Match Preview

It’s another tough away game on Saturday as we travel to Dorset to take on Wimborne Town.

Wimborne Town vs Bideford
Evo-Stik League South – West Division
Saturday 3rd February 2018
3:00pm kick off
W+S Stadium, Wimborne

A Brief History of Wimborne Town
Wimborne Town were founded in 1878 and became founder members of the Dorset County Football Association in 1887. They played Dorset League football until becoming founder members of the Dorset Combination League in 1957 but returned to the Dorset League a year later. Wimborne moved back into the Dorset Combination League in 1973 but after three seasons switched back to the Dorset League. The Magpies joined Western League Division One for the 1981/82 and finished top ten in all of the six seasons they competed there. They joined the Wessex League in 1987. In 1991/92 Wimborne were Wessex League Champions and also won the FA Vase after beating Guiseley 5-3 at Wembley. They would win two more Wessex League titles in 1993/94 and 1999/00 before finishing as runners-up in 2009/10 and being promoted to Southern League Division One South & West. After initially struggling with two league finishes of 19th, Wimborne were able to establish themselves in the division with a string of comfortable mid-table finishes and last season finishing in their highest Southern League position of 11th.

Wimborne Town FC
W+S Stadium
Cowgrove Road
Wimborne
Dorset
BH21 4EL
Tel: 01202 884821
Web: http://www.wimbornetownfc.co.uk
Twitter: @WimborneTownFC

Form Guide
Wimborne are having a decent season and are one of a cluster of teams vying for the play-off positions. They are currently 10th in the West Division (W13 D3 L10), two points behind Bideford having played three games more. Wimborne’s last two games were postponed so they haven’t been in action since their excellent 5-1 home victory over Cirencester on 20/1. Prior to that, The Magpies had lost three games on the trot to Salisbury, Evesham and Yate.

Wimborne Town’s last six (WWLLLW)
20/01/18 Wimborne Town 5 Cirencester Town 1 (League)
13/01/18 Yate Town 2 Wimborne Town 0 (League)
06/01/18 Wimborne Town 3 Evesham United 4 (League)
01/01/18 Salisbury 1 Wimborne Town 0 (League)
26/12/17 Wimborne Town 3 Winchester City 0 (League)
23/12/17 Bishops Cleeve 1 Wimborne Town 7 (League)

After three consecutive postponements, a patched up Bideford finally returned to action on Tuesday night with a hard fought 3-2 win at AFC Totton. The win took Bideford briefly into 6th place (W13 D5 L5) but only for twenty-four hours as Winchester’s point against Kidlington knocked The Robins down to 7th. Due to the congested fixture list (Bideford have to play 8 games in 25 days in February) Sean Joyce has brought in reinforcements in the shape of Ben Palmer, Will Hancox and Josh Key. After missing the trip to Totton, Sean Downing and Ian Sampson should be available once again.

Bideford's last six (LDDWWW)
30/01/18 AFC Totton 2 Bideford 3 (League)
13/01/18 Swindon Supermarine 0 Bideford 5 (League)
06/01/18 Bideford 1 Bishops Cleeve 0 (League)
26/12/17 Bideford 1 Barnstaple Town 1 (League)
23/12/17 Didcot Town 0 Bideford 0 (League)
16/12/17 Bideford 1 Yate Town 2 (League)

Previous clashes
23/09/17 Bideford 1 Wimborne Town 2 (Southern Div 1 West)
25/02/17 Bideford 2 Wimborne Town 0 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
25/10/16 Wimborne Town 0 Bideford 4 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
11/02/12 Bideford 3 Wimborne Town 1 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
13/09/11 Wimborne Town 0 Bideford 3 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
09/04/11 Bideford 1 Wimborne Town 2 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
14/12/10 Wimborne Town 1 Bideford 3 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
28/08/10 Bideford 1 Wimborne Town 2 (FA Cup PR)
08/12/07 Bideford 1 Wimborne Town 0 (FA Vase R3)
15/09/01 Bideford 1 Wimborne Town 0 (FA Cup Q1)
01/09/90 Wimborne Town 3 Bideford 2 (FA Cup PR)

Back in September, Wimborne came away from the Sports Ground with a 2-1 victory while last season Bideford did the double over The Magpies. Bideford were comprehensive 4-0 winners at Cowgrove Road and also won the return fixture 2-0 in February 2017.