secured their second win in successive games.
Wimborne Team: Harvell, Arnold, Cole (Magookin 84), Roast, Brian, Peprah-Annan, Hill, Hubbard, Kemble (Webb 80), Jeffes, Davidson (Cook 81). Subs not used: Taafe, Ackerman.
