Game 2: Wimborne Town 1.1 Paulton Rovers (Friendly) 24.07.21
After last week’s game in the heat the dress code had changed to raincoat and jeans with an overnight thunderstorm and the threat of more rain to follow today. I decided to head down to Wimborne to visit their new ground on the other side of town. The drive was straightforward until I reached the turnoff for the ground and without the benefit of an up to date satnav took the road round to the left instead of going straight down the road. Once I was heading the right way I found the ground and a decent sized car park on the right.
This was one of the first games to be played at New Cuthbury and the uncovered area behind one of the goals was out of bounds. There were two small stands along one side with a bar / refreshment area further down. There was a long, shallow terrace behind one goal that was filled with Wimborne Town flags before kickoff. Both of the teams currently play in the Southern League, Wimborne one division higher.
We didn’t have to wait long for the first goal, the home side taking the lead after three minutes. The ball was thrown in from the left side and then passed into the centre. A great through ball saw a Wimborne player up against the keeper and he unselfishly passed across the box for a team mate to smash the ball into the unguarded part of the goal.
The home team pressed for more goals but were often caught offside or saw long balls reach the keeper instead. They had a great chance to add a second when a Paulton player gave the ball away near the goal but this time the shot hit a covering defender. Following an enforced substitution and a water break Paulton got into the game more and saw a couple of chances go wide.
Paulton started the second half well and were unlucky to see a good effort hit the post early on. Wimborne were able to clear the ball quickly upfield and it took a good save from the visiting keeper to stop them extending the lead. Paulton scored an equaliser after fifty minutes, working the ball into the box well and while the first shot was saved by the keeper he had no chance when the rebound fell to visiting player to finish with a low shot.
The game was really entertaining after as both teams went for a winner. Paulton had less of the play but the better of the chances, at one point we saw the ball roll across the six yard box with no-one running on to finish it. Wimborne’s best chances came from runs down the right wing but the winger took the option to shoot from a narrow angle or to run the ball out of play when early crosses would have been more effective. Just before the end a Wimborne player tried to head the ball back to the keeper but it was too soft and allowed a Paulton player to take the ball towards goal. His attempted shot was saved and two follow up efforts by team mates were scrambled away when they should really have scored.
While the game was completed in the dry, I did have to stop on the way home after being caught in torrential rain and a thunderstorm in the Dorset countryside. The rain was coming down so quickly I couldn’t see the road (or huge puddles!) ahead so was grateful to find a lay-by to wait for the storm to pass over.
nonleaguephotos 