Attendance 121

Warminster Town went into today’s game in 20th place in the Division 1 table and on the back of six straight league defeats.
Sturminster Newton United were in 8th place thirty-nine points above Town. 

Once again Town didn’t start well and the visitors took an early lead in the 14th minute.  United’s Adam Hall shot from just inside the box and caught out Town’s keeper Matt Green who appeared to be unsighted, 0-1. United dominated much of the first half with Town’s forays into their opponents’ half few and far between. Adam Hall was proving to be a real handful down the left wing with Max Walker-Wiltshire struggling to contain the dangerous winger. On 26 minutes a rare Town attack saw Corey Gardner break down the right. Seeing United’s Theo Crane out of his goal he tried to catch him out with a cross cum shot but was denied by the scrambling keeper. United continued to control the game, so it was very much against the run of play when Town levelled just before halftime. A quick throw-in to the front post was met by Jack Newman whose glancing header found the back of the net, 1-1. In the first minute of first half stoppage time United’s Jack Atkins was guilty of a crude challenge on Corey Gardner. Atkins was lucky to only receive a yellow card as the Town winger had to leave the game injured and was replaced by Jake Wright.

Town were much improved after the break but still fell behind for a second time in the 56th minute. Once more it was Adam Hall who struck, this time cutting in from left and unleashing an unstoppable shot into the far top corner to restore the visitor’s lead, 1-2. On 62 minutes Reece Collyer picked out Jake Wright wide left who cut into the box but his shot is blocked. Ryan Benson’s follow up shot flew wide of the goal. A minute later United went close to extending their lead when Ashley Clarke’s wind assisted shot flew just the wrong side of the post. Town were starting to cause the visitors problems and on 68 minutes Jake Wright was brought down in the box, and referee Paul Allen awarded Town a penalty.  Jake dusted himself down and stepped up to take the spot kick. United keeper Theo Crane dived to his right to save superbly, but Jake responded quickest to tuck away the rebound, 2-2. Just three minutes later Owen Bartley volleyed the ball from just outside the box but his shot just cleared the cross-bar. On 77 minutes the visitors’ goal threat diminished significantly when their best forward Hall was substituted having landed awkwardly and injured his ankle.  Thereafter United were far less threatening. On  82 minutes Town went close to taking the lead. The ball was played around the Sturminster penalty area to Seb Hounsell in space on the edge of the six yard box, but  with the goal at his mercy he lifted his shot over the bar. Five minutes later Tom Ball broke into the box from the right but a last ditch block from a defender deflected his shot to keeper Crane. Then in the seventh minute of stoppage time Jake Wright was fouled wide left by United’s George Coleman. The defender was sent to the sin bin, presumably for protesting too much. The free kick was launched into the danger area and the ball broke to Town’s central defender Sam McFarlane. The defender smashed the ball past Crane to earn Town a dramatic late come from behind victory.

Match report: Geoff Jackson