A flurry of goals at The Cuthbury, including a five-timer from big money striker Mark Gamble, saw the home side consign City to their second eight goal defeat of the season. Actually the odds were stacked against the visitors in the lead up to the game, with three players withdrawing from the squad during the morning citing work commitments, and as if that was not bad enough, transport difficulties saw Dean Thomas, Boysie Wise and Calvin Thomas arrive at Wimborne just 15 minutes prior to the start. Thus it had been left to the captain Pat Cox to organise the warm up and get the players up for the game. Given the build up it was no real surprise that Wimborne took an early lead, although City would have been hoping to keep the home side at bay for longer than a single minute. Credit though the home side’s George Webb who fairly rifled home a spectacular effort from 25 yards. City though to their own credit didn’t take this lying down and playing some nice football they managed to cause problems in the home defence. On 10 minutes George Bowerman fed Pat Cox whose smart turn in the box saw his goal bound effort blocked. Minutes later Cox again show good skills to get a shot away in a tight situation but his effort went wide. James Stoke did miss a good chance for Wimborne, before Guildford hit back with Romone McCrae finding Pat Cox in the box, only for the skipper to blaze over the bar. On 27 minutes and largely against the run of play, Wimborne scored their second. Seconds earlier Calvin Thomas had tracked back to make an excellent interception, but on this occasion Wimborne were allowed to score what was rather a soft goal. Tom Boyle dived anticipating the incoming shot, only for Jon Blake to mishit his effort completely and the ball gently entered the net. Still not deterred George Bowerman blazed a close range free-kick over, to be followed on 33 minutes by a good run into the box that Sweeney fans behind the goal felt was ended unfairly. A little later, on the cusp of half-time, a similar incident in the City box controversially saw Wimborne awarded a penalty which was despatched with ease by Gamble. Also despatched was young City centre-back Tyler Myers who was shown a red card for questioning the referee’s decision in over vociferous terms.
Half-time Wimborne Town 3 – 0 Guildford City
Guildford came out pushing forward after the break. Alex Afful’s good run and cross on the right saw a stretched home defence concede a corner, and a minute later the ball was laid back to Tuan West whose thundering low effort zipped just wide. It was no surprise when on 51 minutes City got themselves on the scoreboard. Tuan West’s low free-kick found Dom Ogun on the edge of the box, where he spun and drilled a low effort into the corner. There was no doubting that at this stage Guildford were back in the game. However as hard as they tried they couldn’t force a second, and on 61 minutes the game changed; Wimborne exploiting the extra space. Tom Boyle parried the first effort, but Mark Gamble was on hand to restore the three goal lead. Noticeably City’s tempo dropped and on 71 minutes it was 5-1 when again at the second attempt after a Boyle save, Gamble had the ball in the net. Calvin Thomas did have fierce effort well saved by Ackerman, but it was a rare break in the home pressure. On 74 minutes Wimborne were awarded a second penalty, yet again after Tom Boyle had made a double save. Again Mark Gamble made sure, and with two further efforts in the 80th and 90th minutes, he rounded off a hugely successful evening against a dispirited defence.
Team: Tom Boyle, Courtney Cann, Tuan West, Tyler Myers, Dean Thomas, Alex Afful (Bruce McPhail 60), Calvin Thomas, Romone McCrae, George Bowerman, Pat Cox, Dominic Ogun. Unused subs: Will Dukes.
Yellow card: Courtney Cann
Red card: Tyler Myers
Referee: Mark Greenwood
Attendance – 167
Attendance – 167
