Win For Wimborne Leaves Bracken Frustrated

Corinthian-Casuals 1 - 2 Wimborne Town
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 3rd Aug 2019
Report and Photos - Stuart Tree

​Wimborne Town came out on top in a competitive final pre-season friendly at Corinthian-Casuals, coming from behind to win 2-1.

Josh Uzun had opened the scoring for the hosts in the second half but were pegged back immediately by the Southern League South Premier side following Jordan Lee’s deflected shot. And Town bagged a late winner when Kieran Roberts fired home courtesy of a 20-yard free kick.

Humid conditions saw both sides cancel each other out in the first half, with the best chance falling to Wimborne when Lee’s effort was adjudged offside. Jack Tucker went closest for the Casuals firing over from a tight angle.

The deadlock was broken ten minutes into the second half when Uzun whipped in a vicious free kick via the inside of the post to give Casuals the lead. Wimborne equalised minutes later when Lee’s delicate chip somehow crept into the corner.

And it was down to Roberts to win the match in the 87th minute, slamming his free kick past Danny Bracken in goal.

“We started okay and got progressively worse as the first half went on,” said Manager James Bracken after the match.

“We’ve worked on plenty over the course of the pre-season and there was plenty that was wrong today. We don’t have much time to correct it but I’ll select the players that I trust will get it right on the day.

“We’re okay though… we’ll be alright. We’ve got enough quality around here, but I just think today was a little disappointing and too many players didn’t do themselves any favours and too many faults that I’m seeing in individuals. Some keep showing me the same shortfalls and I can’t keep watching that. They’ll struggle to play unless they improve in the areas I’m asking them to do.

“It’ll be a tough start to the season with a trip to Haringey Borough next week. We’ll go there and it’ll be a fast and furious game. Whether the quality is there on the first game of the season, I don’t know. It’ll probably be whoever is the fittest and most up for it will end up winners.
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“I have an idea of six of my first eleven. I think five places are still to be determined. I can set us up to be hard to beat on the first day of the season but that’s not my style. I want us to play good football which we’re more than capable of. At the same time, I don’t want to have a plan to play attractively but be 3-0 down at half time. We’ll have to go with a balanced approach.”